Confronting the Enemy Within: Challenging Anti-Blackness Across the Diaspora
By: Jamila Gomez
Anti-Blackness within our communities is one of those conversations that makes family dinners uncomfortable and Twitter timelines explosive. But it’s necessary. Anti-Blackness isn’t just external—it can thrive quietly within our own circles, shaping interactions and opportunities among us.
At its root, anti-Blackness within the diaspora is tied to colonialism and slavery. From Brazil to Jamaica to the United States, centuries of conditioning taught us to internalize colorism and hierarchies based on proximity to whiteness. We often unconsciously reproduce these biases within our families, churches, schools, and workplaces.
Think about the aunties who praise lighter skin or looser curls, or families discouraging their kids from playing outside for fear of getting “too dark.” It shows up in derogatory jokes about Haitians or Africans made by Black Americans and Caribbeans. It’s in how Afro-Latinos often find themselves invisible or dismissed in conversations about Latin identity. This behavior doesn’t happen in isolation—it’s a painful manifestation of deeply ingrained beliefs about what it means to be acceptable, respectable, or successful.
The first step toward healing is acknowledging the harm done. As a community, we need honest dialogue about how anti-Blackness influences our interactions and perceptions. Yes, the legacy is painful, but denying its existence won’t liberate us from its grip.
It’s also important to understand that confronting anti-Blackness doesn’t mean we’re creating divisions. Quite the opposite: acknowledging these tensions can help us unify authentically. Solidarity is stronger when it’s rooted in truth, respect, and accountability. This starts with calling out problematic behavior, even when it comes from loved ones or respected community members.
We should also uplift voices and experiences from across the diaspora. This means intentionally creating spaces where darker-skinned, marginalized members of our community can lead and be heard without the filters of colorism or prejudice.
Cultural education and self-reflection are key. Learning about the diversity of our Black experiences globally helps dismantle stereotypes and confront internalized racism. It reminds us of our shared history, struggle, and potential strength in unity.
Finally, dismantling anti-Blackness within our diaspora is critical to fighting broader systemic racism. Our strength as a global Black community is amplified when we confront these issues head-on. We’re powerful individually, but unstoppable together.
Let’s continue the difficult conversations. Let’s keep challenging each other with love, empathy, and accountability. Because our liberation as a collective depends on rooting out anti-Blackness, not only in society but within ourselves first.
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