By El-Hajj Mauri’ Saalakhan
“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger, and a loss of wealth and lives, and the fruits of your toil; but give good tidings to those who patiently persevere. Who say, when disaster strikes: ‘We belong to ALLAH, and to ALLAH we will all return.’” (Surah Al-Baqarah)
January and February are two back-to-back months for deep reflection on African American struggle. For truly conscious black men and women – still connected to and respectful of sociological memory (beyond the here and now) – there is a natural sensitivity for the suffering of others.
With that being said, there is no better time to weigh in on the catastrophe (al-nakba) that has the attention of the entire world right now; to weigh in from an unapologetic, painfully honest, African American perspective
The author, journalist-activist, Ta-Nehisi Coats spent 10 days in Occupied Palestine. Not long after his return he said the following: “What I expected was that I would find a situation in which it was hard to discern right from wrong. It was hard to understand the morality at play. It was hard to understand the conflict. Perhaps the most shocking thing was, I immediately understood what was going on over there. And I have to say it was quite familiar.
I was in a territory where your mobility is inhibited; where your voting rights are inhibited; where your right to the water is inhibited. Where your right to housing is inhibited; and it’s all inhibited based on ethnicity. Israel is a segregated society…”
He went on to note that it’s not just a segregated society, it’s a deeply oppressive one as well. “Now what the authorities will tell you is, this is a security measure; but when you go back to the history of Jim Crow in this country [America] they would tell you the exact same thing. People always have good reasons, besides I hate you, to justify their right to impose an oppressive regime on other people.”
A young Jewish lady by the name of Victoria Majewski, at a recent City Council Hearing in Bridgeport, CT, denounced Zionism as white supremacy. She stated, “As part of my ancestral healing, when we say, ‘Never Again,’ we mean never again for anyone.” (She didn’t stop there.)
“I need all of you here tonight to understand Zionism is white supremacy. Zionism has nothing to do with the Jewish faith, health, or protection of Jewish people. For every one Jewish Zionist there are 30 Christian Zionists, like President Biden. I need you to understand Zionism is antisemitic; and I need you to listen to anti-Zionist Jewish people who have unlearned the brainwashing” [i.e. the poisonous indoctrination].
Another resident, Lou Biafiore, denounced the American tax dollars being spent for the weapons of war employed in the genocide; and the Sikorsky plant in CT that manufactures attack helicopters for Apartheid Israel. The council chambers was packed by Muslim and non-Muslim residents, including relatives and friends of this writer. The Resolution for a Ceasefire passed overwhelmingly.
The Stats Speak for Themselves:
Apartheid-Zionist Israel has killed over 22,000 Palestinians, according to the official records of the Gaza Health Ministry. (The unofficial toll of bodies still unaccounted for beneath the rubble is far higher.) The deceased are overwhelmingly civilians, predominantly women and children.
- 104 Journalists have been killed – many deliberately targeted.
- Israel has bombed homes, churches, mosques, over 300 schools, and 23 hospitals.
- Israel has killed 374 Gazan doctors, nurses and dentists (as if destroying hospitals wasn’t enough).
- Over a hundred ambulances have been destroyed.
- Israel has forcibly displaced 1.9 million Palestinians.
- The illegal siege cut off much needed food, water, fuel, electricity and medical supplies to Gaza.
- More than 10 Palestinian children are losing limbs (usually legs) each day.
- Israel has now openly hinted at launching a seven front war in the region.
While the venal propagandists would have us believe it’s all about “Hamas” and its “violent provocations” from Gaza, there have been close to 300 Palestinians killed, and over 4500 imprisoned on the West Bank since October 7th! This is ethnic cleansing and genocide across the Palestinian board, plain and simple!
The consequence of this reality has resulted in the following: Last month (December 2023) I saw the reported results of a Harvard University public opinion poll that reported the following:
⭕ 51% of young people in America believe that the right solution to ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is ending the existence of the State of Israel.
⭕ 67% said Jews are oppressors and should be treated as such.
⭕ 67% supported an unconditional ceasefire that would release detainees in Gaza.
⭕ 76% believe Hamas is an organization that can be negotiated with to achieve peace.
⭕ 76% of young Americans surveyed said they believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza
(The Poll was reportedly conducted by the Harris Institute and the Center for American Policy Studies at Harvard University.}
Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice (aka, The World Court) – the highest UN legal body in the world – has just begun proceedings against Apartheid Israel; proceedings triggered by an official complaint made by the South African government under the Genocide Convention.
The Challenge for Black Americans:
The perspective of Ta-Nehisi Coates verses that of a number of other African Americans of prominence, who have traveled to Occupied Palestine, is stark indeed. Coates returned to the US and reported what he saw; while others have chosen to remain silent, or even worse; they chose to provide political cover for “crimes against humanity.”
Who are these African American offenders? Members of the president’s cabinet; members of the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus (both House and Senate); at least one big city mayor; city and state legislators; religious leaders; business leaders; journalists; members of academia; law enforcement officers – and the list goes on.
Apartheid-Zionist Israel and its vaunted lobby have employed a variety of stratagems to seduce or coerce blind, unquestioning allegiance. The looming question before self-respecting African Americans (and other citizens of conscience) is the following: Are we willing to tolerate “leaders” who have been so dangerously compromised?!
The Politics of Manipulation
President Biden paid a campaign visit to Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC, a few days ago. This is the same church that on June 17, 2015, nine members had their lives taken (during Bible study) by a white supremacist. Biden was justifiably met with a few voices of disruptive protest. That a prominent black church (where a heinous racially instigated mass murder occurred a few years ago) would allow itself to be used as a political prop for a U.S. president who endorses GENOCIDE is sad, to say the least.
On a final sobering note, the first U.S. president, General George Washington, warned his compatriots in 1789 (in his “Farewell Address to the Union”) of the “dangers” of giving “favorite nation status to any nation.” I repeat: Washington warned against the type of relationship America has with Apartheid-Zionist Israel!
For African American Muslims there is a verse in The Noble Qur’an that reads (in translation of the meaning): “Do not become an advocate for those who betray their trusts.” This ayah from The Qur’an is a fitting reminder for the major challenges of our time.
Whether we realize it or not, the incestuous relationship America has with Apartheid Zionist Israel has very profound implications for the domestic side of our American lives. The question is, what are we, as a people, going to do about it?!
(El-Hajj Mauri’ Saalakhan is Director of Operations of The Aafia Foundation, Inc.)
