Why Black Americans are Standing in Solidarity with Palestinians – You Won’t Believe the Powerful Reasons Behind This Movement!

In April of 1952, the venerable W. E. B. Du Bois made his way to the stage of the Hotel Diplomat in Midtown Manhattan. His grizzled beard and struggle with new dentures showcased his old age. Du Bois, having seen the world evolve through the dawn of Jim Crow, the atom bomb era, and the Comanche slaughter, was about to deliver a speech that would set the tone for decades to come.

Du Bois’s speech on “The Negro and the Warsaw Ghetto” was a pivotal moment in history, urging solidarity and global cooperation against oppression. Overcoming his own provincialism post a visit to the Warsaw Ghetto, Du Bois advocated for a broader perspective on societal struggles beyond race or religion.

His message of solidarity has echoed through time and inspired movements such as students heading to the Mississippi Delta, King Jr. and Ali speaking out against the Vietnam War, and divestment calls against apartheid South Africa. However, recent events have tested the principles of solidarity, with Israel’s actions in Gaza raising global concerns.

The ongoing violence in Gaza has evoked feelings of solidarity, especially among Black Americans, who empathize with the plight of the Palestinian people. The suppression of such expressions and censorship by media, universities, and governments points to a growing backlash against solidarity movements across diverse causes.

The complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the hesitance to draw parallels with other struggles have hindered efforts to create a more just world. The fear of anti-Semitism and a widening conservative backlash against multiracial organizing have threatened the existence of solidarity movements.

In the face of humanitarian crises, structural oppression, and violence, solidarity remains a beacon of hope. The world stands at a crossroads, oscillating between solidarity and ruin. The choice we make today will determine the future we leave for generations to come. It’s time to rekindle the spirit of unity that Du Bois advocated for and work towards building a world free from oppression and violence.