Abdullah (Richards), Jasmine

Metadata

Abstract

An oral history with Jasmine Abdullah, founder of Black Lives Matter (BLM) Pasadena Chapter, freedom fighter, and community organizer. The interview was conducted for the Women, Politics, and Activism Since Suffrage Oral History Project for the California State University, Fullerton’s Center for Oral and Public History. The purpose of this interview was to learn about Abdullah’s life history, her experiences with BLM, and her community organizing efforts. Specifically, this interview details Abdullah’s family life and childhood, growing up as a latchkey kid in segregated northwest Pasadena, California; recalls early education; discusses childhood career aspirations; explains how residents outside her community of North Los Robles might view that part of the city; details the strong community ties and unconditional black love she experienced; shares how her sister is her role model; details childhood trauma and tragedies of losing family and friends, and how she continues to heal; explains how recent events in Ferguson, Missouri, and the loss of her best friend changed her life; remembers discussions in her household growing up; recalls standing up for herself as a youth and the need to be strong; discusses alleged harassment and brutality by Pasadena Police Department; reveals why she changed her surname (Richards); talks about current issues that are most important to her, which include: at-risk youth and gang intervention, police brutality, and lack of resources; details how she counteracts negative issues in her community; speaks about how she founded BLM Pasadena in 2015; discusses her “freedom ride” to Ferguson, Missouri, and how that experience changed her life; explains gender dynamics within BLM; recollects her imprisonment and subsequent charge of felony lynching; explains her current role in BLM, their goal of “decolonizing” Los Angeles City Hall; reveals why she spoke out against the recent Million Man March, sponsored by The Game and Snoop Dogg; shares opinion on BLM and its relationship with social media, being a woman in the movement, defining feminism; talks about the differences in how men and women lead; discusses gender discrimination within the movement, and the unique contributions women bring to the table; explains initial goals for BLM and new areas she wants to explore; mentions her family’s response her activism, and how BLM brought faith and religion back to her; recalls a past trauma of being shot; discusses current state of American politics; shares advice on getting involved with BLM; and finally, speaks about being proud, and how she would like to see individuals focus on the bigger picture.