I recently came across an article Luc Olinga wrote published on Medium titled I Am Black Man. DEI Is The New Racism. Race relation in America is a sensitive topic many people do not like to engage in because they are afraid of saying the wrong thing. During our conversation, we explored many areas on this topic.

Bio:

Luc Olinga is a French journalist based in New York City. He worked for the French newswire Agence France-Presse (AFP), the world’s third-largest, for 15 years in Europe and the U.S. From 2014 to 2021, he served as AFP’s U.S. Business Correspondent in New York before becoming the Economics, Business, and Tech Editor for North America, based in Washington, D.C.
After leaving AFP, he led tech coverage at the U.S. business news platform TheStreet. He is currently documenting the Men’s Counter-Revolution in the U.S., traveling across the country to explore the perspectives of Black men on the nation’s shifting social and political landscape. You can read his work on Medium.

Born and raised in Cameroon, he later moved to Paris, France, where he spent most of his adult life.

Keywords

DEI, African immigrants, cultural identity, educationinequality, race relations, storytelling, community engagement, meritocracy, personal growth, immigrant experience

Summary

In this conversation, Mr. Luc Olinga shares his experiencesas an African immigrant navigating cultural identity, race relations, and the complexities of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in America. He reflects on his upbringing in Cameroon, his educational journey in France, and histransition to the United States, discussing the challenges and opportunities he faced. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of community engagement, educational equality, and the need for higher expectations within the Africanimmigrant community. Olinga critiques the current DEI initiatives, arguing that they often fail to address the root causes of inequality and can sometimes perpetuate new forms of racism. The conversation concludes with a call toaction for African immigrants to take charge of their narratives and work towards empowering their communities.

Takeaways

DEI initiatives can sometimes perpetuate new forms of racism.

Cultural identity plays a significant role in personal development.

Expectations from parents and community influence children's success.

Educational inequality is a root cause of broader societal issues.

Community engagement is crucial for empowering African immigrants.

The immigrant experience is shaped by both cultural heritage and new environments.

Meritocracy must be balanced with awareness of systemic inequalities.

Personal resilience is key in navigating challenges in foreign countries.

The importance of storytelling in understanding cultural experiences.

African immigrants often face unique challenges in the U.S. job market.

Chapters

00:53 Exploring African Immigrant Experiences in America

01:20 Introduction to Olinga's Journey

04:27 Childhood Memories and Cultural Reflections

07:10 Navigating Education in France

09:59 Experiences of Race and Identity in France

13:10 Transition to the United States

15:53 The Impact of African Roots on Identity

18:57 Opportunities and Challenges in America

21:23 Understanding DEI: A New Perspective

24:44 Corruption vs. DEI: A Comparative Analysis

27:33 The Misconceptions of DEI

30:16 The Role of Education in Addressing Inequality

33:29 The Future of DEI and Its Implications

36:14 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

48:16 Inequality in Education: A Root Cause

51:26 The Role of Affirmative Action

54:12 Challenges in the Educational System

57:21 Community Engagement and Mentorship

01:00:31 Breaking the Cycle of Victimhood

01:02:54 Cultural Perspectives on Success

01:05:58 Expectations and Community Responsibility

01:09:44 The African Immigrant Experience

01:15:11 Meritocracy vs. DEI: A Complex Debate

We must explore all avenues to get to the root of a problem. According to an African proverb, "A wise man follows the advice of his neighbors, but a fool trusts his own illusions." The final episode on the theme of mental health discussion on the Pansa Pansa Podcast is about mental illness and addiction. It is a delight to have Dr. Olawale Ojo as a guest to bring his expertise to our diaspora community as a psychiatrist specializing in addiction. The purpose of this episode is to elaborate on the intersection between mental illness, addiction, and cultural stigma among Africans in the diaspora and mainly how these factors affect our youth as well as family relations. In the past three episodes on mental health awareness, we have dived into the diversity of engaging topics. During our discussion, Dr. Ojo shared the story of his humble beginning, which came from dedicated parents and community mentors who empowered and believed in him. He talked about growing up in a society where mental illness is often misinterpreted and ill-treated, which he stated resulted in his interest in psychiatry.

Bio:

Dr. Olawale Ojo began his medical journey at Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria, where his passion for mental health first took root. After earning his medical degree, he embarked on an exciting adventure to Brooklyn, New York, completing his general psychiatric residency at Interfaith Medical Center. It was there that he discovered his calling in addiction psychiatry. Driven to make a meaningful impact, Dr. Ojo moved to Indiana, Indiana University (IU), to specialize in addiction psychiatry. His commitment to helping those struggling with addiction led him to his current roles as the associate program director of the IU Addiction Psychiatry treatment program and the medical director of the IU Methodist Addiction Treatment and Recovery Center (ATRC).

In these roles, Dr. Ojo is dedicated to developing innovative inpatient consult addiction services, an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and a dual diagnosis outpatient clinic. His work is not just a career but a mission to transform lives and provide hope to those in need. When he's not busy mentoring residents and leading community efforts related to addiction treatment and mental health awareness, Dr. Ojo enjoys spending quality time with his family and playing video games. His dedication to his patients and community is truly inspiring, making him a beloved figure in addiction psychiatry.

Our conversation starts by exploring Dr. Ojo's experience as an immigrant in America, navigating an educational system quite different from Nigeria's educational system, adapting to a job that many may consider demeaning, and how these experiences shaped the person he is today. We then dived into stigma-sounding mental illness, traditional practices, and how reliance on non-scientific methods of treatment affects the long-term outcomes for individuals with mental illness. We further discuss how cultural biases on mental illness and/or parents' lack of relationship with their children within African immigrant communities may affect the recognition of the symptoms of mental illness in their children. We discussed mental illness and different types of addiction, specifically substance use, technology, gambling, and food, that may be more widespread or misunderstood in African immigrant families. Finally, we discussed solutions and resources available and how community leaders, as well as organizations, can help break the stigma around mental illness and addiction. Dr. Ojo provides extensive advice to parents who suspect their child may be struggling with mental illness and/or addiction.

Call for action:

A. Please share this episode with others who may benefit from it

B. Normalizing discussing mental health openly

C. Seek help if you or someone you know is struggling with addiction and/or mental illness by calling 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.