In Support of the Palestinian People

Black power thought does not just focus on Black people, and provides a position clearly on the side of the Palestinian people, writes Kehinde Andrews

One of the biggest criticism of  Black Power thought is that it only applies to Black people. The argument goes that not only Black people are suffering, so why specifically organise around the Black community in Britain and the Diaspora? However, this is one of the biggest misconceptions about the movement that Black Power or Pan Africanism only addresses issues or can provide solutions for Black people.

Black Power

Black Power thought comes about from the struggles of Black people throughout centuries of resistance to oppression. Mainstream society is seen as being structurally racist, and the aim is to protect the Black community from the racism in society by creating our own separate institutions.

On the global front Black Power is linked to Pan-Africanism, which calls for the unification of Africa in order that the continent can control its resources and not be dependent on the West, which can only exploit. When we think Black Power we think of Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, Black Panthers, Rastafarians, Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba, Nanny and countless other example throughout history.

Unashamedly, the focus is on Black people and building the Black community in order to fight the oppression of the system. However, Black Power is not ignorant of the oppression of other groups. In fact, groups like Black Panthers were very clear that they there were issues that could only be dealt with inside the Black community but ultimately they saw a collection of different groups uniting to change the system. Malcolm X, on his trip through Africa saw in the Organisation of African Unity Black and Arab leaders working together to fight colonialism  and spoke of the Bandung Conference where nations from Asia and Africa were meeting to work together.

Black Power places Black people in a wider struggle against colonialism and capitalism, but arguers to overcome racism we need to come together as a people first and foremost.

Middle East

From the Black Power perspective we can analyse the struggles of other oppressed groups. In the case of the Middle East there is only one side that can be taken: that of the Palestinian people. Israel is a state created and supported by Western powers, which came to be by kicking Palestinians of their land and then enforcing a kind of apartheid in order to keep the Palestinians in their place. We can go back and forth on how it is more complicated than this, but at core the issue is relatively simple. One group of people invaded a country, took the land and has been oppressing the other ever since, with the support of enlightened and powerful West.

It is outrageous (yet not surprising) that Israel has been able to continue  and increase the oppression, even building a ‘security wall’ for so long with the full support of the West (our beloved country included). The massacre of Gaza is just yet another example.

Gaza

Though there can be discussion about the situation in Palestine in general, the issue of the recent Israeli attack is clear cut. Israel’s actions are not only morally outrageous, but completely illegal. As a result they should be heavily punished by the so-called ‘international community’.

It is not acceptable to kill over 1000 people including women and children, to target schools, government buildings and the police, in order to stop rocket attacks that in 8 years have killed up to 20 people.

There is no excuse for the slaughter that has taken place over the last few weeks. However, the ’international community’ has called on both sides to show restraint and talks of a cease fire as though this were some sort of equal battle.

The reaction to the election of Hamas in 2006 also showed the reality of the position of the West. Always keen to spread democracy the United States declared it would not deal with Hamas at all, and money and support for Palestine was cut from Europe and America. The message was clear, the West are only interested in supporting democracies that they like. Instead of taking the will of the Palestinian people as a warning of disenchantment at the situation that they face, the West and Israel simply arrogantly dismissed their decision saying ‘make better choices’. There is no doubt that part of the reason for the Gaza slaughter is an attempt to kill the Palestinians away from Hamas. Israel seems to be saying ‘support Hamas and this the result’.

It is interesting how Hamas is always described as the terrorist group. Are the murder of over 1000 people and the targeting of schools and government buildings not examples of terrorism? Is the slaughter by an army justified? I absolutely guarantee if Hamas were too launch a similar offensive, the response from the international community would be very different.

Israel is only able to get away with their actions because they have the full support of America and the West. Do you think if the Palestinians were White the situation would have ever occurred in the first place and certainly be continuing today? Race, religion, resources (a Western presence in the Middle East) are all at work in the continued support for Israel by the West. From the Black Power perspective we must support the efforts of the Palestinian people for freedom.

Global Struggle

Ultimately the vision of Black Power or Pan Africanism is to have different communities and regions organised and fighting together on the issues that face us. In Britain that would mean creating Black organisations  and rallying the community around local, national and Diaspora issues. Once we have organised in our own communities we could then use that power to engage in the struggles of others. Imagine if we could organise a boycott of those companies that supply the Israeli army, or had a lobby that could present a strong challenge to government policy. We could then really become engaged in the local, national and global issues. Right now it really doesn’t matter what we think as Black people because we do not have the organisations and therefore to do anything. Whether or not we support the Palestinian people will not matter until we have organised ourselves so that the voice of the Black community can not just be heard but listened to.

All power to the people.

COMMENTS 

Black Power
"Being Black is not a question of pigment but a reflection of mental attitude." Biko: 1975
What defines us a people is cannot be seen through a naked eye, it runs through our blood veins, before we are Africans, Blacks,slaves, Natives or what ever the world may perceive us to be; WE ARE HUMAN, and that is what defines us as people. Our personalities, morals, language, life style is entirely dependant upon our ability to feel, think and act compassionately towards others of our kind, ie. human. We are Black because the world perceives us so, and if you look up the meaning of the word in any dictionary you would shy away from this definition, despite this we still persist to define and find our space in this paradox as Black people. And next time you come across a Human being you will wrong to judge his character by the look of his skin color, or sex because anyone can be a Black person. "Power to the people"

Middle East
"Violence is not a solution to any problem, it is usually employed by small children and large powerful nations" Gandhi.
What is happening in Middle East is not going to come to an end until the people who are in the Middle East  themselves come to the realisation that, external forces cannot resolve their problems. It does not matter who poked whom first but the reality of this matter is conflict has to end for it is destroying humanity. The irony of the situation is that to me, two factions look alike, it is difficult for me to tell between a Palestinian and an Israelite. If one got to the core of this conflict you will find only one answer, a few greedy individuals are using their power to gain wealth at the demise of the entire Nation.

Vusumuzi Mngomezulu‏