Five Reasons the Crisis in Darfur
Is an Issue for Black People

More than 180, 000 people have died in the violence that has overtaken Darfur, Sudan.

The world is finally waking up to the crisis with a broad range of American churches, mosques and synagogues speaking against the violence and television shows like 'ER' rasing the profile of the country's troubles through their plotlines.

For several reasons, African Americans have the potential to play a significant role in ending the vicious genocide that has gripped the east African country. Here are five of them:



1. It's About Slavery

The side bar to the crisis in Darfur, Sudan is rife with the themes of race, slavery and geography: Generally, darker-skinned Africans, mostly members of the south dwelling Dinka tribe -- some Christian, some traditional spiritualists -- are being killed, raped, and enslaved by lighter-skinned Arabs or Muslims connected to the Sudanese power elite.

While the Sudanese government denies modern-day slavery exists in its country, there is evidence to the contrary: People are being bought and sold to work for others, and their mistreatment has plenty to do with their skin color, hair texture and religion. No other group can be more credible, empathetic advocates for enslaved and oppressed people than African Americans. The black American slave experience is a global trope for heroism in the face of oppression. People will listen to us: They sing our spirituals and reference our struggle as a yardstick for suffering all around the world. Let's use our moral capital to lift others from indignities similar to those our ancestors faced.

"I was interested in the whole issue of slavery to understand it." -- Gloria White-Hammond, 55, an African-American reverend and medical doctor who has gone to Sudan eight times since 2001 to help the people of Darfur.



2. We Finally Get Condi Rice and Al Sharpton on the Same Side of an Issue

Like the widening class divide in black America, the ideological distance between black Republicans and black Democrats has never been greater. Black liberals and conservatives are polarized on the far opposites of issues and rarely do they find themselves on common ground. So, it's refreshing to see Condelezza Rice and Al Sharpton both passionate advocates for the people of Sudan.

"When Americans come together we can stop anything. We can stop genocide in Sudan." -- The Rev. Al Sharpton

3. The Black Middle Class Is Growing Dormant

It's been a while since the black middle class has rallied around any issue with much passion and or any serious support -- even Hurricane Katrina. While disappointment and outrage overtook us (enough to fire-up Kanye West to flip the script and call out President Bush on national television), there has been little organizing and no sustained political engagement. Darfur could become one of the international issues on the black American political agenda, along with the many domestic issues we have overlooked. It would be powerful to see African Americans rally for Sudan as we did for black South Africans during apartheid.

"Where is the moral outrage in the black middle class? We have become too concerned with the length of our cars, the size of our paychecks and the number of degrees on our walls." -- Princeton University Professor Cornel West

4. We Should Be the Strongest Constituency for Africa in America

We love George Clooney and Bono, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt and all the good they are doing in Africa. And it was encouraging to see the mass support of predominantly white Christian churches and a long list of Jewish groups from all across the U.S. and Canada at the recent Washington Rally for Darfur. What was glaringly missing from the multicultural show of support was the black Church, African immigrant groups, Afro-Caribbean and African-American political organizations. Historically moral leaders on social issues, African Americans are increasingly becoming cellular entities, too concerned with personal security to look at issues that don't directly affect them as individuals.

"Irish Americans. Polish Americans. Every other group in America campaigns for their Homeland. African Americans must do the same." -- Sen. Barack Obama

5. This is Another Chance to Build Lasting Political Alliances with Other Groups

The atrocity in Sudan bands together a diverse group of supporters. Jewish religious groups and right wing Christian conservatives. Hollywood celebrities and Washington policymakers. Refugees from Rwanda and American Muslim imams. It is a political issue that has the capability of fostering a dialogue between groups that have traditionally been opposed to or estranged from each other. The African-American leadership should have a seat at this table. Not since the Civil Rights movement have blacks been at the forefront of such a diverse coalition of Americans. Who knows? There's no telling what level of bridge building could come out of participation with this group. On the national policy level, it takes broad-based coalitions to push any one group's agenda forward.

"The personal motivation for a lot of us is the Holocaust. Given our history and experience, we feel an obligation to stand up and speak out." -- Boston-based Rabbi Or Rose of Jewish Seminarians for Justice

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