When Afolabi and I thought about what we wanted CLIQUE to stand for, we thought about what personal values we both believe in. We come from two very different backgrounds, but we are united in wanting to foster creativity, establish connections and build a community. We list them in that order because it takes self expression to form connections with others, and strong connections to build a community. At the end of the day, that’s what we all want - to express ourselves freely and to feel a sense of belonging. That is what we believe black people in America are asking for.
As we write this, we wonder if our voices even matter; there are millions of others who have already shared their perspective on this, who have shared helpful resources, and who have a better understanding of the generational trauma and systematic racism that African Americans face in the United States. So, why are we writing this?
We have a platform here. I recognize that I have privilege, both within my own South Asian community, and as an American in the context of 2020. Although Afolabi is black, his experience being a Nigerian immigrant living in America is different from that of an African American. We are having conversations about race and privilege with each other and we hope to use our platform to start real conversations about how we can influence change.
We truly believe that we are all connected. We believe that words matter, and that we can speak words that inspire real action. It starts with words. If voting, petitioning, protesting, donating or contacting your state and local representatives sounds scary, simply start with words. Start having conversations with your family, friends and colleagues. This is the only way we can start to form meaningful connections and build a community that is not divided by hatred.
What we’re committing to:
Educating ourselves and having these conversations within our own communities
Sharing resources to our website and social media platforms
Petitioning for justice for the black men and women who have been unjustly murdered
Where to start if you want to learn more:
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (civilrights.org)
We support our black brothers and sisters. We stand against racism and social injustice. We are committed and determined to spreading love and light to the world.
Love,
Ambika + Afolabi
CLIQUE