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Issue 2: February 28, 2023

A monthly spotlight on major developments in MPAC’s D.C. Office

THIS MONTH IN DC – Dr. King's Legacy of Faith in Action ([link removed]) , Reflections on the State of the Union Address ([link removed]) , MPAC, Coalition Condems House Vote to Remove Ilhan Omar from Foreign Affairs Committee ([link removed]) , Protecting Voting Rights Amid the Great Replacement Theory ([link removed]) , Malcolm X: Unity, Solidarity, and Liberation ([link removed]) , Implications of the Great Replacement Theory Webinar ([link removed]) , Recognizing Action with Kimberl ([link removed]) é
([link removed]) Crenshaw ([link removed]) , Reflections on the National Museum of African American History and Culture ([link removed])

Dr. King's Legacy of Faith in Action:
Black History Month is a call to honor the many African Americans who have pushed, and continue to push, for an equal and just nation. Without their resiliency, progress would be lost. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. unequivocally transformed American society through his lifelong commitment to social justice and equality. Dr. King cautioned us about the injustices that continue to plague our society in the 21st century — from voter disenfranchisement to police violence afflicting communities of color, particularly in Black communities. The abuses he sought to end have endured, yet the spirit of resistance and advancement that he embodied remains.

Read our full article here ([link removed]) .

Reflections on the State of the Union Address:
Democracy forms the backbone of our country. For many, participation comes in the form of voting, but our system requires far more than that. To be a fully functional system of governance, the constituents must be engaged and involved in the civic process on a regular basis. The largest obstacle to more engagement: a lack of trust in how people are governed. For trust in our leaders and systems, there must be accountability and recognition of where our democracy is thriving and areas where it is lacking. President Biden’s State of the Union address was an opportunity for him to showcase to the country that he delivered on past promises, is aware and ready to take on current challenges, and has a vision for the country moving forward.

Read our full reflection here ([link removed]) .

MPAC, Coalition Condemn House Vote to Remove Ilhan Omar from Foreign Affairs Committee:
“Censorship is a hallmark of authoritarian governments, and what the House of Representatives just voted in favor of is just another form of that. By stripping Representative Ilhan Omar of her position on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, her unique perspective, specifically as a refugee, will weaken the panel from achieving its core mission. Given that, we demand the Speaker reverse the silencing of Rep. Omar’s voice.”

Read our the full press release here ([link removed]) .
Watch the press conference here ([link removed]) .

E Pluribus Unum: Protecting Voting Rights in the Era of the Great Replacement Theory:
The Great Replacement Theory (GRT) is a widely debunked conspiracy positing that immigration is a globalist scheme to replace white populations and their traditions. The implications of the Great Replacement Theory are both boundless and dangerous for people of color. The rise in voting discrimination in conjunction with support for GRT is an especially alarming trend for the American Muslim community, many of whom are immigrants or first-generation Americans. Comprising nearly a fifth of the American Muslim community, African Americans are faced with especially undue political burdens in the ballot box and as victims of violent hate crimes. These trends can discourage our community to engage with the political system, believing that our contributions will amount to nothing as discrimination continues to take center stage.

To read our full article on the Great Replacement Theory, click here ([link removed]) .

Malcolm X: Unity, Solidarity, and Liberation:
As a minister of the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X, also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, preached for black nationalism. He believed that Black people should come together to work towards their own liberation and advocated for the unity of all people of African descent, regardless of their religion or nationality. In his early years, Malcolm X’s approach to civil rights was combative, instigative, and in the eyes of many, extreme. That changed in April, 1964 when Malcolm X visited Mecca for Hajj (pilgrimage). Upon seeing every nationality and ethnicity from around the world united in worshiping one God, with no sign of the racism that he had grown up facing in America, Malcolm X converted from the Nation of Islam to mainstream Islam. With his conversion came a shift in his outlook, ideology, and rhetoric. He abandoned his belief in violence and his calls for separation for Black Americans. He began to hope for brotherhood across all races.To read the full article, click here
([link removed]) .

Implications of the Great Replacement Theory Webinar:
During this webinar, we held a discussion around efforts being made to minimize the voice of minority communities at the ballot box and how to counter them. Panelists included Texas State Representative Ron Reynolds, who touched on the impact the Great Replacement Theory has had on access to voting for people of color and minority communities. Leslie Proll, Senior Program Director of Voting Rights at the Leadership Conference on Human Rights, currently helps lead the national voting rights coalition and spoke on the importance of the development and passing of civil rights legislation. American University Professor Sarah Trembath shared her perspective as an educator who focuses on culturally biased education and the necessity of critical thinking and media literacy skills.

If you missed it, watch the webinar here ([link removed]) .

[link removed]

Recognizing Action with Kimberlé Crenshaw:
As this year’s Black History Month comes to a close, we must continue to remember the lasting legacies of Black Americans and the triumphs and the complex discourses that have shap ed, and continue to shape, the fabric of our nation.

One of the many Black Americans that are shaping our world is Kimberlé Crenshaw, a respected scholar, professor, writer, and civil rights advocate who pioneered the educational and political landscapes through her innovative work, most notably on intersectionality and the Critical Race Theory (CRT). Through her profound work, Crenshaw introduced a recognition of the overlap between social identities, notably minority identities, and their relation to systems of oppression and discrimination.

To read the full article, click here ([link removed]) .


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WHAT'S NEW: NMAAHC Tour
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Reflections on the National Museum of African American History and Culture:
On September 24, 2016, President Barack Obama stated that “African-American history is not somehow separate from our larger American story, it's not the underside of the American story, it is central to the American story,” as he inaugurated the National Museum of African American History and Culture ([link removed]) .

This Black History Month, we, as MPAC Policy and Advocacy interns based in Washington, D.C. along with MPAC’s Director of Policy and Government Relations, had the privilege to visit the National Museum and learn about the rich cultural and historical contributions made by Black Americans. As our country is faced with attempts to erase African American history from our schools and communities, we wanted to take the opportunity to witness that history ourselves and truly understand the value that comes from it. The numerous exhibits displayed everything from the arts to advocacy, sports to civil rights, and provided a number of interactive features for visitors to engage with.

Read the full reflection here ([link removed]) .
Watch the vlog tour of the museum here ([link removed]) .

Sincerely,

Mohammad H. Ali
Director of Policy and Government Relations
MPAC

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