The Illusion of the Great Replacement Theory
A Night with UNESCO’s Racism & Discrimination Master Class
Contrary to popular perception, Kanye West was a remarkable commentator on discrimination, racism, and prejudice from the start of his rap career. His frustration and insight are evident in the way he described racism’s impact on work, opportunity, and education, and in the pride he expressed about his family’s role in the civil rights movement. Some of his lyrics still resonate deeply with me, even today. From his first album, The College Dropout, released in 2004 when I was a freshman in high school, he wrote:
“I get down for my grandfather who took my mama
Made her sit in that seat where white folks ain't want us to eat
At the tender age of six, she was arrested for the sit-ins
And with that in my blood, I was born to be different”
Later in the same verse, one line still echoes in my mind, 19 years after its release:
“Racism still alive, they just be concealing it…”
On December 10th in Paris, France, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) hosted a master class on Racism and Discrimination, giving students, educators, and related professionals the opportunity to hear experts analyze the current state of the world. The discussion highlighted not only how racism persists but also how it is being funneled into communities and propagated through ideological channels.
Ibram X. Kendi, Professor of History at Howard University, presented a thorough historical analysis of a modern ideological threat he called “the most dangerous racist idea,” which has persisted for over 200 years. To many attendees’ surprise, he traced the origins of this ideology to France, through the writings of far-right novelist Renaud Camus.
Camus was commissioned to visit Hérault, a village in southern France, where he examined the local population and characterized those who had lived in the area for generations as if they were newcomers. Kendi pointed out that the population of Algerian Muslims, who had lived in France longer than Camus’s family, comprised barely 4% of the region. Camus portrayed them as altering the community, giving rise to the “Great Replacement Theory,” which advocates for the removal of immigrants to their countries of origin.
Kendi highlighted the theory’s spread, citing the 2017 protest by white American men over the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue at the University of Virginia. In 2018, Camus popularized the phrase “You Will Not Replace Us,” cementing the theory in contemporary discourse. Today, its influence can be seen in policies such as the U.S. administration cutting DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs and funding ICE actions to forcibly remove immigrants—many of whom are natural-born citizens, in the process of renewing residency, or en route to court hearings. These actions often disproportionately affect cisgender, heterosexual white men and illustrate the ongoing impact of such ideologies. The master class was both sobering and informative, providing attendees, including myself, with a clearer understanding of why immigration has become a central political focus.
Following the lecture, a fireside chat was held with four distinguished women, moderated by Asher Craig, Chair of the Bristol Legacy Foundation. Panelists included Ashwini K.P., UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism; Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Deputy Mayor of London for Communities and Social Justice; and Sahar Aziz, Professor of Law at Rutgers University. Each shared insights from their respective fields—international governance, local government, and academia.
What is the most effective strategy cities can do to tackle racism and discrimination (asked to Debbie Weekes-Bernard)
Weekes-Bernard emphasized centering minority voices, funding programs for those in poverty (70% of whom are Black), and addressing the intersection of race and housing. Policies must support and protect marginalized communities.
Discrimination in religious travel. How can this be battled ( asked to Sahar Aziz)
Aziz identified five anti-Muslim stereotypes in Europe:
Terrorist, presumed anti-national
Anti-democratic
Misogynistic, generalizing all Muslims as extreme
Anti-Semitic
Uncivilized or inferior
She stressed the diversity among Muslims and the importance of documenting Islamophobia while holding governments accountable for discriminatory practices.
How can we Amplify Young Voices (Asked open-endedly to all three speakers)
Ashwini: Engage youth in creating movements. Schools should educate students on recognizing hate speech and discrimination, especially online through deepfakes and AI.
Aziz: Protect academic freedom so students can learn and teachers can teach without restriction, fostering critical thinking across cultures.
Weekes-Bernard: Create safe spaces for youth to discuss online observations. Prioritize racial justice and disability rights in educational programs.
What made the night memorable was the presence of the young people, an observation that was mirrored multiple times throughout the night. High school students from across France joined in the discussion, eager to understand what is happening in the world, understand global issue and learn how they could effect change. For the old Kanye West, who also spoke to kids being the future, this night would have made him proud. But for an educator like myself, it renewed my hope and focus on equipping the youth to recognize and challenge the injustices that shaping their world.
