Here’s why Black people in the U.S. should care about foreign policy

Often, when issues on the African continent, in Ukraine, or the Gaza Strip enter the conversation, many Blacks respond with something to the effect of, “What does that have to do with my life right here?” According to U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley and others, those global events have everything to do with our lives in the US. One big reason is the nation’s stance on immigration, according to many social scientists, is directly impacted by U.S. foreign policy. “America’s often negative, paternalistic and economically degrading foreign policy regarding Black and Brown nations colors how America mistreats, underfunds and disrespects Black and Brown people who are U.S. citizens or those who seek to be,” said African American Studies lecturer Thomas Allen. “The system is hypocritical when it comes to some who come to this country versus others,” said award-winning journalist and author April Ryan while interviewing Pressley. “The ones who look like you and I don’t get here or have to be deported versus ones coming from other nations who look like the mainstream part of this nation.” Here are some additional arguments regarding why Blacks need to pay attention to and care about foreign issues and foreign policy, particularly in...