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African Writers Stand in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter

By June 19, 2020February 11th, 2022Organizing

African immigrant authors speak out against racist violence and voice support for U.S. protesters seeking justice for George Floyd.

By June 19, 2020February 11th, 2022Organizing

African immigrant authors speak out against racist violence and voice support for U.S. protesters seeking justice for George Floyd.

Above: George Floyd protests in Miami, Fla. May 31, 2020. Tverdokhlib / Shutterstock.com

More than 100 African immigrant writers in the United States and beyond joined together this month to support the Black Lives Matter movement. In an open letter, they condemned the murders of Black men and women including George Floyd, who was murdered by a white police officer in Minneapolis on May 25.

This Juneteenth, we share their letter.


As African writers without borders who are connected beyond geography with those who live in the United States of America and other parts of the African diaspora, we state that we condemn the acts of violence on Black people in the United States of America. We note in dismay that what Malcolm X said in Ghana in 1964 that “for the twenty million of us in America who are of African descent, it’s not an American dream; it’s an American nightmare” remains true for 37 million in 2020.

We condemn the murders of:

George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, Amadou Diallo, Ahmaud Arbery, Aiyana Mo’Nay Stanly-Jones,  Tony McDade, Pamela Turner, Matthew Ajibade, Rekia Boyd, Eric  Garner, John Crawford III, Michael Brown, Shelly Frey,  Ezelll Ford, Dante Parker, Michelle Casseaux, Yvette Smith, Darnesha Harris, Laquan Mcdonald, Atatiana Jefferson, George Mann, Tanisha Anderson, Akai Gurley, Tamir Rice, Rumain Brisbon, Jerame Reid, Frank Smart, Natasha Mckenna, Tony Robinson, Anthony Hill, William Chapman II, Alberta Spruill, Walter Scott, Shantell Davis, Eric Harris, Philip White, Mya Hall, Alexia Christian, Brendon Glenn, Victor Manuel Larosa, Jonathan Sanders, Salvado Ellswood, Joseph Mann, Freddie Blue, Albert Joseph Davis,  Darrius Stewart, Billy Ray Davis, Samuel Dubose, Troy Robinson, Christian Taylor, Sean Bell, Brian Keith Day, Michael Sabbie, Asshams Pharoah Manley, Felix Kumi, Keith Harrison McLeod, Junior Prosper, Anthony Ashford, Dominic Hutchinson, Paterson Brown, Lamontez Jones, Bettie Jones, Alonzo Smith,  Tyree Crawford India Kager, Janet Wilson, Sylville Smith, Benni Lee Tignor, Yvonne Smallwood, Kayla Moore  and all other names, known and unknown, that represent human beings who are our kin.

Our blood.

We support the protests in the United States and across the world as our people demand justice for any and all racial killings whether by police or civilians. We are aware that these are not quiet protests. We do not expect it and neither should the United States of America. The killings were not done quietly. The police brutality and state sanctioned murders were done loudly with no fear of consequences from those who perpetrated them.

We acknowledge the African Union’s condemnation of the United States government’s  continual terrorism towards African-Americans. We believe that the African Union can and should do better.

We ask that African governments recognize our alliance and connections with our brothers and sisters across borders, from America to Brazil and through the rest of the diaspora. That they offer those who choose it: refuge, homes and citizenship in the name of pan-Africanism.

We demand that the American legal institutions independently investigate every police killing as well as investigate any complaint against police violence.

We demand that any accused be suspended without pay until a fair trial clears them of charges. In essence, we are asking the United States of America to be brave enough to adhere to its own bill of rights so that it can be the land of the free for ALL Americans regardless of color, creed or sexual orientation.

We assert that Black Lives Matter. As writers, we raise our fists in solidarity with those who refuse to be silenced. To our brothers and sisters in the United States, we stand with you.

We ask all decent human beings to join us in being our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. As they protest in the United States, please give whatever donations you can to #BlackLivesMatter. 

LETTER SIGNED:

  1. Chris Abani
  2. Kelvin Nonvignon Adantchede
  3. Ama Ata Aidoo
  4. Ali J Ahmed
  5. Abdilatif Abdalla
  6. Yasmin Abdel -Magied
  7. Leila Aboulela
  8. Leye Adenle
  9. Bisi Adjapon
  10. Jose Eduardo Agualusa
  11. Ali J Ahmed
  12. Júlio de Almeida
  13. Ayesha Harruna Attah
  14. Sefi Atta
  15. Meti Birabiro
  16. Tanella Boni
  17. Nana Brew-Hammond
  18. Noviolet Bulawayo
  19. Shadreck Chikoti
  20. Nana Awere Damoah
  21. Tolu Daniel
  22. Ibrahim El Khalil Diallo
  23. Boubacar Boris Diop
  24. Raoul Djimeli
  25. Edwige Dro
  26. Ainehi Edoro-Glines
  27. Chike Frankie Edozien
  28. Filinto Elisio
  29. Kalaf Epalanga
  30. Amir Tag Elsir
  31. Mona Eltahawy
  32. Ubah Cristina Ali Farah
  33. Virgilia Ferrao
  34. Aminatta Forna
  35. Chimeka Garricks
  36. Kadija George
  37. Laurence Gnaro
  38. Hawa Jande Golakai
  39. Isatou Alwar Graham
  40. Francisco Guita Jr
  41. Helon Habila
  42. Osman Ahmed Hassan
  43. Suad Sadig Hassan
  44. Pede Hollist
  45. Abdelmoumin Ibrahim
  46. Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
  47. Tsitsi Ella Jaji
  48. Nozizwe Cynthia Jele
  49. Mamle Kabu
  50. Mubanga Kalimamukwento
  51. Tamanda Kanjaye
  52. Precious Colette Kemigisha
  53. Grada Kilomba
  54. Moses Kilolo
  55. David Lukudu
  56. Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse
  57. Angela Makholwa
  58. Nick Makoha
  59. Jennifer Makumbi
  60. Napo Masheane
  61. Mohale Mashigo
  62. Makanaka Mavengere
  63. Eusebius Mckaiser
  64. José Luís Mendonça
  65. Maaza Mengiste
  66. Thando Mgqolozana
  67. Niq Mhlongo
  68. Amna Mirghani
  69. Nadifa Mohamed
  70. Natalia Molebatsi
  71. Yara Monteiro
  72. Merdi Mukore
  73. Marie-Louise Mumbu
  74. Richard Ali Mutu
  75. Kevin Mwachiro
  76. Remy Ngamije
  77. Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu
  78. Mukoma wa Ngugi
  79. Nducu Wa Ngugi
  80. Natasha Omokhodion-Banda
  81. Ondjaki
  82. Troy Onyango
  83. Tochi Onyebuchi
  84. Chinelo Okparanta
  85. Gabriel Adil Osman
  86. Ladan Osman
  87. Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
  88. Mia Couto
  89. Nii Ayikwei Parkes
  90. Abreu Paxe
  91. Mbate Pedro
  92. Pepetela
  93. Yovanka Paquete Perdigão
  94. Hannah Azieb Pool
  95. Jorge Querido
  96. Sanaa Abu Qussasa
  97. Abdelaziz Baraka Sakin
  98. Mohamedou Ould Salahi
  99. Hassan Ghedi Santur
  100. Malebo Sephodi
  101. Lemya Shammat
  102. Lola Shoneyin
  103. Lemn Sissay
  104. Kola Tubosun
  105. Chika Unigwe
  106. Abdourahman Waberi
  107. Zukiswa Wanner
  108. Djamila Ribeiro
  109. Molara Wood.
  110. Howard Meh-buh Maximus
  111. Jocelyn Danga
  112. Dr. Juliane Okot Bitek
  113. Kei Miller
  114. Khalid Hane
  115. Priscillar Matara
  116. Esther Karin Mngodo
  117. Fadhy Mtanga
  118. Kinyanjui Kombani
  119. Sophie Nuwagira Bamwoyeraki
  120. Wangui Wa Goro
  121. Kimani Njogu
  122. Richard Mabala
  123. Sitawa Namwalie
  124. Ruby Yayra Goka
  125. Anna Samwel Manyanza
  126. Nahida Esmail
  127. Moraa Gitaa
  128. Uwem Akpan
  129. Doreen Baingana
  130. Fadhy Mtanga
  131. Aminu Salihu
  132. Tee Ngugi
  133. @CheekyNatives
  134. Jonuel Goncalves
  135. Dele Fatunla
  136. Lillian Akampurira Aujo
  137. Sisonke Msimang
  138. Telma Tvon
  139. Uzodinma Iweala
  140. Susan Mahakata

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