Alagi Yorro Jallow
Fatoumatta: Expressing solidarity and support for the oppressed and victims of injustice should stem from a sense of shared humanity, rather than faith, race, or tribal affiliations. Our fight against tyranny, oppression, and injustice must transcend tribal and faith boundaries, anchored in a commitment to human dignity.
Historically, our support for the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa was not rooted in shared faith, but in a unified stance against injustice and a commitment to humanity. Similarly, our support for the Palestinian cause should stem from compassion, empathy, and our fundamental human values, not religious solidarity. Our solidarity with those facing police brutality and racism in America is not about race or religion; these issues are stark reminders of the persistent fight against racial inequality and injustice in the country. We advocate for a united effort to eradicate systemic racism and ensure that every person, irrespective of race, is treated with dignity and respect. It is through this perspective of shared humanity that we can truly unite against oppression and strive for a just and equitable world for everyone.
Years ago, when ample time allowed for intense debates over trivial matters and the display of extreme passion for subjects like religion, ideology, and politics, Gambians, predominantly Muslims, were deeply divided over the Palestine issue and the Middle East conflict, as well as US Foreign Policy. During the twenty-two-year rule of despot Yahya Jammeh, the country endured relentless attacks on both rural and urban areas, marked by a surge in exiling dissenters, arbitrary arrests, detentions, beatings, and a rise in extrajudicial killings, as evidenced by confessions and testimonies at the Truth Commission. The lack of outrage among Gambian Muslims, even those who were direct victims, was disheartening. Many Gambians, previously silent on Yahya Jammeh’s tyranny and domestic killings, quickly became vocal activists for the cause in Palestine.
Fatoumatta: The advocacy was commendable, yet their silence on the atrocities and killings within their own borders and geopolitical region exposed a clear hypocrisy. Lives were being lost in Gambia at that time, with many Gambian youths perishing in the Mediterranean Sea—a reality that remains unreported. In contrast, the Palestinian cause has garnered the support of numerous influential activists and groups worldwide, ensuring their plight is well-documented. Gambians, accused of this hypocrisy, were compelled to justify their solidarity with Palestinians based on shared religious beliefs. This rationale weakened the unity that had sustained the Free Gaza campaign and overlooked the fact that the leading Palestinian intellectual fueling the Palestinian cause did not share this faith.
A friend mentioned this in a discussion yesterday, pointing to the widespread response to anti-black racism in the United States, particularly among African blacks. However, labeling Africans as hypocrites diminishes our historical engagements with the white race, through dynamics of power such as the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism – relationships perpetuated by the neo-imperial framework of today’s world.
Certainly, the experiences of African Americans are not identical to those elsewhere. However, anti-black racism impacts the entire race, transcending geography. The systemic oppression of black individuals and their portrayal as inferior or reliant on “white saviors” is perpetuated by global media, shaping perceptions worldwide. This issue extends beyond America.
Racial identity is indelible. While one may alter or abandon their nationality, religion, ethnicity, ideology, politics, and to some extent, biology, race remains an unshakeable presence, akin to a shadow. Ethnic plastic surgery or skin lightening cannot change one’s lineage or genetic makeup.
Fatoumatta: The devastating losses of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Amadou Diallo, and many other African Americans due to police actions underscore the persistent problem of systemic racism in the United States. These events are not anomalies; they reflect a longstanding pattern of racial discrimination and police violence that disproportionately impacts Black communities. The killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes despite Floyd’s cries that he couldn’t breathe, has become emblematic of the struggle against police brutality and racial inequality. This atrocity ignited global protests and intensified the spotlight on the Black Lives Matter movement.
Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African American from Miami Gardens, Florida, was fatally shot by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch coordinator, in Sanford, Florida, on February 26, 2012. This tragic event ignited national outrage and prompted a reexamination of racial profiling, gun violence, and self-defense laws.
Amadou Diallo, a 23-year-old Guinean immigrant, was shot and killed by four New York City police officers on February 4, 1999. The officers discharged 41 shots, 19 of which struck Diallo, after they mistook him for a suspect and thought he was drawing a gun, when in fact, he was retrieving his wallet. The death of Diallo caused widespread indignation and brought attention to the issues of racial profiling and the excessive use of force by the police.
American racism is a personal tragedy for all African blacks, akin to how some Muslim individuals have shown support for the Palestinian conflict through a religious lens. Amadou Diallo, the subject of Wyclef’s enduring song “Diallo,” was an African native who moved to the United States for education. His skin color led to his death, being shot 41 times for merely reaching for his wallet. This racial profiling extends even into the borderless realm of cyberspace. These incidents are indicative of the widespread systemic racism and police brutality faced by African Americans. Research indicates that Black individuals are disproportionately more likely to be killed by police compared to their white peers, highlighting the critical need for sweeping police reform and initiatives to combat racial prejudice in law enforcement.
The deaths of Floyd, Diallo, and many others are poignant reminders of the persistent fight for racial equality and justice in America. They underscore the need for a united effort to eradicate systemic racism and ensure that every person is treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their race. For professionals and experts in significant fields, the likelihood of visiting countries affected by racism is high. Often, the epicenters of specialized institutions or expertise are located within these areas. A single moment of racial discrimination can have a profound impact on one’s life, as it did for Diallo.
Fatoumatta: The modern world has been molded by humanism, not by a shared faith or racism. My use of English today stems from that history of racism, not faith. Therefore, supporting African Americans, Americans, and Palestinians is not just a favor; it’s an affirmation of our dignity and humanity, a respect for our skin color—an immutable identity. Our solidarity must go beyond a common faith, like Islam, to embrace support for the Palestinian people.
