John – Today marks Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and told enslaved Black people that the Civil War was over, and they were no longer enslaved. Juneteenth is the newest federal holiday which marks a day of celebration for Black American culture and history.
In addition to celebrating, NIAC will take this moment to recognize the Black lives lost at the hands of enslavement and systemic racism. Even though enslaved Black people in America were emancipated in 1865, Black Americans still face the consequences of centuries of structural racism, brutality, and discrimination. NIAC is proud to fight for the civil rights of all Americans, which includes our Black siblings.
As a non-Black Iranian American, for me, celebrating this day also goes hand-in-hand with the acknowledgment that Iranians enslaved and sold Africans until slavery was abolished in 1929. It's only been less than a century since the slave trade was banned in Iran, and that means we must continue to do the work of educating our families, friends, and loved ones about anti-Blackness and fighting against structural racism through interpersonal and policy changes.
We'll continue to stand in solidarity with Black Americans because our struggles are intertwined and our community encompasses Black Iranian Americans. We can't fight for all Iranian Americans without fighting for Black Americans too. This Juneteenth, please join me in honoring this day by committing yourself to practice anti-racism each and every day.
In solidarity,
Nilofar Ganjaie
Deputy Executive Director, NIAC
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