July 27, 2014
Anonymous said: Where do Afro Palestinians fit in with the struggle? They also face racism from other Palestinians and are often not considered Palestinian enough nor that they have the right to be in the land despite many of them being in the country since the Islamic conquest. What is their position and who is rallying for their rights?
First, Afro-Palestinian have always fitted in the Palestinian anti-colonial struggle for national liberation they participate in resistance and mobilizations against the occupation. The first Palestinian woman to organize a commando operation in “israel” was Fatima Bernawi and she is Afro-Palestinian.I don’t know where you got that Afro-Palestinians “don’t have the right to be on the land” they are indigenous to the land just as any Palestinian. I suggest you look at these links to resources i provided below to learn more about the community and their struggles and aspirations.
Video: Ali Jiddah Afro-Palestinian activist from Jerusalem
Afro-Jerusalmite Society: An Afro-Palestinian organization based in Jerusalem
Article: Black, Proud and Palestinian
Photo Portraits: Portraits of Afro-Palestinians from Jerusalem and Jericho
Articles about Afro-Palestinians in Gaza:
Darg Team Palestinian Hip-Hop group group from Gaza that is made up of Afro-Palestinian members (The second article above talks about them)
Reema Morgan Afro-Palestinian singer from Gaza
The crisis of solidarity: Using ‘’their plight” to score political points by Budour Hassan
This is a great article although Budour discusses Eritrean and South Sudani refugees in “israel” she also writes about Afro-Palestinians.
You can read about Fatima Bernawi here beginning on page 10:
Daughters of Palestine Leading Women of the Palestinian National Movement by Amal Kawar
Article about Majed Abu Maraheel the first Palestinian to compete in the Olympics back in Atlanta in 1996 who is Afro-Palestinian.