by
Black Girl With Long Hair
The reaction from the black community has been mixed since Donald Trump signed an executive order banning nationals and legal residents from 7 majority-Muslim countries, including Somalia and Sudan. While many African Americans are furious at the ban, some have taken an ‘it’s not my problem’ approach. This thinking runs counter to that of Martin Luther King, a fierce critic of the Vietnam war who stated
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
There is a historic overlap between the Black American and the immigrant experience. Members of Black Greek organizations are bringing this to light with the hashtag D9immigrants, started by Black Greek blog Watch The Yard. Here are some of the stories;
From Nigeria
“At the age of 10, my family left their jobs, family and land in Nigeria to bring my siblings and I here to America. This selfless act was solely for a better education and brighter future for us. The transition was definitely a very tough one. It was hard seeing my parents struggle to make ends meet, because we were living a very comfortable life in Nigeria. I was ridiculed in the public schools because of my skin color and accent. Even though we recently just got our citizenship(right in time I guess) I will always love and be a proud Nigerian. I pray for better Days. Today, I Stand with all the Muslims and Immigrants!!” – @Abimballin_
“As the daughter of two Nigerian Muslims, many people wonder what attracted me to the Divine 9. In large part, it is opportunities like this, where I am able to use my platform to educate others on the reality of being a Black, Muslim, Immigrant Woman. The older I get, the more I have come to appreciate my parents’ sacrifice to move to America in order to improve living conditions for my sisters and I. In turn, I’ve chosen to dedicate my life to bettering the living conditions of others, and will do so by being an unwavering ally/advocate for other marginalized groups. Whether they are natives or immigrants, cis women or trans women, I have love for everyone.” – @Bolalalaaaa
From the Democratic Republic of Congo
“My parents moved here from the Democratic Republic of Congo to study in America but remained once war and political instability broke out. After a looong application process in which my siblings and I were born, they finally received their American citizenship.
As a child, this was a story I was very reluctant to tell; that my parents weren’t citizens. But over time I grew not only to accept it, but to celebrate it. When I graduated from Dartmouth College, I opted to wear the Abacost, a suit designed after Congolese independence specifically created to symbolize a break from our colonial past. And walking down that stage seeing the tears in my parents eyes was the proudest moment of my life.” – @jon.tre.3
From Morrocco
“I am Muslim born, From Casablanca, Morocco , as a nation we need to stick up for all our brothers and sisters in these times, all we have is each other.” – @kor0nary(The guy in the middle)
From Haiti
“I came here at the age of 3 as a political refugee from Haiti in 1994. My dad escaped. several attempts to take his life due to his political views/position. I look to them everyday to know why I came to America: to achieve the American dream.” – @That_haitianzeta3
From Jamaica
“At the age of 15, my mom and I left our home country of Jamaica in pursuit of a better life. My mother has been working tirelessly with no days off to make ends meet. It’s because of the sacrifices that she has been making( and that of our family back home) that allows me to be where I am today. I received my college degree as a first generation Ivy League graduate and my citizenship in 2016 by God’s grace. I know where I come from and I’m proud to be an immigrant woman??” – @shay61093
From Sudan
“I’m a first generation US citizen born to a Sudanese Muslim mother. My mother who was raised in Egypt and Libya (another banned nation) did not have access to equal opportunities because her Sudanese passport. She immigrated to the States when she was 21. Today I thank her and my family for their sacrifices in immigrating to a new country, learning the language and providing me with access to endless opportunities. I am a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.” – @Dr_sunshine_smiles
From Somalia
“As the son of two Somali refugees, seeking a better life was their dream! I can go on and on but I’ll leave it at this, through hard work and dedication I can proudly say that they have lived out that dream and this country has allowed them to make that happen! “Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.” – @_apo1lo_
From Senegal
“My parents decided to change their entire lives and embark on a new journey. The college graduate and proud Sigma man I am today thanks them for the choices and sacrifices they made, as well as the multiple blessings they’ve brought into the life of that young Muslim Senegalese kid who got on a plane 6 years ago. Thanks for the reminder that we’re never really alone. This is just another example of how much representation matters.” – @Kcilam93
Beautiful.
Please check out the rest of the entries under #D9Immigrants or on Watch the Yard’s Instagram page.
4 Responses
That Moroccan dude isn’t even black and in his country he and many others would likely hate blacks and see them as inferior and slaves.
Don’t understand why people with comfortable situations in their own country go to others where they’re treated like shit though. Why so much dumbness
Because many of these people do not have “comfortable situations in their own country.” Kinda like the pilgrims who were willing to brave the harshness of a new land to avoid religious persecution and excessive taxation in Europe.
Looking for the receipts from Greece…appropriation, anyone?