In Solidarity

Dear Friend,

There are no words to properly express the emotions and grief over the events of the past week. The protests and civil unrest in our country are painful reminders of the systemic racism that still exist in our country and communities today as we have so evidently seen in the recent senseless and tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.

We believe that those of us in the nonprofit community cannot remain silent because the issue “doesn’t immediately pertain to our mission.” Zimele USA grieves with and stands with our Black and Brown brothers
and sisters in the fight against unjust violence and oppression and calls for the dismantling of racist policies and practices that have taken too many lives based on skin color.

South Africa’s 46 year history of Apartheid, which ended in 1994, shows us that even when a system of oppression is dismantled, there is still work to do. Zimele’s work has always been to seek justice and to be a part of the movement to right these wrongs that were inflicted upon Black South Africans. We are not anti-racism experts in the United States, however we find a lot of parallels in our two country’s histories that mirror each other in white supremacy and oppression against the Black community - whether it is legislation that redlines districts to receive less funding for communities of color or pushing native South Africans into impoverished rural areas where there are no resources or infrastructure. We must collectively acknowledge and take responsibility for it’s past and the impact it has on the present while actively committing to and creating a just future.

During this time, we acknowledge that support takes many different forms for each individual - from peaceful protest to education and introspection to supporting organizations committed to social justice, equity and inclusion. We know that the work of community development and transformation is a slow process but Zimele remains committed to do our part with empathy, solidarity, and a willingness to better understand and change existing systems of oppression.

In solidarity,
Zimele USA