5 Reasons Why Arab Americans Should Say #BlackLivesMatter
BY: Nisreen Eadeh/Staff Writer
America witnessed two more fatal shootings of black men by police officers this week – Philando Castile in Minnesota and Alton Sterling in Louisiana. Cities across America, big and small, demonstrated on the streets Thursday night, demanding an end to the unnecessary deaths of black men by white cops. The level of frustration felt by some on this issue led to the shooting of eleven police officers in Dallas by sniper shooters blinded by anger. Of course, violence was not the right reaction to the Castile and Sterling murders. Instead, willing Americans should work together to change legislation and enforce culture sensitivity education upon authority figures.
As the #BlackLivesMatter movement trudges forward in search of justice for those wrongfully slain, Arab Americans can easily find reasons to show their support. The obvious reason is that police brutality is wrong and being silent about the matter is to be a compliant benefiter in inequality. However, Black and Arab Americans are bonded in other ways that are not as obvious, but just as useful in finding motivation to be part of a social justice movement.
1. Some Arabs are Black
Arab identity is defined by those who share a common language, culture, and feeling of being Arab. Unlike many other ethnic groups, Arabs can be white, brown, or black in skin tone, and derive from several nationalities. There are more Arabs in Africa – the continent shared by the two communities – than anywhere else on Earth. These differentiations do not make any one person more Arab than another, which is why the shooting of three Sudanese Americans should outrage the Black and Arab American communities alike. Arabs have a history of using derogatory words toward black Africans, but a new generation is emerging. Words like “abeed” are being disavowed by more and more Arab Americans who understand unity better than inter-ethnic racism.
2. Arab Americans are Disproportionately Profiled and Targeted by Federal Law Enforcement
Anti-racial profiling protests from Arab Americans and Muslims take place often – photo from ccrjustice.org
Arab Americans can easily sympathize with Black Americans, who are disproportionately targeted by local and state police. Being perceived as “inherently criminal” by law enforcement is an unfortunate reality suffered by both communities. This does not mean that Black and Arab Americans share a common enemy, but rather, they share a common goal of eradicating systemic racism. One of the best ways to combat dangerous perceptions is to work together to promote education and better legislation.
3. Media Entertainment Makes Black and Arab Americans Look Ridiculous
Arab actor being made up as a terrorist – photo from gq.com
For decades, black actors have only been casted in television and movies as gang bangers or people who overcome their terribly unfortunate circumstances. Similarly, Arab actors are only casted as terrorists or shady gas station owners. Together, Black and Arab Americans share this problem of being perceived as untrustworthy and incapable of being anything but a stereotype in the media, which helps stoke racism that contributes to police brutality.
4. Racism is Not Just a Black Issue
Since 9/11, journalists and comedians have been satirically saying that Arabs and Muslims are the new “blacks” of America – the new “bad guys” white Americans should fear. Even though Arab Americans fought to identify as white on the U.S. Census almost a century ago, Arabs have never been treated like they are white. On a near daily basis, Arab America reports on instances of discrimination, harassment, and violent hate crimes directed toward people of Arab descent by those who intentionally target the community. This is no different from the Black American community that has been suffering from far worse scenarios for generations.
5. Black and Arab American Bonds Already Exist
Black Lives Matter leaders visiting Palestine – photo from remezcla.com
Civil rights and social justice are two extremely important issues for both communities, which has brought them closer together over the past few years in particular. While Black Americans have the NAACP, Arab Americans have ADC and CAIR– all of whom work together to combat police brutality. There also exists a group like the Dream Defenders, which serves to equate systemic racism toward Black Americans with the oppression of Palestinians by Israel. Building on these relationships is a key factor in solving mutual problems in the U.S.