Dear John,
February marks Black History Month. At NIAC, we want to take a moment to reflect on our shared values and our fight for civil rights. As we enter a month of celebration and reflection, we should be reminded that our community is diverse and includes Black Iranian-Americans.
We owe thanks to Black Americans who fought against racism and islamophobia in America, and who continue to fight for our civil rights. The American Civil Rights Movement, spearheaded and led by Black Americans, served as the foundation for securing the rights of all marginalized communities, including Iranian-American communities.
At the same time, we must reckon with Iranian's history of slavery. Slavery was not abolished in Iran until 1929, and since then, some Iranians have perpetuated anti-Blackness. We must challenge these notions within our communities because our community includes Black Iranians and our struggles are intertwined with each other.
One organization leading the way on this work is the Collective for Black Iranians. They work to lift up the voices of Black and Afro-Iranians, educate the community about the Africanness/Blackness within the Iranian identity, and advance the representation of Black and Afro-Iranians in Iranian narratives. Click here to learn more about the Collective for Black Iranians and the work they are doing. [[link removed]] You can also follow them on Instagram [[link removed]] and Twitter [[link removed]] to read the stories that they uplift.
At NIAC, we continue to build on the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement through our activism. Our mission is to fight for the civil rights of all Americans, and that includes Black Americans. NIAC's solidarity with Black Americans is fundamental to our organization because Black Iranian Americans are our community.
This month and every month, we honor the history and the activism of the Black Americans, including Black Iranian Americans, who laid the groundwork for equality. And it's up to all of us to build on it.
Thank you, John.
Donna Farvard
National Organizing Director, NIAC
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