{"id":3722,"date":"2023-10-18T10:45:24","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T09:45:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/viewpoint\/2023\/10\/18\/new-draft-post-3722\/"},"modified":"2023-10-20T10:02:43","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T09:02:43","slug":"the-will-wanes-while-waiting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/viewpoint\/2023\/10\/18\/the-will-wanes-while-waiting\/","title":{"rendered":"Banji Adewumi: The Will Wanes While Waiting"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Will Wanes While Waiting<\/p>\n

Time waits for no one
\nSo, the saying goes
\nwhen you are waiting
\nYou know it is so.<\/p>\n

Thoughts of the past
\nThoughts of the present
\nThere are so many things to think about
\nWhile you are waiting<\/p>\n

Waiting for that very thing to happen
\nIs becoming more of a burden
\nI don\u2019t know if I will be able to enjoy it
\nOh, when will it happen
\nOr will it ever happen?<\/p>\n

These are the thoughts of one who is waiting<\/p>\n

So, what do I do,
\nAs time goes by {To fill in the time}
\nFor the will to wait is waning
\nAnd I have nothing to keep it by<\/p>\n

I discovered that the waning will
\nneeds something to hold unto
\nSomething that will keep it
\nFrom fading out into the blue.<\/p>\n

Time is past, present, and future
\nThe past has already gone.
\nI\u2019m choosing to imagine a future
\nWhere the waning will has gone.<\/p>\n

A future that is bright
\nWith all the waiting gone
\nA future with no more waiting
\nAs all that needs doing is done.<\/p>\n

Oyebanji (Banji) Adewumi MBE<\/p>\n

This poem was written a couple of months ago whilst I was going through a period of waiting for my luggage to arrive at my destination. It arrived a few days later, however, in the meantime, I had to buy some essential items that I needed whilst I was without my baggage.<\/p>\n

That experience of needing to do something while waiting resonates for me as we mark Black History Month.<\/p>\n

Many may ask why we have a month to celebrate Black History and some may respond by saying, why not?<\/p>\n

Ideally, how beautiful it would be if the valuing of difference was the norm in society, sadly, that is not the case. Be it visible or less visible difference, there are several stories of where difference translates to having a less favourable experience when compared to other people.<\/p>\n

Regarding Ethnicity, we still face the challenge of ensuring equity of experience and outcomes, whether in the workplace or for students. Not using the same brush to paint all, however, recognising that we still have a lot to do and rather than me speaking about society in general, it would be my responsibility to start by offering an invitation to consider what can I do to make it such that the celebration of difference becomes part of our fabric?<\/p>\n

What would be my contribution towards understanding the history shaping the present experience of some of our colleagues? What can we do as a University to be recognised as an institution that is not only inclusive, but is shaping a bright future, where all staff and students are valued for who they are and what they bring.<\/p>\n

I am one of those who is waiting, and just as my luggage arrived (eventually), I remain hopeful that I will experience that future where there will be no need to have a month to celebrate BHM, because it would be part of what we do all the time. In the meantime, I am joining many others as we celebrate the great achievements of those who in the face of adversity have made a difference in the lives of many.<\/p>\n

For this Black History Month, I would like to recommend three books (yes, I have a copy of each, hence the recommendation ?):<\/p>\n