American Routes to African Roots

Last updated on: February 8, 2017 at 8:11 am by Hind Makki

American Routes to African Roots 2017-02-08T08:11:13-07:00 Hind Makki

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Walla Elsheikh (R) and Birthright AFRICA’s first Fellow, Ashley Johnson, on the pilot trip to Ghana stand next to the “Door of No Return” at the Cape Coast Castle where enslaved Africans where held before boarding ships to the Americas during the Transatlantic Slave trade.

Exploring faith, race, and Sudanese identities in Black History Month

By Guest Author Walla Elsheikh

In my identification with Blackness around my Sudanese identity, it has been crucial for me to explore the history of African Americans in the US and its impact on and relevance to me. It’s not emphasized enough that without the Civil Rights movement and achievements for African Americans in the 1960s, my family along with thousands of other families from Sudan and other nations in Africa, would likely not have immigrated to the US in the years that followed.

Coming to the U.S. at the age of 11 after living in multiple countries including Sudan, my identification was centered around multiculturalism since the concept of race was somewhat non-existent in my childhood. Growing up in New York City was a constant reminder of multiculturalism but it did not take too long to become aware of race and understand that my skin color and African descent meant I was Black. Without knowing the full racial history in my teens, mainly due to limited curriculum in school, I absorbed mostly positive images of Blackness on television from shows like The Cosby’s and musical artists like Michael and Janet Jackson. As a dance enthusiast, R&B and Hip Hop music further connected me to Blackness in America.

As I got older, and by my mid twenties, my exploration of Blackness uncovered the details of the dark history of slavery, Jim Crow, and Segregation, particularly through documentaries and more directly through conversations with African American friends. I began to understand how my Blackness could be seen as a deficit, in spite of great academic and career achievements. Around that same time, I learned of Birthright Israel from Jewish American friends who were planning to embark on the 10 day free journey to Israel to explore history and culture. I immediately questioned whether there was a similar concept for Black people to receive a free journey to Africa. At that moment, I discovered my calling.

10 years later I launched Birthright AFRICA, motivated by the connection to both my African heritage and a desire to connect African Americans to it. It is imperative for us, as people of Black African descent, to explore not only the struggle for our humanity, but also our greatness and contributions to the world, particularly in business, science, technology, engineering, and the arts, so that we reframe the narrative to include not only our resilience but also our brilliance.

Walla Elsheikh is the Founder and Chief Umoja (Unity) Officer of Birthright AFRICA. To learn more about how you can partner and support, please visit our website.

#BlackLivesMatter

#ZoulSoul

Black History Month

Previous Post

February 3, 2017

I AM Sudanese (Pretty Simple)

Next Post

February 13, 2017 Safia Elhillo on Art, Identity, and Belonging

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category #BlackLivesMatter #MyMosqueMyStory #ZoulSoul American Hijabi in Europe Black History Month Ertugrul Hindtrospectives Linksies Mawlid Pop Culture Trans Atlantic Relations Uncategorized

Select a Month February 2018 December 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 April 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 August 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 December 2012 November 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 October 2010 September 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the first miracle performed by Elisha?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Raising a boy from the dead Multiplying oil Parting the Jordan River Healing Naaman’s leprosy