African, African-American and Arab-American activists brainstormed about how to collaborate to deal with social problems facing the respective communities.
"This is really about making democracy work for all of us," United African Organization Alie Kabba said. "You can't talk about social justice just for you. You have to talk about social justice for all."
That brainstorming took place May 10 during the Affinity Community Services, Arab-American Action Network and United African Organization-sponsored "Equality for All: Conversation on Civil Liberties & Building Solidarity in Communities of Color" event at the Chicago Urban League. Kim L. Huntexecutive director of Affinity, a social-justice organization that works with and on behalf of Black LGBTQ communities, queer youth and alliesfacilitated the brainstorming and discussion.
"We're coming in with a piece that's a little different," Muhammad Sankari of the Arab-American Action Network said. Sankari acknowledged the collaboration was still a fresh concept. "It's all a little bit new and malleable."
He hoped the event yielded concrete actions and goals. The Arab-American Action Network focuses on getting youth involved in political organizing. Working on three-year law enforcement accountability campaign has been among that organization's activities.
Before delving into social problems and solutions, University of Illinois at Chicago assistant professor Johari Jabir immersed the group in some history.
"The word 'liberty' always triggers questions for me," Jabir said.
He pondered slaveowner Thomas Jefferson's 1809 letter to James Madison and the dichotomy, which it presented.
"There's this verbose language about liberty," Jabir said.
Despite conventional wisdom, he said African-Americans' struggle for civil rights began during the slave tradeaccording to historian Vincent Hardingnot the 20th century.
"For the Black freedom struggle, the goal was never to produce obedient Black people," Jabir said.
While African-Americans endure oppression, Arab-Americans also face discrimination. Sankari stressed that's been the community's reality for more than 10 years.
"It's not a post-9/11 phenomenon," he said. "We know it began long before 9/11."
Sankari used two case studies to paint a picture. That includes highlighting the "Midwest 23." The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI ) raided homes in Chicago and
Minneapolis in Sept. 2010, confiscating things like photos and anything with Arabic writing. The FBI targeted anti-war activists and community leaders.
Sankari noted nine loosely connected Palestinians were among the 23 people subpoenaed. They were accused of offering material support to terrorists. To date, there've been no indictments or charges filed.
Interestingly, in June 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court broadened the definition of offering material support to terrorists. Providing legal advocacy and producing written documents, including letters to the editor, are now considered offering material support, Sankari said.
Palestinian advocate Rasmea Odeh, a naturalized U.S. citizen, faces 10 years in prison, citizenship revocation and being deported for allegedly falsifying her 1994 immigration application. Odeh's trial begins June 10 in Detroit.
"There's been an outpouring of support [for Odeh]," Sankari said, while noting how it benefits the government. "It serves to create a face of the enemy for the war on terrorism."
Creating enemies helps justify the U.S. government's actions, according to Sankari.
Hatem Abudayyeh, Arab-American Action Network executive director, offered his take on Odeh's ordeal.
"A Chicago Palestinian is just as Palestinian as one in Palestine," Abudayyeh said. "Most people [in the United States] have no understanding of Palestinian history at all. If [Odeh] gets convicted, she's a political prisoner."
For Jabir, her situation mirrors some African-American history.
"I immediately thought of the Black Panther Party," he said, comparing Odeh's situation with that organization's history.
Jabir credited the African-American community with moving the "country back to the table of democracy." With that said, he noted the blame heaped on the African-American community for marriage equality losses was no accident.
However, the African-American community endures more than getting blamed for marriage equality setbacks. J. Brian Malone, Kenwood Oakland Community Organization executive director, highlighted one problem in the backyard.
"Schools in [the African-American] community have never had the resources other received," Malone said.
Or, in Chicago, 50 schools, in predominantly low income and African-American neighborhoods, are closed. Then, charter schools take over where they left off. So, Malone said, school districts make money through the "destabilization and disintegration of our community."