The feedback is in. Participating in “Dystopia, Then Deportation: Systemic Denial of ‘Dignity, Freedom & Justice’ for Black Migrants in the United States” was not only educational, but meaningful. If you missed it, you can watch a recording here.
NEW – Download our post-event report, with insights and action items: bit.ly/DystopiaFinal.
A discreet event within the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice’s 75th anniversary celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “Dystopia” was curated by Diaspora Praxis and hosted by the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, Mauritanian Network for Human Rights in US; and Cameroon Advocacy Network.
Plenary speakers included Houleye Thiam of MNHRUS and Daniel Tse of CAN, a well as Felix, Bachirou, and Abdoulaye, three Black immigrants who have battled (or are still battling) the U.S. deportation machine. Breanne Palmer moderated the plenary in place of Dr. Nana Afua Yeboah, who had an emergency. Janvieve Williams Comrie read Dr. Afua Yeboah’s opening remarks (excerpted below).
The land on which we are convening, the space we are co-creating, during a time of global uprising and mobilization in the interest of the ideals set forth by the United Nations Declaration for Human Rights…requires us to sit with the contradictions, manufactured barriers and limitations to foundational human and basic rights. By way of US domestic, foreign, and international policy, conflict, crises, and emergencies grow and spread across borders — pushing people across borders in pursuit of life, liberty, and security.
The community we are focusing on today, my community, Black immigrants, know these contradictions well…. Each of our nations of origin/heritage has its own unique history and relationship with the United States that has shaped our journeys here.
Our Mauritanian and Cameroonian speakers join us during a time where their home countries are faced with conflict, crisis, and emergencies impacting the most marginalized and forcing migrations across regional and international borders. Both communities in the United States navigate the contradictions of “dignity, freedom, and justice for all” across borders.
Breakout groups on topics such as universal representation versus self-determination; language access in courts and other life-changing spaces; breaking down funding barriers; and equitable research were led by Breanne Palmer, Esq., AJA Advocacy Solutions; Malado Barro and Mamadou Diallo, Afrilingual Cooperative; Janvieve Williams Comrie, AfroResistance; and Nicole Hewitt-Cabral, Community Action Strategies.
Read reaction from participants below. Check out Breanne Palmer’s presentation for the breakout group on representation in court here.
“The idea of seeing destruction as rebirth really stuck with me.”
“I definitely gained valuable new information. Although I work day to day with asylum seekers, I have been focused on Spanish speakers without knowing the needs and difficulties that Black asylum seekers suffer.”
“Abolish immigration detention, create an affirmative asylum process that’s simple and navigable without an attorney, proactive support and protection of Black migrants and other historically oppressed groups.”
“I also learned a lot (and was inspired by) the discussions of anti-deportation/anti-carceral activism and ideas for building a more just and anti-racist responses to people on the move and their need for protection.”
“Excellent leaders connected to different pieces of this work – would have liked more time in breakouts.”