Activist Sini Stephan on the importance of supporting Black Lives Matter protest

Activist Sini Stephan from New York participated in the Black Lives Matter protest and got international attention. She carried a billboard in Malayalam supporting the protest.

A person named Deepak Shetty tagged it to President Trump’s Twitter handle saying, ‘Dear President, I am a Indian, there is one left ruling state in India is Kerala, pl kick all Malayalis from your country.’

The youth in Kerala gave a fitting reply to the guy for his racist tweet… Ms. Stephan does not know much about it or the politics back in India saying that people have different opinions.

Question: Tell us about your decision to participate in the protest

My decision to participate in the protest came from my work in activism. I have worked formally in social and racial justice for over 7 years especially in demanding rights for women and girls of color in New York City.

Are you part of any civil rights organization?

While in college I attended Seton Hall University under the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Association (MLKSA) which was a full scholarship for students of color who wished to work in social justice. MLKSA gave me the foundational knowledge of social movements in this country. I learned about the works of Malcolm X, Angela Davis, César Chávez and many more who changed the framework of this nation.

Over the past 3 years I've worked with the NYC Department of Education helping to advance the rights of women and girls through the NYC GREAT! program which stands for - Girls Reaching Every Apex Together. I also serve on the Scholarship Committee for Adelante Student Voices assisting undocumented students in NY State.

How justified is the protest, especially after the widespread looting?

People who focus on the looting rather than the loss of life are misinformed. Many have protested peacefully for years and still no changes have been made by the government to protect Black Lives. Also, those who protest are different from those who are rioting and looting. The media sensationalizes the protests with images and videos of looting when these are two different groups.

What is the response of your family about your activism?

The response of my family about my activism is that they support me. Since childhood I have participated and helped to organize various protests while in college and while in my professional career. Both my parents know about my work in activism and have supported me for many years in this work.

Are the Indians racists?

I think that many times Indians can be racists and also anti-black. This mentality and behavior comes from what we have internalized as a people from White Supremacy, particularly British Colonization. Racism and Colorism are two different things but they are in many ways interconnected.

Some say that the African Americans generally discriminates Indians, more than the whites. What is your take?

I completely disagree with this statement. Growing up, many of my friends were Black and Latino. I have always been accepted and welcomed by Black people wherever I lived or attended school. In fact, many white people I have met have shown racist micro aggressive behaviors toward me. When I was in high school, me and my friends were standing outside of our Knanaya Community Center (Rockland, NY) and a group of white males in a pick up truck drove by and yelled out "terrorists" to us. This is racist. As a community we have to understand that White Supremacy still exists and we are not immune to racism in the system.

Do you plan to join the electoral politics? Though you studied journalism, you did not go for a career in journalism!

I do not plan to run for political office. My joy is in the arts. I enjoy acting, singing and my work in education.

While I studied journalism, I never wanted to be involved in the news. I studied journalism to have a better understanding of how to find the truth in a story. My studies in journalism have deeply impacted my work in education and I enjoy working with students for this reason.