Allen Buansi - On instilling a sense of belonging (clip)

Allen Buansi: I guess the other thing too is, when I go around to different community events with any one of my kids, it was really important for me that they grew up knowing that they belong in any kind of space. And so often times folks will say to me, especially if I’m bringing Zara with me somewhere, “Oh that’s so great that you bring your daughter, that’s cute, that’s great,” and I’ll say to them, “well, she belongs here.” That’s just what it is. And certainly when I was growing up, my mom, she took me everywhere with her, I mean she was one of the founding members of the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network in North Carolina. One of our historic great organizations when it comes to advocating for, fighting for people, especially in rural North Carolina, for environmental justice. And so, she would take me to those summits, she would have me set up chairs, she’d have me, I mean, she would have me go anywhere with her. And so it’s nothing for me to take my daughter or to take any one of our sons or all three of them to an event with me where it’s a rally for a cause or to legislature. I’ve had my daughter sit in my chair while I’m sitting in the chamber taking votes or casting votes. And so, it’s really important, as they’re growing up, especially as they’re growing up in school, that they know that they belong in any kind of class, that they belong in any kind of school, that they belong talking to anyone. Because, I mean, they’re strong, our people have come through so much. This is what our ancestors have been fighting for, so I’m determined that they’re gonna live that out.