Ferguson from the perspective of a South Asian American

The shooting of unarmed 18-year old Michael Brown on August 9^th has brought to the surface America’s deep-rooted racial tensions. After officer Darren Wilson shot Brown six times during an altercation over jaywalking and an alleged theft, waves of outrage erupted across the country. Eyewitnesses said that Brown had his hands up and was killed while he was trying to surrender. The next day, citizens of Ferguson, Missouri began publicly protesting Brown’s unjust death. A few weeks later, they are continuing to speak out against this travesty. Communities throughout the nation are demonstrating their support of Ferguson through marches and demonstrations. As protestors carry signs that say, “Black Lives Matter” and “Hands up, Don’t Shoot,” they are calling for America to acknowledge and put an end to the discriminatory police practices targeting Black men. Civil rights activists are encouraging Americans to use this incident as an opportunity to being a long overdue conversation about race. As a South Asian American, I feel a personal connection to Ferguson. Although I’m not Black, I understand that I nonetheless play a role in America’s discussion about race. In spite of living in the “land of the free and the home of the brave,” people of color continue to struggle for equal rights and justice in the present day.

Following Brown’s shooting, I saw a social media post discussing the racist stereotypes that are prevalent throughout our society. It said, “Black Crime=Gang Violence, Arab Crime=Terrorism, Hispanic Crime=Illegal Immigration, White Crime=No crime, he was just insane.” As uncomfortable as it may be for our nation to acknowledge the pervasiveness of these labels, we must do so if we intend to progress. In fact, these deeply ingrained biases are what lead many police officers to unfairly target Black and Brown people. Take the heightened racial profiling following 9/11. A notable example of this form of police brutality is the case of Sergeant Lateef Al-Saraji of the US Army. He filed a lawsuit against the Dallas Police Department who assaulted him in front of his wife and friends at a Middle Eastern Restaurant. Two officers referred to him as a “terrorist in uniform” and beat him until he was unconscious. He was arrested without a warrant until he was eventually released. John Gibson, the lead attorney in this case, stated that there was no reason for either of the two officers to believe he committed an offense in their presence (The Arab American News, 2010). Sadly, this incident is only one of many where people of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent have been unfairly targeted.

As for police brutality affecting the Black community, there are countless instances pointing to the presence of institutionalized racism. Oscar Grant, Sean Bell, Ramarley Graham, Trayvon Martin, and too many others have been unfairly targeted. There is no question that harmful stereotypes of Black men as “thugs” and “criminals” fuel these killings. Brown’s shooting is yet another example of prejudice influencing police operations. In the discussion surrounding Brown’s death, various media sources have zoomed in on the “stolen” cigars while others have paid extra attention to the fact that he was a high school graduate on track to college. The fact of the matter is that Brown’s character is irrelevant in this case. His life isn’t valuable because of his report card---it is valuable because he was a human being. Even if he did steal the cigars, theft does not warrant death. An unarmed Brown did not deserve to be gunned down six times in the middle of the street.

Communities of color must demonstrate their solidarity with one another in the face of racism. Although we are all affected differently, we are all affected nonetheless. We are all human beings, none of whom deserve to be stereotyped and denied opportunities because of the color of our skin. I am aware that the media is quick to label Asians in general as “submissive,” “non-controversial,” and “obedient.” I encourage other South Asian Americans to challenge this mindset and to join the fight against discriminatory police practices. It is crucial that, at this moment, we join the Black community in seeking justice for Brown. Unity is power, and it is vital that Black and Brown communities unite to end systemic racism.

 

Let's Bring Back Our Girls!

  I am delighted that my efforts to bring attention to the situation in Nigeria are receiving so much support. In addition to the various media outlets which have reached out to me, I am thrilled that Amy Poehler's "Smart Girls" is on board for the event. Although I wish I could do more for the girls, it is my hope that the rally and my blog posts can at least serve as a source of support and encouragement for their families. The more of us that speak out against this humanitarian crisis, the more pressure it puts on Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to take further action. While I am aware that he has established a "presidential committee" and is seeking assistance from American and British officials, I sincerely hope that it isn't too late to locate the girls. Since sex trafficking moves so quickly, it is essential that the girls are rescued before they are sold into the neighboring countries of Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. Satellites indicate that as of now, the girls are in the Ashaka forest in the Gombe region of Nigeria (Sahara Reporters, 2014).
  I hope that this atrocity serves as a wake-up call for the international community. How much longer can we live in a world where women's lives are devalued? How can we continue to turn a blind eye when children of color and youth in developing countries struggle? If anything, the Chibok abduction should completely change the manner in which we approach such situations in the future. Findings by Amnesty International indicate that the Nigerian government was aware of the attack by Boko Haram on the girls' school. In spite of having received warnings regarding attacks in Chibok, there were no troops deployed to the area. Although the government insisted that it responded with armed forces, helicopters, and airplanes after the abduction, a father of two missing girls said there were hardly any signs of military help (CNN, 2014). The fact that no preemptive action was taken to protect these girls is truly deplorable. Let's hope that the recently employed rescue efforts return the girls home safely.
   I am glad that news stations and media sources around the world are finally actively covering the Chibok abduction. Although it is disappointing that it took so long, I am pleased to see the situation making multiple headlines. It is imperative that we stay up to date with global humanitarian crises. An attack on any group of people is an attack on humanity, and it is vital that we raise awareness about any such injustice.  These girls were simply trying to attain an education and make a better life for themselves. I see myself in these girls---we are fairly close in age and have dreams and aspirations for ourselves. I cannot fathom the torture, violence, and degradation they have experienced. When I try to put myself in their shoes, my stomach churns. No human being should have to endure what these girls have. They must be brought back home so they can lead the bright, promising lives they were meant to lead.
    I understand that there are some people who feel that the hashtags won't bring the girls back (The Guardian, 2014). While I do agree that we unfortunately can't do much to directly help, I believe that  raising awareness goes a long way in tackling social problems. The social media posts and rallies serve as an avenue for the world to come together and speak out against this abomination. It was the protests by Nigerian parents and embassy rallies throughout the past 10 days which have pushed President Jonathan to take action. Not to mention, the public demonstrations reassure the families that the world cares about the plight of their daughters, granddaughters, nieces, sisters, and friends. I hope that Austin's #BringBackOurGirls rally will serve as another force in motivating the Nigerian government, and the world for that matter, to pool its resources for the girls. To the Chibok girls: we are praying for your safe return and will continue to advocate for you.

The Kidnapped Chibok Girls And Their Plight: Why Isn't The World Doing More for Them?

        When I first read about the kidnapping of the 234 girls from the Chibok community in northeastern Nigeria, my stomach churned. These teen-aged girls were completing their final exams on April 15 when Boko Haram militants captured them and set their school on fire. The girls were then taken to a terrorist camp where they likely endured a great deal of physical and sexual violence. While some managed to escape, a few others reportedly died of snake bites, and the rest are being sold into forced marriages (The New Yorker, 2014). As of yesterday, sources stated that additional girls were captured and sold as sex slaves to Islamic militants, putting the total number of abducted girls at 276. These poor girls had no idea that a regular school day would turn into a terrible nightmare.
       I have experienced a myriad of emotions regarding this story throughout the past couple of weeks. First, I am in utter disbelief that this incident is not receiving adequate attention. While there are articles here and there reporting on the abducted girls, this issue is not making headlines the way it should. Take the recent Malaysian Airlines plane crash, for instance. The crash made multiple headlines, appeared on front pages, and was broadcast continually throughout international media segments. So much global attention was put toward the rescue of the deceased passengers. The Chibok Abduction, on the other hand, first appeared on the American nightly news on May 1, more than two weeks after the girls were taken (Time, 2014). NBC and CBS aired brief segments pertaining to this incident a few days ago.
     As soon as I heard about the #BringBackOurGirls Facebook campaign, I liked the page. I saw a photo of a young Caucasian child sleeping with a a quote above her, "If 230 White children were kidnapped by terrorists two weeks ago, they would be home safely in their beds by now." As awful as it feels to acknowledge it, this sadly is the truth. Consider the likes of Natalie Holloway and Elizabeth Smart, for example. When these girls went missing, the world was up in arms. I recall countless news segments, headlines, investigations, and resources being put toward locating them. I can only imagine the hoopla that would occur if 230 White girls were abducted in a similar manner. The slow response to The Chibok Abduction is yet another tragic reminder that women and children of color from developing countries hold less value in eyes of the world.
     I am also appalled at the slow response from international governments. First and foremost, I am totally with the Nigerian parents and family members protesting President Goodluck Jonathan's lack of action. It was finally reported yesterday that Jonathan set up a "Presidential Committee" to oversee the rescue of the Chibok girls. This committee came about after 3 days of protests throughout Abuja, more than two weeks after the girls were abducted. While I sincerely hope that Jonathan's efforts will successfully free the captured girls and return them home, I can't help but feel that it is too little, too late. Boko Haram has such a strong hold throughout the Nigeria/Cameroon area, and delaying the rescue efforts has given them a greater advantage. I did read yesterday that the US and the UK have both offered to help locate the girls. While I am glad that the respective governments have finally acknowledged the issue, I just hope that it is not too late. The girls deserve so much more concern, compassion, and attention than the world has given them.
    This incident has made me think very deeply about the impact of religious and political conflicts on innocent people. Boko Haram literally translates to "Western Education is Forbidden"---Boko is the Hausa word for Western education while Haram, in Arabic, means sin. The movement began as a separatist group in northern Nigeria and then evolved into a jihadist organization by 2009. The militants who abide by this creed terrorize innocent civilians everyday in the name of Allah. I am 100% positive that God (of any faith) does not approve of the abduction and raping of young school girls. I am also sure that God does not condone selling these abducted girls into sex slavery. This instance is sadly one of many where common people have been victims of extremist violence. It is up to us, as human beings, to speak out against such atrocities and promote a global environment where all individuals can lead peaceful lives.
   At a personal level, this incident is close to my heart. These girls, who are only slightly younger than me, are stuck in such a devastating situation. They were taken away from their homes and are being subjected to all kinds of violence as we speak. I am fortunate to live in an environment where I don't have to fear for my life on a daily basis. Thus, I hope to use my privilege to help advocate for these girls. Although I wish I could do more for them, I can at least start by raising awareness about the issue at hand. My thoughts and prayers are with the girls, and I hope they are all located and brought home safely.