Why Africans Living in the U.S Must Join in the Call to End Racism.

Regardless of Immigration Status.

Two months ago, I defended my dissertation looking at the differences in cardiovascular health of African-born and U.S-born Blacks in Hennepin County, Minnesota where as we know by now (unless you have been living under a rock) a Black man was killed by a White police officer in broad daylight. My investigation into the health status of African-born Blacks in the U.S. was not to add to the body of work on ongoing ethnic tensions¹ between African-born Blacks and U.S-born Blacks.

My aim was to bring an awareness to anyone who would read that while there are many similarities within the Black population, the Black people have never and will never be monolith, and this is also true within our health status, behaviors, and outcomes. African-born Blacks often experience adverse health effects despite enjoying better health advantages due to the same socioeconomic disadvantages, less access to health care, and racial disparities U.S.-born counterparts face every day; in addition to the stigma and marginalization experienced as a result of religious and cultural background differences, and for some limited English language proficiency and immigration status.

I imagine it is for this very reason that many of us African-born Blacks are determined to elevate and differentiate ourselves from our U.S-born counterparts in order to survive. In a country that only sees the color of our skin, perhaps if we are the most educated, the most gifted, the most eloquent, we will escape the constant pain and sorrow the U.S-born Black have lived with for generations.

In Hennepin county, where George Floyd was killed and has since become the epicenter of race-related riots, African-born Blacks represent only about 4% of the entire population but are about a fourth of the Black population (27%). That means one out of every four black individuals you see in that county is African and that is true for many counties and states across America as African immigrants become the fastest growing immigrant population in the U.S.

I write today, as an African-born Black immigrant for 15 years in this country, with my own limited experiences of racial discrimination, knowing that it would be foolish and dare I say ignorant, if I did not join in the outcry of my Black brothers and sisters in the U.S. to scream “Enough is Enough! Black Lives Matter! End Racism!”

The question of “who is Black?” holds no weight in this fight to end racism. In fact, what has been years of tension between African-born and U.S-born Blacks is simply a result of White racial farming that has denied us unity for years. Yet NOW, we must become united. Irrespective of immigration status, a challenge that has often held us back from speaking up because we are afraid of being deported and sent back to “shithole countries”, which they are not!. While we are here, we must lend our voice to stop this insanity before it comes to meet us at our own doorsteps (Breonna Taylor was in her home and so was Botham Jean when they were murdered). Not just because it can meet you at your doorstep but because it is the humane thing to do.

We may have valid reasons for not going out on to the streets but there’s still so much we can do. I called the DA in Hennepin County, signed the petition, and many times I have donated financially and will do so again until we see change. Here is how you can be an ally: Write emails, send letters, support those who are protesting, support the families affected by this virus called racism, and support black owned businesses and products. Donate financially to the families who have lost a loved one, the numerous grassroots organizations that fight this cause daily and to the legal defense funds of those who are bravely protesting. You can also engage in your local community and if you are a U.S. citizen, vote! Not just in the presidential election, vote in the towns you live, vote when there is a decision to be made on what businesses are brought into your town, vote when there is a decision to be made on your school superintendents and local officials, vote for those of us who cannot. What you SHOULD NOT DO is remain silent on this cause.

I leave you with words from the late Dick Gregory, an African-American comedian and civil rights activist who said: “This isn’t a revolution of Black against White; this is a revolution of right against wrong. And right has never lost.”

¹The tension has been noted in many fields including arts, music, fashion, sports and most especially education.