“The Bosnian American Institute (BAI) condemns the horrific killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Manuel Ellis, and countless others. These horrendous events remind us of the systemic racism that continues to oppress Black communities all across America and beyond.”
We stand in solidarity with Black communities and the Black Lives Matter Movement. We recognize our duty, as neighbors to these communities and as citizens, to help our compatriots make their voices heard. Our experiences of injustice and intolerance have taught us that racism holds no bounds and that our fights must not be selective, but rather collective.
Our Bosnian-American community must recognize the privilege that our white community members have. It is not enough to not be racist - we must also participate in anti-racism, where we hold ourselves accountable to speak up against wrongdoings and atrocities. And we mean it when we say speak up; even if it means having uncomfortable, albeit necessary, conversations with our own families and friends.
We ask that our neighbors, supporters, and citizens support the movements that are fighting for justice at the forefront of these issues. Organizations like BlackLivesMatter and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) work hard to provide opportunities for Black Americans in working against systematic oppression.
One of the core pillars of the Bosnian American Institute is education, and we strongly believe that we must all educate ourselves on systemic racism. Below, we have compiled resources for our community to learn more about the history and the multi-generational impact of racism on the Black and African-American community. We strongly encourage you to read about these organizations and donate or give support in any capacity.
Finally, the greatest power that an American citizen has is the ability to vote. We encourage our community to ensure they are registered voters. Research and support candidates who you believe will benefit society and fight against the systemic oppression we see. Make your voices heard through voting in local and national elections. We have provided a link to schedules that show upcoming primaries and election schedules below.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
#BlackLivesMatter
Sincerely,
The Bosnian American Institute
Organizational Resources
national (US)
Local (Washington State)
Material to educate
To Watch
13th (Netflix)
When They See Us (Netflix)
Just Mercy (Amazon Prime)
The Skin We’re In (CBC)
Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap (Netflix, S1E20)
To Read
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
Between the World and Me by Ta-nehisi Coates
Blood In My Eye by George L. Jackson
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Cover photo by Duncan Shaffer via Unsplash.