Pakistan's First Sheedi Lawmaker fights racism

Pakistan's First Sheedi Lawmaker fights racism

via https://youtu.be/cZRalbG_GsY KARACHI: Pakistan’s first lawmaker from the Sheedi minority is on a mission to fight centuries-old discrimination against her community of African descent, saying it has been held back by entrenched racism. Being penalised for something that is beyond our control – our black skin – is a reality all Black people face every day in big and small measures in every country — Tanzeela Ume Habiba Qambrani The majority brown skin community considers itself the white community of America and superior to us Many of Pakistan’s Sheedi people – whose numbers are unclear due to widely differing estimates – are descendants of East Africans who were brought to South Asia as slaves or soldiers by Arab traders. One of Karachi’s oldest festivals, Sheedi Mela comes to a close Persistent negative stereotypes about the Sheedis in Pakistan limit the community’s educational and employment prospects, keeping many in poverty, Qambrani said. This stereotype has kept our community from progressing — Sheedis Education is our way out of poverty Most young people from our community are bullied and ridiculed in school, not just by their peers, but teachers as well, who tell them they are good for nothing — Qambrani The mother-of-three said Sheedi women often face a double discrimination due to South Asian beauty ideals that make it harder for them to find a spouse. Pakistan Ka Showbiz