We know from the iconic images of 1940s, 50s, that housing is a major indicator of social justice – or lack thereof. (1) But when atrocities like Grenfell occur, the issue crashes public consciousness in an alarming way. (2)
After the brutal public murder of George Floyd last year, social justice became one of biggest news stories for several months, sparking global protests around the theme ‘Black Lives Matter.’ Astute observers will know that such activities invariably generate a response. Late last year these factors collided in Spain where a ‘mini Grenfell’ occurred. A fire in the predominantly Afrikan occupied Gorg building in Badalona, a suburb of Barcelona, claimed the lives of five, injuring more than twenty with several still missing. The residents were portrayed in the media as “squatters” with “very significant conflicts of insecurity and coexistence,” with other local residents. In fact, a joint patrol of the National Police and local law enforcement officers had been at the site around “10 to 15 minutes” before the fire broke out. (3)
The Pan-Afrikan community in Spain was quick to put the tragedy in context. A press release from Movimiento Panafricanista de España declared “It was murder, the result of indirect violence by the administration towards blacks”, adding:
“It is the public administrations who deny the right to blacks to register, to decent housing and to have papers, who light the fuse and the fire of racism by killing Aliu, Moktar, Desire, More… Today EVERYONE is responsible for the tragedy of our siblings in Badalona… in Catalonia all policies towards blacks continue to be based on the era of slavery: invisibility, welfare, tutelage, pity, violence, charity and pain; Afro-pessimism, boats, misery trafficking as extreme forms of denial: a neocolonial relationship of dependency through the white macro-NGOs that are part of the centuries-old clientelistic structures that take the subsidies… blacks continue to live under impoverishment, impunity, exclusion, institutional violence in a very selective way.” (4)
Although the law enforcement presence just before the blaze raises questions, As such, the incident is viewed by the community as a reparations issue:
“We demand immediate reparation. We demand that the administrations do not look the other way and that they give assistance and shelter to these brothers and sisters who are literally on the street with sub-zero temperatures as in times of slavery. We call on pan-Africanist organizations and sympathizers from all over Europe, for the associative expression of black communities and whites in solidarity and truly committed to Afro-centered solidarity, to join forces with indifference to our political colors, to redouble their efforts in the demand for Black reparation.” (5)
As such, the situation in Spain is relevant to reparation activists everywhere (but with a question mark over the USA if ADOS’ peculiar brand of reparations as insular nativism manages to ever hold sway): (6)
“We make a request and call on the African and independent media to join the fight for black reparation and justice in Badalona, allowing an Afro-centered narrative of those oppressed by justice to sound. We invite the African international movement and citizens of Africa Union six Region and the rest of Spain to unite in the demand for justice and reparation” (7)
Veteran activists like Dr. Abuy Nfubea contends that issues like this should compel Pan-Afrikan media tap into our rich legacy of crusading journalism (e.g. UNIA’s Negro World – a global journal that rose to a circulation of over 60,000 in its first year, ANPM’s The Street Speaker, Black Panther Intercommunal News Service, etc.) and help direct the gaze away from celebrities: (8)
“Only the internationalization of this conflict through the force of the Pan-Africanist & BLACK media can provide support to the campaign for the reparation of these repeated fires in Spain. This campaign and our people need the maximum echo and media support of the black & Africanist press. That was the role that Negro world, under the leadership of Amy Jaques Garvey played during the fascist invasion of Ethiopia in 1933. Today the Pan-Africanist press of the 21st century is just as stronger and valuable than in 20s.” (9)
Galaxy Radio listeners who tuned into to Sista Shanice’s Black Empowerment Show on December 30th last year, for example, would have be made aware of the tragedy in Badalona. The challenge is how these issues can be come national and truly international conversations.
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(1) Paul Gilroy (2007) Black Britain: A Photographic History. SAQI in association with Getty Images. p. 77-9
(2) Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement (26/06/17) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio: Grenfell Tower tragedy: Is it “Murder”? https://www.alkebulan.org/2017/06/26/grenfelltragedy/
(3) Rebeca Carranco and Alfonso L. Congostrina (10/12/20) Three dead, 19 injured in warehouse fire in northeastern Spain. https://english.elpais.com/spanish_news/2020-12-10/at-least-two-dead-17-injured-in-warehouse-fire-in-northeastern-spain.html
(4) Movimiento Panafricanista de España (17/12/21) Panafricanist Spain PRESS STATEMENT BARCELONA BURNS AFRICANS: Black Lives Matter. http://reparacionafricana.blogspot.com/2020/12/panafricanist-spain-press-statement.html?m=1
(5) Ibid.
(6) Jessica Ann Mitchell Aiwuyor (02/01/20) Understanding ADOS: The Movement to Hijack Black Identity and Weaken Black Unity in America. https://ibw21.org/commentary/understanding-ados-movement-hijack-black-identity-weaken-black-unity/.
(7) Movimiento Panafricanista de España. Op. cit.
(8) Tony Martin (1986) Race First: The Ideological and Organizational Struggles of Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association. The Majority Press. p.93
(8) Abuy Nfubea (04/01/21) What is the Role of Pan-African media? http://reparacionafricana.blogspot.com/2021/01/editorial-what-is-role-of-pan-african.html?m=1
We ask the question:
What is the Role of Pan-Afrikan media?
1) Were you aware of the fire at the Gorg building in Badalona in December?
2) How does today’s Pan-Afrikan media compare to predecessors like the Negro World, etc.?
3) Are we making the best use of the technology available?
4) How best can the reparations movement use Pan-Afrikan media?
Our Special Guest:
Dr. Abuy Nfubea: is a veteran campaigner and activist based in Spain. His previous affiliations include the Spanish chapter of the New Black Panther Party and the Anti-Apartheid Movement. He is a co-founder of the Malcolm Garvey University a “Pan-Africanist Afrocentric grassroot Field Black school,” as well being as being on its faculty. Bro. Abuy is also the director and presenter of Uhuru Afrika TV.