Are Malagasy People Black?

I am sure this will be a contentious article but it needs to be examined.

Are Malagasy people Black? I say we are.

The US (and the world) has two pandemics. Covid-19 and Racism. The horrific murders, violence, and prejudice against Black bodies is atrocious as the world continues to watch on the lack of justice. From the death of Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and too many to count, have spawned a movement and should have woken everyone up to the injustice that Black people have to endure everyday. The work for anti-racism requires amplifying Black voices, dismantling White Supremacy in society, capitalism, the police/prison industrial complex, and all systems that cause oppression. It is not a uniquely US issue but one that permeates the world, especially in Madagascar.

1) First, why does this matter and why do we need to have this conversation right now?

We feel that it is also significant and powerful to have this conversation because as Malagasy people we do have our own share of racism, colorism, and issues but first, we need to understand ourselves and address these issues in order to also understand what is our role to step up to be anti-racist as well as empower our community to also fight to be more anti-racist both in Madagascar and wherever we may find ourselves.

In part two of this series, we will examine our origins and how that plays into this discussion, but for now, we must begin the difficult conversation and confront this issue head on.