Boston. Afro-Colombian Vice President Francia Márquez Mina has received the WEB Du Bois Medal from Harvard University. The award ceremony took place in the Sanders Theater at Harvard University. Márquez, who also heads the Ministry of Equality and Equality, received the medal for her outstanding contributions to African and African American culture.
Previous recipients of the medal include scientists, artists, writers, journalists, philanthropists and civil servants whose work has strengthened the field of African and African American studies. Márquez is the first Latin American woman to receive this award.
In her acceptance speech, Márquez called for global unity and appealed to women and men to work together for a fairer society. “Our efforts must always be focused on promoting peace and social justice. I call on the women of the world to continue to raise their voices to end all wars,” she said, speaking to the experiences of many mothers living under Violence and war suffer.
Márquez, who as a long-time committed activist experienced the consequences of the armed conflict in Colombia, dedicated the medal to her family, her community of Yolombó and the entire country.
In her speech, Márquez underlined the importance of resistance in the fight for dignity and freedom. She recalled the words of Paulina Balanta, a woman from her community: “If you don’t fight, you won’t go to heaven. And to fight, we have to be resilient in our hearts.”
In her speech, the Vice President also highlighted her administration’s achievements in the last two years and mentioned some of her ministry’s initiatives to promote education and social justice. This includes the establishment of the National Intersectoral Commission for Historical Reparations. This works in paying off the Colombian state’s historic debt to the indigenous and Afro-Colombian population.
Márquez spoke about her vision of connecting Colombia with the African continent, recalling that her ancestors were taken from Africa into slavery more than four hundred years ago.
“In 2023, I returned free and as Vice President of the Republic,” she said, referring to her visits to several African countries to strengthen diplomatic, economic and political relations between Colombia and Africa.
Márquez wished incumbent US Vice President Kamala Harris much success in her presidential campaign. She invited Harris to visit Colombia to “forge new paths to freedom together.”
“Let’s move forward. The people are not giving up, damn it,” Márquez said at the end of her speech.
