‘Black and Proud’: Kamala Harris Has Never Shied Away from Racial Identity
New Age Islam News Bureau
02 Aug 2024
·
‘Black and Proud’: Kamala Harris Has Never
Shied Away from Racial Identity
·
Afghan Women Activists Convene In London To
Develop Roadmap For Addressing Taliban Restrictions
·
First Female Muslim ChaplaincyLead, MaysoonShafiq,
wants to 'Pave The Way'
·
ShaqraaTohari, Aged 105, Shatters Literacy
Barriers in Jazan
·
People Globally Condemn Death Sentences Against
Women InIran
·
How Muslim women are targeted in 'progressive'
circles
·
The 1st African Union (AU) Pan African
Conference on Girls and Women’s Education Opens in Addis Ababa
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
‘Black
and Proud’: Kamala Harris Has Never Shied Away from Racial Identity
August
02, 2024
Vice
President Kamala Harris, left, is greeted by Harris County Commissioner Rodney
Ellis, right, during her arrival at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in
Houston, onJuly 31, 2024. (AP)
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WASHINGTON:
Former president Donald Trump, who has a long history of making incendiary
comments about race, has stepped up his attacks on his 2024 White House rival
Kamala Harris by claiming she “happened to turn Black” for political advantage.
But the
reality is that the vice president, the product of a mixed race marriage
between Jamaican and Indian immigrants, embraced her Blackness long before
embarking on a career in public service.
Harris
was born in Oakland, California, in 1964, to Afro-Jamaican Donald Harris, who
came to the United States to study economics, and ShyamalaGopalan, who
emigrated from India at 19 to pursue her doctorate in nutrition and
endocrinology.
They met
at the University of California, Berkeley, a hub of student activism, while
participating in the civil rights movement — and sometimes even taking a
toddler Kamala along to marches.
Donald
Harris remains a professor emeritus at Stanford University, while Gopalan, who
helped advance breast cancer research, passed away in 2009.
After
the couple divorced, Gopalan raised Kamala and her younger sister Maya,
instilling pride in their South Asian roots. She took them on trips to India
and often expressed affection or frustration in Tamil, Kamala wrote in her 2019
book, “The Truths We Hold.”
But
Gopalan also understood she was raising two Black daughters.
“She
knew that her adopted homeland would see Maya and me as Black girls, and she
was determined to ensure we grew into confident, proud Black women,” Harris
wrote.
As a
child, Harris was bused to a newly desegregated elementary school in a
wealthier white neighborhood and attended a Black church on Sundays.
“I’m
Black, and I’m proud of being Black, and I was born Black, I will die Black,”
Harris told The Breakfast Club radio show in 2019.
But
she’s continued to lean into her Indian heritage too, appearing in a 2019 video
where she and actress Mindy Kaling, also of Indian descent, bonded over making
dosas.
“She’s
embraced her Blackness and her Indian heritage as well,” said Kerry Haynie,
chair of political science at Duke University, adding that Trump’s
“race-baiting” attacks were aimed at galvanizing his own base.
When it
came time for college, Harris chose Howard University, a historically Black
institution in the US capital, following in the footsteps of her hero Thurgood
Marshall, the first Black justice on the US Supreme Court.
She
attended protests against apartheid in South Africa and joined the storied
Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, founded to support Black women. Today, its 360,000
members include leading figures in politics, the arts, science and more.
“It’s a
powerful signal of alignment with Black Americans,” said Christopher Clark, a
professor of political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill.
After
Howard, Harris enrolled at UC Hastings College of the Law, where she was
elected president of the Black Law Students Association.
As she
progressed through her career — elected San Francisco district attorney in 2003
and California’s attorney general in 2010 — she was consistently identified as
Black or African American in media reports.
Some
went so far as to dub her the “female Obama” after Barack Obama, who was
elected the nation’s first Black president in 2008.
Their
biographies have parallels: both are biracial, with Obama’s father a Kenyan
economist and his mother a white American.
Critics
questioned the authenticity of his African American experience, and Trump may
be using a similar tactic to try to discredit Harris, suggested Clark.
However,
being Black in America has always been a “very broad umbrella” due to the
legacy of slavery, wrote Teresa Wiltz in a Politico op-ed, encompassing “myriad
iterations of skin color and hair texture and life experiences.”
The most
important Black political figures in US history have often been of mixed race,
from abolitionist Frederick Douglass to activist-philosopher Angela Davis,
Wiltz noted.
If
Harris identifies as Black, “we can — and should — take her word for it,” she
said.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2560996/world
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Afghan
Women Activists Convene in London to Develop Roadmap for Addressing Taliban
Restrictions
August
1, 2024
A group
of Afghan women activists has gathered in London to develop a collaborative
plan. During the four-day meeting, these activists will discuss creating a
roadmap to navigate the current situation for women in Afghanistan.
The
meeting commenced on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in London, where Afghan women
activists began a crucial four-day gathering to develop a strategy for
overcoming the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s rights.
According
to the report, the objective of this gathering is to examine the ongoing
situation in Afghanistan, the increasing restrictions imposed by the Taliban on
women, and strategies to counter these limitations.
Among
the participants are notable figures such as HabibaSarabi, FauziaKoofi,
ShukriaBarakzai, Fatima Gilani, MahbubaSeraj, NargesNehan, Balqis Ahmadi,
ShinkiKrokhil, Palwasha Hassan, AsilaWardak, KhairmnaKakar, Seema Ghani,
HoriaMusadiq, FarozanNawabi, ZarqaYaftali, MasoumaKhawari, OrzalaNemat, and
Paymana Asad.
This
assembly takes place at a time when the Taliban has systematically removed
women from public life, depriving them of education, employment, and other
political and civil activities.
Human
rights activists have labeled these restrictions as clear examples of crimes
against humanity and “gender apartheid,” urging the international community to
recognize this form of gender-based discrimination.
This
gathering represents a crucial step in mobilizing Afghanistan’s women activists
and addressing the severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban, aiming to create
actionable strategies for advancing women’s rights in Afghanistan.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/afghan-women-activists-convene-in-london-to-develop-roadmap-for-addressing-taliban-restrictions/
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First
Female Muslim ChaplaincyLead, MaysoonShafiq, wants to 'Pave The Way'
1st Aug
2024
MaysoonShafiq
has joined Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust as lead chaplain – the first time a
female Muslim has held the position.
Known
for her efforts in bridging gaps between different faiths and beliefs, Maysoon
has extensive experience organising events, seminars, and conferences across
West Yorkshire and the UK and has played a leading role in fostering
understanding and knowledge about Islam among both Muslim and non-Muslim
communities.
She has
been honoured twice with the ‘Religious Advocate of the Year’ award at the
British Muslim Awards and also named ‘Most Impactful Alimah’– female Islamic
scholar – at the British Mosque Awards.
Maysoon
said: “I have always advocated for women’s rights, and this position will
inspire other female Muslims who may feel hesitant or shy about applying for
similar roles.
“I hope
to be a role model and pave the way for them.”
The
trust's chaplaincy department provides spiritual, pastoral, and religious care
to patients, staff, students, and visitors.
Maysoon
added: “Our chaplaincy team is committed to providing compassionate support and
guidance to everyone, regardless of faith or beliefs.
“We
offer a listening ear, spiritual counsel, and a safe space for patients, staff,
and visitors to explore their spiritual needs and find comfort during
challenging times.”
Maysoon
is also in the final stages of a PhD at Sheffield Hallam University, where her
research focuses on the under-use of palliative care services by the Muslim
community.
Source: rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk
https://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/people/first-female-muslim-chaplaincy-lead-wants-to-pave-the-way-4725903
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ShaqraaTohari,
Aged 105, Shatters Literacy Barriers in Jazan
August
01, 2024
MAKKAH:
Over 800 elderly men and women, including a 105-year-old woman, participated in
the literacy campaign held this summer by the Saudi Ministry of Education,
represented by the General Administration of Education, in Jazan.
Around
233 male and 599 female students enrolled in 28 educational centers across the
region in Samtah, Ahad al-Masarihah, Al-Harth and Al-Aridhah governorates.
Several
educational, cultural, social and health activities and events were held in
partnership with government agencies and the nonprofit sector.
These activities
aim to develop the beneficiaries’ life skills and ensure they achieve their
educational and cultural goals to guarantee their equitable and comprehensive
quality education.
One such
student was 105-year-old ShaqraaTohari, who enrolled herself at Al-Dabra
educational center in Ahad Al-Masarihah, reflecting her strong desire to learn
reading and writing.
She said
she felt elated standing next to the board to write the alphabet, or sitting on
her seat to write and read numbers, or read Surah Al-Fatiha or short surahs
from the Holy Qur’an, all the while enjoying the support of her teachers.
“I was
passionate about learning how to read and write, even if I am past 100 years
old. It is a dream I have waited to realize for many years and decades,” she said.
“Despite
all the challenges and the fact of me getting older, this dream has become a
reality. It is a golden opportunity that I could have never missed,” said
Tohari.
The
centurion revealed that she spent her life raising her five sons and four daughters.
She educated them and dedicated her life for them.
However,
in the depth of her soul, she always wished to be able to teach them and help
them do their homework.
“The
Kingdom’s interest in providing education for all and eradicating illiteracy
helped me achieve my dream. It motivated me and the women from my village to
move forward in terms of learning and catch up with what we have missed.
“Education
and learning are everyone’s dream, aimed towards eradicating ignorance and
illiteracy.
“(We)
have been enriching their knowledge with simple science facts provided by their
teacher in the elderly education center,” she added.
Tohari’s
son, Ibrahim, said that his mother was extremely happy to enrol in the adult
education program, as it represents the dream she has been waiting to achieve
for many decades, believing in her right to learn, write and read, like other
women.
Ibrahim’s
35-year-old sister, Nourah, drives their mother to the educational center every
afternoon, and her other children help her with school work.
On
successfully completing her first year, Ibrahim said, the women of the village
were extremely proud of his mother.
Ibrahim
stated that what distinguishes his mother is her keenness and determination to
complete her studies and learn new subjects.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2560856/saudi-arabia
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People
globally condemn death sentences against women in Iran
01/08/2024
Opposition
to death sentences for female socio-political activists in Iran is rapidly growing
across Kurdistan, Iran, and globally. Critics argue that these sentences lack
legal legitimacy and view them as an affront to women’s identity and societal
freedom.
In
recent days, women, civil activists, journalists, and human rights defenders in
Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), Europe, and Iran have continued their protests
against the death sentences for two female activists, PakhshanAzizi, and
Sharifeh Mohammadi.
In this
context, the general command of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), published a
statement. This statement referred to the women’s revolution in Rojava and the
efforts of the patriarchal system throughout history to impose dominance over
women’s identity. The YPJ stated that the sentences against Mohammadi and Azizi
reveal that, even now, states seek to continue to dominate women through their
ongoing policies. The YPJ reminded readers of two women from Iran/Iranian
Kurdistan, DersimKirmaşan and Viyan, who joined the YPJ’s fight in Rojava. They
concluded that Azizi and Mohammadi, inspired by the women’s revolution in
Rojava, are part of the movement to build a free Iran, continuing their
struggle even from within the prisons.
As part
of the ‘No to Execution, Yes to Free Life’ campaign, the Martyr Women’s Council
of Asia Yuksel convened a meeting in Duisburg, Germany, to protest the death
sentences. A statement from a representative of the Free Life Party of
Kurdistan (PJAK) was read, condemning the death sentences imposed on these
socio-political activists. The statement characterised these sentences as the
Iranian government’s attempt to retaliate against the Jin, Jiyan, Azadî (Woman,
Life, Freedom) uprising, suppress freedom, and exert pressure on Iranian
society as a whole.
In
southeast Turkey, the Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association (MKG) and the
Tigris-Euphrates Journalists Association (DFG) held a joint meeting and issued
a statement condemning the sentences. RozaMatina, representing MKG, strongly
denounced the death sentence for Azizi, a dedicated women’s rights activist,
social worker, and journalist, highlighting her refusal to capitulate to the
oppressive Iranian state. Following the meeting, participants emphasised the
urgent need to overturn the sentences and urged human rights organisations and
international media to address the torture and wrongful sentencing of Azizi by
the Iranian regime.
Iran
Human Rights (IHRNGO) also issued statements protesting the death sentences of
these female activists. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of IHRNGO, said,
“Azizi’s death sentence has no legal basis and was issued by the Islamic
Republic’s non-independent judicial system at the behest of the security forces
to suppress the civil movement. The international community must react to her
sentence in the strongest terms.” Her lawyers have also formally contested the
unjust issuance of the death sentence.
PakhshanAzizi
is the second female activist to receive the death penalty in the last month
after workers’ rights activist Sharifeh Mohammadi was also sentenced to death
in early July.
Source: medyanews.net
https://medyanews.net/people-globally-condemn-death-sentences-against-women-in-iran/
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How
Muslim women are targeted in 'progressive' circles
1 August
2024
My
father named me after Olympic gymnast, Nadia Comaneci, following his attendance
at the 1976 Montreal Summer Games. While I didn’t follow in her athletic
footsteps, I’ve carved my own path as a journalist, lawyer and law professor.
As a
hijab-wearing academic observing the intersection of politics, religion and
social justice, I find the current treatment of Muslim women in high-profile
arenas deeply troubling.
From the
hijab ban for French athletes at the Paris Olympics, to the US Democratic
National Committee (DNC)’s handling of Muslim representation, we are seeing
pervasive hypocrisy in “progressive” circles.
The
Olympics, supposedly the pinnacle of global unity, has effectively told French
Muslim women to leave their faith at the door. This is not merely a dress code
issue, but a fundamental violation of religious freedoms and personal autonomy,
with roots in broader French policies. In 2004, the French Senate gave final
approval to a bill prohibiting the wearing of conspicuous religious symbols in
public schools.
From a
legal standpoint, the hijab ban at the Paris Olympics raises serious questions
about discrimination and the limits of secularism in public spaces. It’s a
textbook example of how seemingly neutral policies can disproportionately
affect minority groups.
As both
a legal scholar and an American Muslim woman, I find such developments
particularly concerning, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by religious
minorities in reconciling their faith with societal expectations - even in
supposedly progressive environments.
We need
a deeper examination of how we balance secularism, religious freedom and
inclusivity in our increasingly diverse societies.
Supporting
the status quo
Visibly
Muslim women also face exclusion in the political sphere. But recent movements
promising radical change, such as the “Uncommitted” campaign, have quickly
aligned with the establishment they once challenged. Their shift from demanding
an open convention to cautiously supporting the status quo exemplifies the
broader trend of progressive movements losing their edge.
Paralleling
the Olympic's hypocrisy is the DNC’s treatment of Muslim delegates. While
well-intentioned, the Uncommitted movement, organised by Democratic insiders,
has inadvertently diluted Muslim representation. What started as a bold
challenge to the political establishment has ultimately contributed to a
significant reduction in Muslim delegates, from around 150 in 2020 to just
around 60 in 2024, according to my own records. This is because strategic
manoeuvring often sidelines minority interests in favour of broader, less specific
agendas, disadvantaging groups such as Muslim delegates.
This
outcome raises questions about the effectiveness of such movements and their
unintended consequences. The reduction in Muslim delegate numbers is not just a
statistic, it’s a dilution of collective voice and negotiating power, including
on issues such as US support for Israel’s war on Gaza.
In the
world of political manoeuvring, this plays directly into the hands of
pro-Israel groups, all while being labelled as progressive activism.
The
Uncommitted movement, whose name now seems more ironic than ever, seems to have
committed to the establishment faster than you can say “status quo”. It’s like
watching a group of rebellious teenagers decide that, actually, their parents’
taste in music is not so bad after all.
On 29
June, as public calls grew for President Joe Biden to step aside, the
Uncommitted movement posted on X (formerly Twitter): “We remain open to
supporting an open convention if that becomes viable.” The conditional language
made for a weak statement.
The push
for an open convention became less like a rallying cry and more like a
desperate plea: “Hey, remember all that talk about radical change? Can we at
least pretend to consider it for five minutes?”
Pattern
of exclusion
News
outlets in the West question the death toll in Gaza, ignore the mass starvation
of children and are complicit in genocide by their silence. If anyone has
doubts about Vice President Kamala Harris’s position on Gaza, the presumptive
Democratic presidential nominee made it abundantly clear with her recent
remarks against protesters in Washington: “I condemn any individuals
associating with the brutal terrorist organisation Hamas.”
I have
grown so tired of this conflation between protesters and Hamas that when
introducing myself to strangers, to preface any comments I make on the subject,
I say: “My name is Nadia, and I am not Hamas.” Immediately, people are taken
aback, apparently already presuming my support for the group.
From a
legal perspective, such conflation is not only factually incorrect but also
dangerously close to infringing on First Amendment rights. It creates a
chilling effect on legitimate protest and dissent, the cornerstones of a
functioning democracy.
The
commonality between the Olympic hijab ban in France and the DNC delegate
situation lies in their facade of progressivism, which masks a deeper, more
insidious form of exclusion. In both cases, the lofty ideals of inclusion and
change have ended up marginalising Muslim voices, particularly those of women,
like myself.
This
pattern of exclusion is not new. From the women’s suffrage movement, which
initially excluded women of colour, to labour laws that have failed to protect
women and minorities, the road to true inclusivity has been long and fraught
with hypocrisy.
As we
approach the November US elections, we must critically examine the gap between
progressive rhetoric and action. The legal and ethical implications of
excluding religious expression in public spaces, silencing dissent, and
inadvertently reducing minority representation are profound.
True
inclusivity requires more than lip service, demanding a commitment to upholding
the rights of all individuals, even when doing so is politically inconvenient.
It requires crafting policies that genuinely accommodate diversity - not just
in appearance, but in substance.
The
views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily
reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.
Source: middleeasteye.net
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/how-muslim-women-are-targeted-progressive-circles
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The 1st
African Union (AU) Pan African Conference on Girls and Women’s Education Opens
in Addis Ababa
August
1, 2024
The 1st
African Union Pan African Conference on Girls and Women’s Education
(AU/PANCOGEd1) has been officially opened. The opening ceremony was held at the
African Union Commission (AUC) Premises on July 02, 2024. The event, held under
the theme, “Prioritizing Girls and Women’s Education: A Strategy for increased
access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa” will
run till July 05. While opening the ceremony, the Deputy Chairperson of the
AUC, H.E. Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, highlighted the commitment of the African
Union (AU) in promoting and empowering girls through quality education. “The
AUC is strongly committed to advocating for the implementation by its Member
States of the Agenda 2063, the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA)
16-25, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the
Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), the Sustainable Development Goals
4&5 and other related policies promoting girls and women’s education in the
continent
Moderated
by ESTI’s Commissioner, H.E. Prof Mohammed Belhocine, the ceremony set the tone
for the four-day deliberations on girls and women’s education in Africa.
With
more than 600 in-person and close to 300 online participants in attendance, the
AU/PANCOGEd1 is organised as part of activities under the AU Year of Education.
The
State Minister for Education, Central African Republic and President of the
Steering Committee for Education, Science and Technology, H.E.
Aurelien-SimpliceKongbelet-Zingas, was keen to express his expectations about
the conference. “I am convinced that the discussions and reflections we will
have over the next few days will enable us to gain a better understanding of
the complex challenges hindering girls and women’s education, and to develop
effective strategies to overcome them.”
During
his opening remarks, the Ambassador of Norway to the AU, H.E. Stian
Christensen, stated “The theme of this conference is highly relevant in this
regard. Girls’ education is important in all areas and at all levels. This is
about empowering girls and women to be full-fledged members of society, to
unlock Africa’s huge potential for economic development and life improvement
for its citizens.”
Representing
the advocacy for girls and women’s education at a global level, the Director of
the UN Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI), Antara Ganguli, highlighted one of
the most resistant challenges to girls’ education, social norms, and beliefs,
“[…]people’s underlying beliefs about the role of girls and women in society
had not changed, and that this hampered genuine support for girls’ educational
achievements.”
The
gathering is organised by the AUC Department of Education, Science, Technology,
and Innovation through its technical and specialised office, the African Union
International Center for Girls and Women’s Education in Africa (AU/CIEFFA) led
by Simone Yankey. The event, which is the first of its kind, takes place in
collaboration with UN Agencies, AU Organs and departments, development
partners, organizations promoting girls and women’s education, and youth
champions on girls’ education. Multi stakeholders are expected to intervene and
bring their experience throughout the Conference.
Distributed
by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
Source: africa.com
https://www.africa.com/the-1st-african-union-au-pan-african-conference-on-girls-and-womens-education-opens-in-addis-ababa/
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/kamala-harris-black-proud-racial-identity/d/132849