"Not your Mama’s Movement" (in French: "De Paris a Ferguson : coupables d'être noirs"), 2015 My name is Rokhaya Diallo, and I am a French Activist and Journalist who hasbeen fighting for racial, gender and religious equality. In 2005, the deaths of two innocent French young men of color, Zyed Benna and Bouna Traoré, inspired my stand against the racial oppression plaguing French society. Dissimilar to the United States, the victims of French police brutality are sorely neglected by the media and unnoticed on a global scale. I am committed to changing this. In the U.S, the acquittal of Trayvon Martin's murderer, and the failure to hold white policemen responsible for the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner triggered indignation across America. The ensuing demonstrations ushered in a new generation of Black activists. Mobilizing behind the #BlackLivesMatter campaign, social networks have become the battleground for challenging power structures, policies, prejudices and attitudes. Viewing America's racial turmoil from a foreign lens, I wanted to meet these new emblematic leaders of the African American community. Traveling to Ferguson for the anniversary of Mike Brown's death, I was introduced by American activist Rahiel Tesfamariam, founder of Urban Cusp, to the leaders of Hands Up United and other torchbearers for the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Together we drew parallels between the racial struggles in the U.S. and France and devised visionary solutions to ameliorate the global Black condition.
e.SidneyPaul
Rokhaya Diallo, French journalist, writer and filmmaker, is widely recognized for her work in favor of racial, gender and religious equality. She is a BET-France host and has produced and/or directed documentaries, TV and radio programs. She published: Racism: a guide, France Belongs to Us; France: One and Multicultural and How to talk to kids about racism. She recently published a graphic novel “Pari(s) d’Amies” and released Afro! featuring Afro-Parisians who choose natural hairstyles. Rokhaya launched her global bilingual blog RokMyWorld Today, she lives between Paris and New York and continues her social activism while being a speaker around the world.