A journey of a Peace and Justice Life-Long Activist: Dr. Jamal Martins
“We know peace by its absence and by realizing how much trauma and violence surround us.”
This conversation was held during The Viola Cordova Memorial Symposium, “Our common ground,” hosted by Native American Studies. Viola Cordova is a philosopher, artist, and author, a member of the Jicarilla Apache tribe, was one of the first Native American women to earn a Ph.D. in philosophy.
The panel was hosted in the University of New Mexico featuring representatives from Native American Studies, Chicana/Chicano Studies, Africana Studies, Women Studies, Sustainability Studies, Learning Communities, Community Engagement, Global Studies, and Peace and Justice Studies.
“We know peace by its absence and by realizing how much trauma and violence surround us.”
This is how Dr. Jamal Martins started his speech as not only the African diaspora scholar but also the director of Peace and Justice studies. He chose to revolve his work in public health around social justice because he has always believed that the root of public health is true, social justice. That’s why he initiated changing the name from Peace Studies department to Peace and Justice Studies. Dr. Jamal explained the vision that he carries, which mainly focuses on the importance of building a generation of students who are given the reasons to be “peacebuilders, not peacemakers.”
Dr. Jamal’s background in research and activism concerning global health justice and diplomacy, human rights, and the use of critical legal theory in international institutional law, empowered him to be the person he is today. It inspired him also to work hard to provide the students with the opportunities to develop “transferable skills.” That’s how he saw the change initiated by the young potentials, who can be well-equipped enough to influence society and the people that surround them. Dr. Martins emphasized that the 3 pillars of social justice are: justice and healing; prevention of violence, resolution, and transformation; and structural and institutional development.
“Hope will be in our side,” helping us to stand against not only racism, sexism, but, most importantly, materialism and militarism, which are representing the real social issues nowadays.
Dr.Jamal also examined how to consider violence as a public health issue, especially in influencing youth and early childhood development.
Dr. Jamal Martins ended his speech by urging everyone to take part in spreading the word about structural violence.
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Also published in the Peace Lens.
