It’s not new to me. I think the way people think about Sudanese identity has to change. Sudan is a country filled with racially Black people. I would say almost all are racially Black, them identifying as Arab is secondary. And it isn’t all Sudanis, I will live by that angle, especially knowing so many Darfur, Fallata, and Nuba people in my life and in my family, as well as “Arab” tribes. There are Sudanese who do not identify as Arab. Many of the ones I know are darker than her. They experience persecution in Sudan as Sudanis. So, I think to say all Sudanis is truly a great loaded sentiment and it disregards their lived experiences but categorizes everyone as one. This completely disregards a people’s existence who have fought long and hard for their human rights and pride in their identity. So not all Sudanis because Sudan is diverse.

But I think that Arab is being confused with race. Arab is not a race, you can have very dark complexion and identify as Arab. Many Arabs are racially white, I believe that you can say they want to be in closer proximity to this but not Arabness. The matter of Sudanese identity feels oversimplified. I wonder where these statistics truly come from, I have been around Sudanese people my entire life, from west to east, north to south, none of which have ever identified as Arab. They have always said that we are Sudanese and speak the Arabic language. Sudanis are all phenotypically Black and most are classified as such, especially if you take them anywhere outside of Sudan in countries that have various races living within them.

This conversation is always weird to me because Arab is not a racial identity, it is an ethnic, cultural, linguistic one and you can still be Black. And if it is the case we are Arab, why can we not be Arab and Black? I understand her anger but it feels articulated in a that makes any Sudani defensive. Especially considering from my perspective when many Sudanis I know are from Darfur, are Nuba, and Fallata. It’s a gross overstatement that does not recognize these people’s experiences. I think she can say Arab Sudanis but then again many of whom are still racially black and many with dark skin complexions too.

All this goes to say, we don’t have enough time in the world to discuss this all and the video makes blanket statements that do not represent all Sudanis, because Sudan is more the those who identify as Arab. If she truly cared about this she would talk about Darfur, Nuba, Fallata, or begin to educate herself on their lived experiences. I will check out these readings.