ADC Celebrates Black History Month

Washington, DC | www.adc.org | February 14, 2018 |

“I want to take my rightful share of life by force, I want to give lavishly, I want love to flow from my heart, to ripen and bear fruit. “

? Tayeb Salih, Sundanese Arab novelist, Season of Migration to the North

During Black History Month, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) celebrates Black History and recognizes the ongoing struggle for full equality. Since our founding, ADC has worked to achieve equal rights for all Americans, and our work is inspired by the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement. We recognize the intersectionality of our work and are committed to building, and working with, coalition partners to achieve our goals.

Arab and African-Americans have a shared struggle for equality and justice. We are impacted and united on many fronts. Our communities are fighting to end racial profiling and end discriminatory law enforcement practices. We are proud to stand with the Black Lives Matter movement, just as they continue to stand up against the injustices inflicted on Palestinians. We will continue to support all movements that seek to end injustice.

During this month, ADC would like to especially recognize the contributions of Black Arabs to our community. ADC is committed to correcting the misrepresentation of Arab-Americans. One myth is that Black and Arab are disparate identities. This is a false dichotomy shaped by constructs of whiteness and blackness that are Western in origin and not indigenous to Arab conceptions of identity, which have always been multifaceted.

From Morocco to Yemen every Arab country is home to Black Arabs. From the glorious heritage of the Moors to the astonishing novels of the 20th-century writer Tayeb Salih, Black Arabs have enriched the Arab world’s culture for centuries. Black Arabs are a testament to the diverse and multilayered Arab identity. Above all, Arabs are united by a shared culture and language. Black Arab immigrants to the US and their descendants are part of the Arab-American story. Our Arab-American community would not be whole without them.

In celebrating Black History Month and recognizing the contributions of Black Arabs to our community, ADC reaffirms its commitment to end all forms of discrimination and prejudice.

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