Black in Babylon: The Politics and Perceptions of being African Americans in Iran

Below you will find an IM conversation between Shauen Pearce and myself. Shauen is the Co-Director of the Youth and Militarism Program of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, and was one of the first African Americans to go on a, FOR delegation to Iran. I am the second African American to lead a delegation [Ed.: Pat Clark was co-leader of FOR's first delegation in December 2005]. Given the politics of race in the U.S. — which seems to be different from my experiences around the world — I asked Shauen about the nature of experience of being Black in Iran and what I should expect when arrive in Tehran. I thought our exchange would provide good insight on what is means to viewed as an African American on foreign soil.

Sekou: sup. . . would like to hear your experiences as black person in Iran?

Shauen: yo!

Well, the most memorable is when people came up to me and yelled, "AFRICA" and I said yes, by way of N. America.

Mostly, I felt as though the delegates have not dealt with white supremacy in the context of the U.S. and would like to ignore the reality of ethnic conflict in Iran and amongst bordering nations. I found I had really genuine conversations with young people that felt like they knew that black people are treated as subhuman in the U.S. and I do not believe that many people caught it but the entering Jewish member to parliament said directly that the U.S. has no right to be involved with Iran given its inability to work with its own people namely Latinos and blacks. Of course, people brushed right pass that. I had a few debates with some (now) Iranian friends there about their use of the N-word because they had no context

Hmm.... etc. What are you thinking? How are you feeling about heading over?

Oh then there was when people wanted to demonstrate in the streets -another story

Sekou: I am feeling at once over my head and in my element.

I come from simple folks and ran around bare foot in the back woods of Arkansas. And now leading a delegation in the heat of the war drums beating in the U.S. and Israel. So I feel like my grandparents gave me the fortitude and my experience as an organizer has given me the skills and my faith gives me the faith. . .

Been thinking about what it means for me as African American to be trying to build an international, interfaith coalition to stop the war against the people of Iran.

Shauen: Being in Iran was a wonderful experience and I feel as though I have genuine connections with people that I may not have had if I weren’t black.

My friend Michelle and I had a long conversation about what it means to be there as brown people.

Yes...

being of African descent seemed to make it easier to engage in dialogue about life and love and beauty. Many times, I did not have the burden of being placed as American unless I chose to. I always did but there was a different level of intrigue and engagement from people I spoke with. I was African first American second

In the eyes of many I spoke with who were Iranian. They asked about me and my experiences in the U.S. as an individual and part of a culture not as if I were only from academia or "studying" From my observation, people were less guarded.

Actually a number of Iranian people said that aloud

on the conversation with Michelle. We agreed that it is work to save our cousins of another land and indirectly yourselves as it is predominately people of color

Who are sent to kill and die in the process?

*ourselves

Sekou: That has been my experiences around the world. People have seen the images of the civil rights movement and our history of struggle to bring about democracy inspires.

People throughout the world.

In fact when we were meeting with Deputy Iranian Ambassador to the U.N. his eyes, I could see tears in his eyes and his voice cracked when I spoke of Martin Luther King. He said, "Martin Luther King died for democracy. Why do you treat it this way?"

Shauen: wow.

I find it crushing when others understand so entirely what democracy is and the people of this country fail to care

Sekou: This exchange is so rich. . . . can I publish it as a blog?

Shauen: yes, please. fyi: in regards to language...

many people said clearly that they do not want another revolution. This was from both self identified wealthy and not so well off. People under 26 were clear about this. So it is good to find another way to dialogue about change

revolution and political as terms did not seem to get people to go very deep

again, there is the issue of trust and foreign spies

what else is on your mind about heading over?

Sekou: Can we stop the war with Iran is the major question for me?

Shauen: I think we can. The major question for me is are we maximizing our strategic capacity to prevent war with Iran? Are we going about this is the most strategic manner?

Sekou: If FOR-USA leverages its IFOR connection plus a global interfaith coalition, we might have chance. . .

Shauen Pearce is the Co-Director of the Youth and Militarism Program of the Fellowship of Reconciliation.

Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou is a Freeman Fellow for Interfaith Peace Organizing for the Fellowship of Reconciliation.