Black-Palestinian Transnational Solidarities Project
The Forum on Arab and Muslim Affairs of the Arab Studies Institute is delighted to launch the Black-Palestinian Transnational Solidarities Project (BPTS). The Project will examine connections and relationships between Black and Palestinian communities and movements across their respective diasporas. It will also explore the contemporary and historical connections between them on a grassroots and civil society level. The purpose of the project is to support current solidarity work by:

  1. Providing research and information that augments existing solidarity efforts;
  2. Extending work around Black-Palestinian solidarity beyond a US-centric and West Bank-centric lens; and
  3. Creating new linkages between the United States, the Middle East, and other geographies of Black and Palestinian struggles.​
To get involved or contribute to this initiative please reach out to us at bpts@arabstudiesinstitute.org
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THE RESEARCH FELLOW
The initial focuses of the project will be the Black struggles in the United States and South Africa and the Palestinian shatat or diaspora in the Middle East and Europe. The Project is not limited to these geographic sites and will organically develop as informed by the work on the ground.
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The BPTS will focus on the following areas:
  • Documenting historical and contemporary relationships between Black and Palestinian social and political communities
  • Developing transnational media (e.g. newsletters, videos, educational curricula)
  • Arranging local and transnational seminars and conferences that bring together youth and organizers from the three primary geographies: United States, South Africa, and in the Middle East and Europe.
  • Special consideration to the following topics:
    • Gender and sexual liberation
    • Prisoners, their families and their advocates
    • Stateless and refugee populations
    • Indigenous struggles in the sites of diaspora populations
    • The relationship between Black and Palestinian populations to other oppressed national groups
    • The experiences of people who are Black/African and Palestinian
    • Anti-Blackness in the Middle East
 
As an ASI project, it will produce materials for its sister organizations including essays and reports for Jadaliyya as well as audio content for Status Hour/الوضع Audio Magazine, and educational materials for Tadween Publishing. All materials will be made available for social movements.
 
BPTS is interested in connecting with grassroots organizations, progressive publications and institutions, and student/youth formations in the Black/African and Palestinian diasporas.
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​Kristian Davis Bailey is a Detroit-based freelance writer and organizer. He graduated from Stanford University in 2014 with a BA in Comparative Studies in Race & Ethnicity.
RELATED MEDIA
Roundtable on Anti-Blackness and Black-Palestinian Solidarity

Black Palestinian Solidarity Video and Website
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The Nakba and Anti-Blackness  

Discussion on Art and Activism with Michael Bennett

Black-Palestinian Solidarity - from STATUS/الوضع Panels

Dream Defenders & Allies Stand with Ahed Tamimi and the Palestinian Freedom Struggle

Traveling While Black: I Was Racially Profiled and Locked Up in Israel

​A Conversation With Angela Davis and Noura Erakat