As our respective organizations continue to fight for immigrant and racial justice and dismantle the systems that oppress us, we believe that transformational solidarity between our communities–in the face of countless attempts to divide us–is key to our collective liberation. This collective project is organized by two of the leading Black and Asian immigrant rights organizations in the nation: the UndocuBlack Network and the NAKASEC Network.
Woori
Ujima
Black-AAPI Immigrant Action Day
We grounded our actions in our particular experiences as Black and AAPI immigrants, and in the historical and political contexts of our communities. We also centered Black and AAPI voices and leadership, which are often marginalized within the larger immigrant rights movement.
Centering Black and AAPI Experiences
On December 5, 2017, UBN and NAKASEC held the first national Black-AAPI Immigrant Action Day in Washington DC, bringing together 135 Black and AAPI immigrants. This historic action was organized on the heels of the Trump administration rescinding the DACA program and decidedly canceling TPS for the majority of affected countries. As Congress continued to delay legislation that would protect our communities, we knew it was time to stand up and fight back together.
We held political education workshops where we shared our experiences as Black and AAPI immigrants in the United States and discussed White supremacy and anti-Blackness. We also held a joint press conference and educated members of Congress about our communities’ needs and demands. Our organizing gathering in Los Angeles will build on the conversations and relationships our community members began during the Black-AAPI Immigrant Action Day. The theme of this convening is Woori Ujima, which translates to “Our collective work and responsibility.” Woori means “our” in Korean, and Ujima is Swahili for “collective work and responsibility.”
Commitment
to Solidarity
Building on this momentous event,
we committed to working together to:
Create Spaces for
Relationship Building:
Where we can build and deepen authentic relationships and exchanges.
Foster Dialogue:
That helps us understand the differences and similarities between our communities within local, national, and international historical and present contexts.
Cultivate Solidarity:
That fosters deep love, trust, and true allyship between our communities, and together build towards a future where we are all thriving.
Building Transformational Solidarity:
Our Journey and Ongoing Commitment
In 2018, we hosted Woori Ujima, an in-person convening. In 2022, we hosted a virtual panel recognizing the anniversary of the L.A. Uprisings, and later in the year, held another in-person convening. Members consistently requested ongoing and increased work together. As a result, in 2023, both organizations hosted fellows from UCLA’s Dream Summer Fellowship program and began to institutionalize and solidify this ongoing work.
