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When the United States uses blackface to make problematic foreign policy decisions

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When the United States Uses a Black Face to Deliver Problematic Foreign Policy Decisions

On October 18, the United States was the only member of the UN Security Council to vote against condemning civilian violence in Gaza resulting from Israel’s response to Hamas. The face of this veto was the US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

On December 9, the United States was the only member of the UN Security Council to vote against a ceasefire in Gaza. The face of this veto was the deputy US ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood.

The last ceasefire vote in the UN Security Council took place on February 20: 13 countries voted in favor of the ceasefire, the United Kingdom abstained, the United States voted against, and Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield voted “no” to the country.

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When the United States uses blackface to make problematic foreign policy decisions
United States Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield speaks during a press conference at the United Nations on January 30, 2024 in New York. Thomas-Greenfield, France’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Nathalie Broadhurst and Gaza Senior Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance and Reconstruction Sigrid Kaag held a press conference after the Security Council was briefed on Kaag’s first twenty days in her latest role and efforts to providing humanitarian aid to people in Gaza. Kaag, a Dutch politician and UN veteran, was appointed to the position created in December by a resolution of the UN Security Council. (Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Both Thomas-Greenfield and Wood are faces standing between the genocide in occupied Palestine and the ceasefire. Both Thomas-Greenfield and Wood are black. These are the Blackfaces that America wears as Blackface to rationalize its support for the settler colonial state that’s Israel.

As a majority in the world, Black and brown people rebuke Israel for committing genocide in Gaza, and the United States for its complicity. And the world’s majority is represented on the Security Council and amongst the many countries which have condemned the actions of the Israeli government and military.

When blackface is liable to becoming blackface

The US has black representation at the UN. Maybe it is a coincidence that on this case the ambassadors are black. However, these officials have the same shade of “reason” towards the global majority that white people don’t have.

But what will not be a coincidence is America’s use of diplomatic Blackface as political cover for supporting white settler colonialism. The definition of Blackface as we comprehend it is when a non-Black (often white) person paints their face black (traditionally using burnt cork) and engages in stereotypical behavior to mock, demean, and make fun of Black people. The US employs a type of diplomatic blackface. This means using Black people in government to explain and/or explain racist foreign policy goals, a face familiar to most of the world.

It appears that African American ambassadors to the United Nations voted against ending the killing of oppressed people, providing political cover for supporting white settler colonialism. He also looks like a president promoting the white settler narrative from the pulpit in a black church. At the same time, it puts black faces against oppressed people like them. Collateral damage, I suppose.

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Understanding the impact of white settler colonialism

White settler colonialism is a system of power from the fifteenth century to the present day that perpetuates genocide and repression by white people against indigenous peoples and their cultures.

America’s white settler roots explain the motivations for manifest destiny, Columbus Day celebrations, and alliance with white settler states corresponding to apartheid South Africa and Israel. These roots are integral to understanding American history in addition to American foreign policy.

Thrown into the white settler colonial state was an African whose labor was the basis for revitalizing, if not constructing, the U.S. economy during the period of enslavement. African Americans then sought to live under the freedoms and protections of the Reconstruction Amendments, and in addition showed white folks that Black people were honorary residents.

For some, the adventure began with joining the military after the Civil War. The federal government used this to secure its white settler program.

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In 1866, Congress created peacetime Black Army regiments – the ninth and tenth Cavalry and the twenty fourth and twenty fifth Infantry – which became generally known as the “Buffalo Soldiers.” These soldiers faced racism inside the army. They even had to serve west of the Mississippi River in order not to offend white individuals with their presence. Despite this, they showed bravery and courage in service. But their service was not without spreading white settler colonialism.

These soldiers served in the military to gain equal rights in exchange for participating in the government’s wars to take over the Native Americans of the Southwest and Great Plains. At the turn of the twentieth century, Buffalo Soldiers were used during the Spanish-American War.

After the war, Buffalo Soldiers were sent to quell resistance from Filipinos who believed the war signaled their liberation relatively than their introduction to a brand new colonizer.

Given the position of blacks joining the military – recently emancipated, in need of (honorable) work, and eager to prove their price as American residents – this made sense. They were expected by a government that wanted to profit from their work, but otherwise.

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Likewise, Black people proceed to pursue government employment for honorable work, stability, and a desire to give back to their people and nation.

And waiting for them, like the Buffalo Soldiers, was a government eager to use their Black faces to promote the goals of the settler colony.

A have a look at black diplomats throughout history

When you’re thinking that of black government officials who’ve supported problematic political agendas over the years, Ben Carson immediately comes to mind. He was the distinguished black person in the previous White House administration to accomplish that to talk that Donald Trump was not a racist.

Then there was former Secretary of State Colin Powell, sent to the United Nations to announce that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction although it didn’t. And twenty years earlier, when Powell was senior military assistant to the secretary of defense in the Reagan administration, he helped organize the U.S. invasion of Grenada – a military act condemned by the Congressional Black Caucus.

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There can be former US ambassador to South Africa, Edward Perkins, who was sent by the Reagan administration to further support apartheid through support for PW Botha. Botha was the white (Afrikaans) leader of the apartheid government in South Africa before FW de Klerk.

There can be former Atlanta mayor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young, who met with a PLO representative to protect the Carter administration from a U.N. report announcing the demand for a Palestinian state. Young was forced to resign from his position for meeting with a PLO member.

Thomas-Greenfield and Wood are safely on the improper side of history. As mentioned, the United States will use blackface to promote its goals. However, Black people cannot proceed to allow themselves to be used as the face of an oppressive foreign policy, on this case white settler colonialism.

Israel, like the United States, is a white settler colonial state created by Europeans (British) for European (Ashkenazi) Jews. And while all people deserve a homeland for themselves – as a people kidnapped from their homeland, black people know this – settler colonialism will not be the way to achieve this.

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While the United States’ position and the votes of Thomas-Greenfield and Wood constitute their support for the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people – a individuals who have lived on this land for over 2,000 years compared to 75 years in Israel, in the event that they didn’t agree, they’d resign. Several Biden administration officials have already done so, including campaign staffers and a member of the Department of Education.

Bunche represented the United States in the Arab-Israeli conflict after the 1948 war. He was the chief negotiator between opposing groups. Unfortunately, he waited until the matter was resolved to express his dissatisfaction with the Truman administration’s prejudice against Israelis as compared to Palestinians and Egyptians, and did so privately.

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This is a lesson for anyone who takes a government position for sound reasons only to be confronted with being burned by a cork stuck to Uncle Sam’s face. For example, despite all the controversy surrounding the use of the Buffalo Soldiers for white settler colonial purposes, the Buffalo Soldiers resisted. David Fagan comes to mind.

Instead of allowing himself to be used to spread white settler colonialism, he resisted, defecting to the Filipino side to fight the resistance. I’m on no account suggesting that black diplomats will take up arms on either side in Gaza. However, I suggest that Black people mustn’t fall into the trap of being Blackface in the name of serving their country. The only thing that may remain for many who do that is regret.

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This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Politics and Current

Viral photo of Trump’s “White Farmer” – comes from Congo, not South Africa

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President Donald Trump created a very spectacle through the Wednesday oval meeting of the office with the President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphos, attempting to strengthen his claim for the white “genocide” on this country. However, some of Trump’s evidence presented proved to be false.

Trump issued many printed articles and played almost 5-minute video assembly to reporters within the White House, which, he claimed, proved that white African farmers were victims of genocide in South Africa.

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“Death, death, death,” said Trump, when he was holding one printed article after the opposite after restoring the film about what, he claimed, were “funeral places” “over a thousand” white farmers who were murdered by the presumably black inhabitants of South Africa. However, Factcheck.org He determined that the video actually showed an indication at 2020 – not the burial place – to attract attention to the death of farmers of all breeds, not just white farmers.

President Trump also showed an image of what, he claimed, were bags with white farmers who were murdered in South Africa; However, Reuters Reported that the painting was humanitarian employees who bury the organs within the Democratic Republic of Congo. Outlet said that the image was a screen printing of Reuters in February after deadly battles against rebels supported by Rwandy who captured town of Goma.

Trump’s emphasis on white genocide going down in South Africa occurs after years of conspiracy theories from far -right groups. He was strengthened by the billionaire Elon Musk, born in South Africa, who’s a detailed advisor to the president and runs the Department of the White House.

While crime in South Africa is high, the information show that almost all of the victims of the murder within the country – over 26,000 in 2024 – was actually black. As for the farmers themselves, only 44 murders were related to farmers. Only 7 of these murders were white.

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In the middle of an actual conflict with farmers in South Africa there’s a disproportionate amount of land belonging to white African farmers, consequently of a ten -year Apartheid system in a rustic that shared and deprived of civil rights of Black South African Africa. Although they constitute only 7% of the population, they’ve 75% of arable land.

The act signed by President Cyril Ramaphos in January was geared toward starting the legislative process to repair the inequalities of land. It mainly allows the federal government to take over private land. President Trump has repeatedly pointed to the fitting as proof that they’re the goal of white farmers. However, the federal government of South Africa stated that no land was taken over. The government also said that as an alternative he tried to encourage white farmers to sell his land willingly, says Reuters.

The first group of 49 white inhabitants of South Africa goes to the USA after Trump offered them refugee status

Trump’s fascination on pushing lies about South Africa and treating white farmers was criticized by activists as an try and push the white policy of Greivance, which reflects the policy of Trump’s anti-dei-dei policy within the United States.

He continued: “As a master of racists, he knows well that black resistance and black perfection must be fully gutted to realize the global vision of Trump of the uncontrollable rule of” white “.

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(Tagstranslate) Donald Trump

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Politics and Current

Trump removes truck drivers who don’t speak English

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Truck Driver, Arrest, Crime, Decapitating Woman


Truck drivers can have to pass the CDL exam and test that they will speak English. According to the Secretary for Transport, Sean Duffy signed a directive enabling the American Department of Transport To remove truck drivers who are usually not fluent in English. The transfer of Duffya directly responds to the ordinance of President Donald Trump on April 28.

According to the order, Trump directed a seek for testing of proficiency in English and law enforcement policy. In 2016, under the rule of former President Barack Obama, the Federal Safety Administration of a motor carrier (FMCS) removed the penalty for putting drivers for serving for violation of federal proficiency in English. Obama’s administration softened punishment for a quote.

However, Trump’s executive order changes him back to forcing drivers from the road.

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“The policy of my administration is the support of American trucks and protecting our roads by enforcing the joint English language requirement in English and removing unnecessary regulatory loads that undermine the working conditions of American truck drivers.” Trump states in his executive orderadding that “it will help to provide a safe, safe and efficient car carrier industry.”

Fears of truck drivers who speak English because the second language

American Truck Association He praised Trump for a brand new punishment In accordance with the order within the statement.

“Thank you to Trump’s administration for the response to our fears regarding the uneven application of this existing regulation, and we are waiting for cooperation with FMCS and the law enforcement authorities at the objective, coherent and effective standard of enforcement.”

However, others are afraid that the brand new guidelines will result in discrimination on the road, because law enforcement agencies resolve who to stop to perform an proficiency test in English.

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According to data from the Transport Department, almost 4% of CDL owners are limited in English proficiency. It is estimated that 16% discover as immigrants.

“Is it someone who has an accent, or maybe someone who wears a turban?” Mannirmal Kur, senior federal policy manager at Sikh Coalition, said: “An order outside the service may be potentially unemployment for a truck driver … With a potentially limited appeal.”

(Tagstranslate) Trump Administration

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This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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Politics and Current

The mayor of Newark Ras Baraka released after arrest in protests at the Immigration Center: “I did nothing bad” – essence

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The mayor of Newark Ras Baraka dismissed after the arrest in the protest at the Immigration Center:

Photo of Ken Betancur/AFP by Getty Images

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The mayor of Newark, New Jersey, Barak Ras, passed free on Friday evening after spending hours in federal detention after arrest in a controversial immigration detention in Delaney Hall – an object that fought to refrain from opening in his city.

Barak was arrested during the protest in the newly opened ice retention site, which, as with other critics, has no appropriate permits and inspections, According to CNN. Standing in front of the crowd of fans after releasing it, he simplified: “In fact I did nothing wrong.”

Although he did not take details about the arrest – legal advice – the mayor clearly stated that he was standing in Solidarity with the community, including immigrants, which, he claims, are unfairly targeted.

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“Everyone here, each of us, does not care what origin you come from, what nationality, what language you speak,” he said. “At some point we have to stop these people from causing the division between us.”

The barrack, which in 2025 is applying after the replacing the governor Phil Murphy, was open in his opposition to the private penal complex of 1000 led by the Geo Group. He claims that he should never open, pointing to unsolved fears regarding security and the lack of appropriate permits to the city.

The mayor’s wife, Linda Barak, accused the federal government of aiming at her husband. “They didn’t arrest anyone else. They didn’t ask anyone to leave. They wanted to make an example from the mayor,” she said.

According to ABC News, there was a barrack accused of entering– Depot, which results in 30 days in prison and a advantageous of USD 500. He was released without Bond after a brief speech before judge Andre Espinos.

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Federal officials claim that the mayor ignored the repetitive warnings about leaving the rooms. USE temporary lawyer Alina Habba published on X this barrack “He decided to ignore the law.” But the video from the stage shows that the barraka was arrested after returning to public property outside the gate.

He wasn’t alone. It was joined by members of the Congress Delegation in New Jersey – including representatives of Bonnie Watson Coleman, Lamonica Mciver and Rob Menendez Jr. – who said they were “pushed”, “pushed” and “managed” by federal agents who tried to accompany the mayor.

“They just caught and took him,” said Watson Coleman, adding ABC News, adding that there was no clear explanation at that point.

Mciver, who said that she and others were physically treated during the try to de -escallion, called the unacceptable situation.

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“We were simply rough handling-doses,” she said. “Nobody raised his fists to hit us, but they pushed us, pushed us and removed us to get to the mayor.”

The Internal Security Department adopted a unique view by accusing the members of the Congress of “storming” the object. Deputy Secretary Tric McLaughlin said in an announcement that if a visit was asked, it might be awarded.

Governor Phil Murphy called the arrest of the barracks “unfair”, noting that the state has already banned private immigration centers – and that the Murphy administration is fighting to take care of this right in court.

“The mayor of Barak is an exemplary official who has always defended our most sensitive neighbors,” said Murphy. “I call on his immediate release by federal law enforcement agencies.”

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US Senator Cory Booker, who once took place as a mayor, called the arrest “a disturbing, unnecessary and indicating tactics undermining the safety and safety of our communities.”

Regardless of whether the case is moving forward in court, critics say that it was not about an immigration plant – it was about sending a message. And they consider that the mayor was directed to stand up.

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This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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