Black Liberation and Indigenous
What is Black liberation and Indigenous sovereignty?
Black liberation and Indigenous sovereignty are deeply interconnected struggles that demand a critical examination and dismantling of white supremacy, settler colonialism, and racial capitalism. These movements are grounded in the belief that both Black and Indigenous peoples have the inherent right to self-governance, self-determination, and autonomy over their lives, bodies, and lands. For Indigenous communities, sovereignty is tied to the reclamation of their relationship with the land, as articulated in the "Land Back" movement, which seeks to free land from capitalist commodification and restore Indigenous stewardship. This vision includes honoring Indigenous epistemologies as legitimate forms of knowledge and rejecting the ongoing violence of settler colonialism that threatens the survival of tribes, nations, and families.
Similarly, Black liberation envisions a future where Black people globally reclaim their sovereignty, rejecting the commodification of their bodies and lives under white supremacy and colonialism. This future demands the dismantling of social constructs that historically disparaged health outcomes, quality of life, and life expectancy of Black People. It also calls for the affirmation of Black beauty, culture, and identity, free from the oppressive standards imposed by proximity to whiteness. Black liberation is about fully realizing the humanity of Black people, where they live in a world that recognizes and affirms their indigeneity and their right to self-determination.
Both Indigenous sovereignty and Black liberation movements in Louisiana highlight the importance of cultural preservation, economic empowerment, and social justice. For Indigenous communities like the Houma Nation, maintaining traditional practices is a form of resistance and resilience against external pressures and historical injustices. Similarly, the Black liberation movement in Louisiana aims to dismantle systemic racism and promote social and economic equality.
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Our collective recognizes the global perspective of Black liberation but aims to showcase the specific social, political, economic, and ideological efforts within Louisiana. By highlighting the historical contributions of Free People of Color and the ongoing struggles of Black communities, we emphasize the importance of achieving equality, justice, and freedom at a local level. We promote unity amongst our people!
Achieving both Black liberation and Indigenous sovereignty requires a profound remembering of who we are outside of the oppressor's institutions and ideologies. It demands a commitment to dismantling the systems that dehumanize and commodify our existence yet profiting off our gifts, while embracing the legacy of resistance and freedom passed down by our ancestors. As stewards of this work, we must continue to imagine and build a future that honors the struggles of those who came before us, while envisioning a world far more brilliant than what our oppressors have planned.