Black Immigrant Lives Matter
By: Julie Williams | 2021 Intern
Black Lives Matter. Immigrant Lives Matter. Black Immigrant Lives Matter.
2020 was a year that opened many Americans’ eyes to the existence and persistence of systemic racism and the dangers that undocumented immigrants face, with the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and 545 children separated from their parents with little hope of reunification. As these stories of violence and injustice are shared, “Black” and “immigrant” are often seen as separate identities.
As we celebrate Black History month, we must acknowledge the Black immigrant experience and the contributions that Black immigrants have made to our country's history. While the public narrative often focuses on the struggles of Latiné immigrants, Black immigrants face specific and significant challenges in our country and comprise a large part of our immigration story.
The intersection of slavery and immigration
12.5 million Africans were enslaved in the trans-Atlantic slave trade and forced across the Middle Passage. Of the 10.7 million people that survived, 388,000 ended up in North America. The forced labor of these Black immigrants built our country and allowed America to become - and remain - a global economic power, a fact that is often overlooked in U.S. history. The remainder of these slaves disembarked throughout the Caribbean and Central and South America and many of their descendants have migrated to the US seeking asylum, work, and higher education. Nearly 50% of black immigrants come from the Caribbean region.
The unique challenges of Black immigrants
As Black folx, Black immigrants face challenges that other immigrant groups do not. They encounter anti-black discrimination and racial prejudice, over-policing and police brutality, and increased incarceration. Black immigrants are caught in the “prison to deportation pipeline” more than any other immigrant group, with 76% of Black immigrants deported on criminal grounds as compared to 45% of all immigrants.
As immigrants, Black immigrants face challenges that U.S-born Black Americans do not. Undocumented black folks face deportation, lack of access to resources, and work restrictions. Their children encounter additional bias in education; the focus on Spanish-speaking learners can make it harder for Black immigrant learners to access the resources they need and easier for them to fall through the cracks.
Our responsibility
As individuals and as an organization, we have a responsibility to act on the side of justice for our Black immigrant neighbors. We can - and must - do better.
“We are committed to centering clients in our work and ensuring that people of color are more involved in the leadership and direction of the organization.”
“National Justice for Our Neighbors has made anti-racism work a strategic priority for our organization,” according to Rob Rutland-Brown, the Executive Director of National Justice for Our Neighbors. “We are committed to centering clients in our work and ensuring that people of color are more involved in the leadership and direction of the organization.”
“This process is not going to be easy, and I’m sure we’ll take some missteps along the journey, but for any organization, particularly one that serves predominantly people of color, this work is absolutely necessary if we are to succeed in our mission.”
Black Immigrant Lives Matter.