“It's a space where you can dream big and envision what our world could look like,” she says. “It’s been interesting hearing stories from her journey and the pioneers within the fashion industry.” Given the power she ascribes to visuals and the online experience, Tometi sees the potential for fashion to join the fight for justice. “She’s so sweet and we have a mutual passion for the African continent and its people,” says Tometi. First stop: Naomi Campbell’s YouTube talk show, No Filter With Naomi. Now Tometi is dipping her toes into the fashion world. There is a sense of righteousness that informs our current struggles and how we persevere.” “We can feel a deep sense of pride and connections with those who came before us that sacrificed so much just so we’d be able to make videos and use social media. “We have to ground our experiences in history to ensure that the echoes of our ancestors are brought into this moment,” she says. It’s through projects such as Diaspora Rising that Tometi hopes to show that the work being done today is only possible thanks to the efforts of previous generations. The idea of Pan-African kinship isn’t limited to present-day movements like BLM. who are also working on racial justice, and human rights struggles, so I felt it was important to reflect the aspirations that we all have in our respective regions.” “I’m a person who travels across the African continent, who is also engaged in social movements in different parts of the world,” she says. Tometi’s voiceover reminds viewers that Black people aren’t a monolith, but they share a common struggle. The video captures that sentiment while broadening the message to apply to a range of experiences. There was never a time when we weren’t thinking about the extended family we had created and how we can always be there for each other despite what society says about the value placed on our lives.” That shook our entire community, but it also taught me that we always look out for each other despite everything. My aunt was deported, and she was a widow with four children, all of whom were born in the U.S. “My siblings and I came to learn that our race and immigration status were essentially targets on our backs. Living in the suburbs, we dealt with being profiled, being pulled over for driving while Black, and those experiences shaped my life,” she says. “We were Black people in a predominantly white community. Raised within the close-knit Nigerian community of Phoenix, she grew up with an understanding of how important honoring heritage is, especially when living in a society where discrimination is a fact of life. “I wanted to make something that was visual and could translate and be transmitted to different parts of the world and inspire people to reflect on their origins, their stories, and those struggles of resilience and resistance.”Īs the daughter of Nigerian immigrants to the United States, Tometi has a personal connection to the subject matter. “We are part of this larger conversation and movement for racial justice and freedom,” she says. The mini-film reflects her desire to unite people of African ancestry-particularly first- and second-generation immigrants-from all the diaspora. Tometi’s latest project, Diaspora Rising, is a visual expression of African pride. The ongoing marches and gatherings may be the most visible symbols of their contributions, but they aren’t the only way of getting the point across. The organization, which celebrates its seventh anniversary this week, has never been as relevant, and its founders continue to work toward positive change.
#Opal tometi trial
What began as a social media response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman in Trayvon Martin’s murder trial has become an international movement uniting millions for nonviolent civil disobedience against racial inequality and police brutality. When Opal Tometi, Alicia Garza, and Patrisse Cullors started the Black Lives Matter hashtag in 2013, they could never have imagined the impact their efforts would have. This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.