Introduction

We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter.  As South Asian Americans, we do not have the luxury of ignoring this movement and the current cultural moment.  We have benefited from the Black community’s’ fight for equality and cannot remain silent.  This moment did not begin with the murder of George Floyd - there have been countless Black individuals who have been targeted and killed by police violence, not only now but throughout history.

Anti-blackness is the idea that Black people and Black lives are not valued, they are systematically considered less than other lives, and violence against Black bodies is seen as acceptable.  “Black Lives Matter” simply means that we affirm the humanity of Black people globally, and assert that Black people are worthy of the right to life, the right to live freely and in peace.

This is personal for us, as Sri Lankans, as Americans, and as human beings.  We have Black family members - spouses, children, grandchildren - who are directly affected by anti-blackness.  We are scared for our families, friends, and neighbors who feel unsafe. We’ve had hard conversations with our children on how they must behave if they encounter police, in order to minimize the risk to their lives. No parent should have these conversations with their children, but we must so they can come home safely.

We are aware of the various injustices perpetrated towards Black, indigenous, and other people of color all over the world - including in Sri Lanka.  We must use the privileges we have (such as legal status, socio-economic class, education, and gender, among others) to support Black people in the fight for justice.  All lives will not matter until Black Lives Matter. 

History

Anti-blackness influences not only how we think, but also is the foundation of Sri Lankan and American institutional structures.

Sri Lanka is not separate from this moment.  Anti-blackness is ingrained in Sri Lankan society and colonial influences still impact our communities today. There are Sri Lankans who directly descend from enslaved peoples taken from Africa.  Casteism and colorism, discrimination where lighter skin is valued over darker skin, affect which communities are valued and given respect.   

The foundations of the U.S. and the freedoms we enjoy today are built on violence. We live on land stolen from indigenous Native Americans, in a country that has been built on the backs of enslaved Africans stolen from their homelands.  While South Asians in the U.S. have been subjected to racist violence and denied rights to citizenship and property, we have directly benefited from the struggles of the Black community in the U.S. The rights and privileges we have today are a result of the push for equality started by Black Americans. The momentum of the Civil Rights Movement led to the passing of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, abolishing the race-based immigration quota system.

While some of us own property and homes, many in the Black community are unable to, due to historically racist housing and mortgage practices.  Redlining is still a common form of housing discrimination, leading to segregated communities, underfunded schools, and a lack of basic resources.  The Black community has also been legally denied rights to education and voting, and have been the targets of racist violence. Supporting policies that promote equal housing, education, and voting, foster a more just and equitable society.  Historically, policies that the Black community have fought for benefit all communities. 

While some consider the model minority stereotype of the South Asian community a compliment, this is used to pit minorities against each other. We are not immune to racism; South Asian and Asian Americans have experienced racism that is rooted in anti-Blackness.  Racist stereotypes about the Black community often cause minorities to distance themselves as a way to maintain power. We are not separate from the Black community in the U.S. and we should stand with them to address the anti-Blackness present in our own communities.

What we can do as a community 

We urge the Sri Lankan diasporic community in the U.S. to act.  This is the time for us to speak up and work against systemic racism in the U.S. By staying silent, we are not remaining neutral -  instead, we are actively supporting the oppression of Black and minority communities. Silence and inaction will lead to further intolerance and violence, not only towards the Black community, but towards our own communities. The treatment of the Black community affects how other minorities are treated, including the Sri Lankan diaspora in the U.S.  Not only is it our obligation to work against oppression and discrimination, but it is also an investment in our own communities.  

Because these issues are multifaceted, there are many different ways we can get involved, as individuals and as organizations. 

 As individuals, we can:

• sign this statement and send it to others

• speak with our families and friends about the Black Lives Matter movement 

• register to vote and complete your 2020 U.S. Census form 

• read, discuss, and share the attached resource list with your family and friends

• read articles about Black individuals who have died due to police violence

• learn about the history of indigenous and Black peoples’ contributions to the U.S.

• ask our children about their lived experiences with race and listen to them

• speak up when we hear our friends and family say something harmful towards another group of people 

• educate our families that Black Lives Matter protestors are peaceful

• research how our local school districts teach race and U.S. history in its curriculum

• read about how to actively work against oppression and be anti-racist

• contact your local, state, and national elected officials and hold them accountable to fight for a more equitable society

As an organization, you can:

• share this letter with your members  

• read and discuss the attached resource list with your members

• make an official statement about the Black Lives Matter movement

• hold a community dialogue with your members on these issues

• write an op-ed for your local newspaper

• research local activist campaigns that your organization can get involved with 

• partner with anti-racist local and national organizations to support reallocating funds for social services, housing, and public safety

• fundraise for anti-racist local and national organizations

Black Lives Matter is not a partisan movement, it is a humanitarian movement.  This is a national and international movement that impacts us all.  We encourage members of the Sri Lankan diaspora in the U.S. to learn, reflect, and act, because we cannot all live equally until Black lives matter.