Health

Zemedey: I See Myself in You, Regarding African Immigration (Part 1)

Published

7 years ago

August 2, 2019

Mariyam-Ifteam Y. Rufael, Bay Area Chapter ABPsi Member, Intern

Given the current national radicalized conversation regarding immigration, the insights and perspectives of Black Psychology are sorely needed, especially regarding the challenges that the recent African immigrant community and African American community face with one another.

Watching the ‘Black Panther’ film, I noticed a new concept for myself when the character Killmonger tells the Black Panther … “Bury me in the ocean with my ancestors who jumped from ships, ‘cause they knew death was better than bondage.”

This stayed with me because part of what the movie touched on was this connection to Africa that enslavement and oppression tried to take away from the African American community. How many recent African immigrants are being impacted by the same cultural oppression that Black psychology refers to as psychic terrorism?

Inter-African Animosity

Since I arrived to the U.S. in 2008, I’ve noticed so much unfounded animosity between the African American community and African immigrants with both communities sharing a general mistrust of the other via false stereotypes generated by an invisible hand of white domination and privilege. When did this happen and why? Is there any real reason for the animosity between our communities? Are both communities suffering from what Na’im Akbar, former ABPsi president, defined as alien and anti-self disorder?

When I attempt to answer this question for myself, I first think of our ancestors, our collective ancestors, our ancestors from African soil, because they belong to all black folks. Africans were kidnapped from their homes, their families, their continent and forced to dwell in the New World. Their culture and identity were stripped away in every way possible. Their progeny became the resilient community that is the African-American community that continues to keep their African identity alive in various ways. The only difference between the two communities is the timeline and circumstances in which they arrived here.

As an African immigrant, I recognize that many African immigrants are infected with Euro-American ideations (i.e., Memetic infection) that result in an arrogance about themselves when referring to and interacting with the African- American community.

This false sense of superiority may come from Euro-American falsification of history and recent immigrants’ need to disassociate from formerly enslaved Africans, whose ancestral origins was obliterated by conquest, resulting in new African immigrants claiming special status via the false superiority over knowing exactly where they come from. As messed up as it is, I’ve witnessed many an African immigrant throw that very detail in the face of African-Americans, as if that makes them the “better black” community. I understand how this can create a lot of friction and resentment. A critical Black Psychology assessment may be helpful,

The unfortunate history of recent Africa is that of pain, terror and struggle at the hands of white supremacy that was used to justify African people’s enslavement and colonization. Many African cultures look very different today because of the forced influence Europeans have had on the continent and continue to have. The same diabolical ways that were used to mentally enslave Africans in the New World, were used on those still living in the motherland.

“To control a people, you must first control what they think about themselves and how they regard their history and culture. And when your conqueror makes you ashamed of your culture and history, he needs no prison walls and no chains to hold you.”–John Henrick Clark

Many Africans were fooled into thinking that since the white man left Africa, they no longer suffered through white supremacy while in fact the opposite is true. What many Africans are unaware of is that their adopted standard of wealth, education, beauty etc. has actually been influenced by Eurocentric views that totally eradicated the standards of our believe that the goal is to aspire to the Euro-centric standard. They live these lives thinking their African culture is pure and intact when the truth is that they are poisoned by white supremacy’s intention of erasing black existence. This is what Dr. Kobi Kambon, another past president of the ABPsi calls “cultural misorientation.”

The recent African immigrant community and the African American community have been at one another’s throats for a very long time now, and each will point several fingers at one another over where this hostility originated, not knowing that there is a third diabolical party at work all along.

This article is part of a monthly series on Black Mental Health Issues written by members of the Bay Area Chapter of the Association of Black Psychologists. Readers are invited to join with chapter members at our monthly meeting every third Saturday of each month at the West Oakland Youth Center.

Mariyam-Ifteam Y. Rufael, Bay Area Chapter ABPsi Member, Intern

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Activism

Rep. Kamlager-Dove Introduces Bill to Protect Women in Custody After Reports Detailing Miscarriages and Neglect

The Pregnant Women in Custody Act would expand safeguards beyond the federal prison system to include women detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The proposal follows reports of pregnant women being shackled, denied medical care and suffering miscarriages while in immigration detention.

Published

4 weeks ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

iStock

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37) on May 7, reintroduced updated legislation aimed at strengthening protections and healthcare standards for pregnant and postpartum women held in federal custody, including in immigration detention facilities.

The Pregnant Women in Custody Act would expand safeguards beyond the federal prison system to include women detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The proposal follows reports of pregnant women being shackled, denied medical care and suffering miscarriages while in immigration detention.

The legislation builds on a bipartisan version previously passed by the House during the 117th Congress. The updated bill includes new standards for healthcare access, mental health and substance use treatment, high-risk pregnancy care, family unity protections and increased federal oversight.

“Proper pregnancy care is a human right, regardless of your immigration or incarceration status,” Kamlager-Dove said in a statement. “It’s unacceptable that there are virtually no legal safeguards for pregnant women in federal custody.”

The bill would also limit the use of restraints and restrictive housing for pregnant women, improve data collection on maternal health in custody and require additional staff training and enforcement measures.

Supporters of the measure said the legislation is intended to address long-standing concerns about maternal healthcare and safety in detention settings, particularly for Black women and low-income women who are disproportionately impacted by incarceration and health disparities.

“Pregnant women in custody should never be subjected to dangerous and inhumane treatment that threatens their health, dignity, or the well-being of their babies,” said Patrice Willoughby, chief of policy and legislative affairs for the NAACP and a longtime public policy and government affairs strategist, in a statement.

A 2021 report estimated there are about 58,000 admissions of pregnant women into U.S. jails and prisons each year. Kamlager’s statement also cited a recent investigation by NBC News and Bloomberg Law that identified allegations of severe mistreatment or medical neglect involving at least 54 pregnant women or families in county jails between 2017 and 2024.

Federal policy under the Department of Homeland Security restricts the detention of pregnant, postpartum and nursing immigrants except in extreme cases. However, the agency reported that ICE deported 363 pregnant, postpartum or nursing women between January 2025 and February 2026, including 16 recorded miscarriages during that period.

The bill is cosponsored by several House Democrats and backed by organizations including the NAACP and the Vera Institute of Justice.

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Bay Area

How Is AI Affecting California? The State Wants You to Share Your Story

The program marks the first time the state has opened the platform to all Californians. State officials said the effort is designed to give residents a direct role in discussions about how AI should be regulated and used as the technology rapidly expands across industries.

Published

4 weeks ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

iStock

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced May 7 that California is expanding its Engaged California digital democracy initiative statewide, inviting residents to help shape future state policies on artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on jobs and the economy.

“We’ve got to be clear-eyed about this moment: AI is moving fast, bringing enormous opportunity, but also real risks,” Newsom said in a statement. “Californians deserve a seat at the table as we shape what’s to come.”

The initiative will roll out in two phases. Beginning immediately, Californians can sign up online to share how AI is affecting their work and communities and provide ideas for possible government action. Later this summer, a smaller group reflecting the state’s workforce demographics will participate in live discussions focused on developing policy recommendations.

State officials said the goal is to identify areas of agreement among Californians and provide policymakers with public feedback as the state develops future AI regulations and workforce strategies.

Engaged California is modeled after digital democracy programs used in Taiwan and is intended to encourage structured public discussion rather than social media-style debate. Officials described the effort as a form of “deliberative democracy” aimed at helping residents engage directly in state decision-making.

“The more Californians are engaged in the democratic process, the better able we’ll be to confront the challenges we face together,” said Nick Maduros, California Secretary of Government Operations, in a statement.

The statewide launch builds on two earlier pilot programs. One pilot gathered public input following the Los Angeles firestorms to help guide recovery efforts, while another collected ideas from state employees about improving government operations.

California has positioned itself as a national leader in AI policy and development. Since 2023, the Newsom administration has introduced initiatives focused on responsible AI use in government, cybersecurity protections, workforce training and regulations targeting risks such as deepfakes and AI-generated robocalls.

The state has also partnered with companies in Silicon Valley — including NVIDIA, Google, Adobe, IBM and Microsoft — to expand AI education and workforce training programs across California schools and universities.

Oakland Post

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Activism

California Launches Free Diaper Program for Newborns Statewide

The initiative, called Golden State Start, will provide 400 free diapers to every newborn delivered at participating California hospitals beginning this summer. The state is partnering with Baby2Baby, a California-based nonprofit that distributes essential items to children in need nationwide.

Published

4 weeks ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

iStock.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that California will launch a first-in-the-nation program providing free diapers to families with newborns, part of a broader effort to lower costs for parents and improve infant health outcomes.

The initiative, called Golden State Start, will provide 400 free diapers to every newborn delivered at participating California hospitals beginning this summer. The state is partnering with Baby2Baby, a California-based nonprofit that distributes essential items to children in need nationwide.

State officials said hospitals participating in the program will give families the diapers when they are discharged after birth, helping parents leave with an immediate supply of newborn essentials.

“Every baby born in California deserves a healthy start in life,” Newsom said in a statement. He said the program is part of California’s broader affordability efforts, which also include free school meals, universal preschool for four-year-olds and expanded after-school programs.

The announcement comes ahead of Mother’s Day and is tied to the administration’s broader CalRx initiative, which aims to reduce costs for essential products and medications. State officials said California is also exploring ways to lower diaper prices by challenging high costs from major brands.

The first year of the program will prioritize hospitals serving large numbers of Medi-Cal patients, with plans to expand to additional hospitals and birthing centers over time. Officials said the effort is intended to reduce financial pressure on low-income families and improve infant and maternal health by ensuring parents have access to clean diapers.

“California families deserve to feel supported during one of life’s more exciting, yet vulnerable transitions,” First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom said in a statement. She said the program would allow parents to focus on caring for their newborns instead of worrying about basic supplies.

According to Baby2Baby, one in two families in the United States struggles to afford diapers. The organization has distributed more than half a billion items to children over the past 15 years through partnerships with shelters, hospitals, foster care programs and schools.

State officials said Baby2Baby will oversee diaper purchasing, warehousing and distribution through its existing hospital and community partnerships across California.