A Letter to Sudan

To my people for whom freedom is imminent,

You have done yourselves proud. In seven months, you have gathered together and determined to remain steadfast in your united goal for freedom, substituting the walls of your homes, classrooms and workplaces for the streets of our beautiful cities and neighbourhoods. Let no one from this moment on claim that the Sudanese people are lazy, compliant or silent in the face of adversity. Let no one say that we are failures, that our hope for ourselves is lost. You have shown us, your brothers and sisters in the diaspora, whose parents were forced to leave their homeland because of a lack of opportunity and freedom — you have shown us just how hopeful we can be as long as we stand together.

Our people are known for their hospitality, and in these last few months, you have taken hospitality and service to immeasurable levels. I am in awe of your spirit. This revolution did not occur overnight nor did it begin seven months ago. It began during the dawn of time, when our leaders were strong men and women. It began when the seeds for justice were planted in fertile grounds, when our country was a unified land for those who are proudly Black. This revolution began with our birth. For to be born dark-skinned and with dark blood is to be born a fighter.

I am immensely proud to say that I am one of you. I have always been loud and proud Sudanese woman but I’m even more so now. My people have proven to me and to themselves that persistence is rooted deeply within us; and that we are a nation of people who demand justice where there is no justice, who call for peace where there is no peace.

I have heard your voices, and each of them is beautiful. Each rang with truth and vitality. Your voices, though they were ignored by the world, struck a chord within my spirit, and in them, I heard the voices of our ancestors. Your voices will continue to echo in my mind and in the tunnels where history is formed. And make no mistake: what you have done is much larger than history can withstand.

And although they came and tried to crush your spirit, know that your persistence is a shield against the most heinous acts and that God has a plan for those who practice evil. I know it hurts. I know the wound is fresh and it stings and there is no closing it. But listen to me. They are trying to silence you because you are stronger. You are more resilient. You have God on your side. Don’t lose sight of that. Let them turn off the lights. Say, ‘We have lived in darkness for far too long, and this will not make a difference’. Say, ‘We can still chant without the internet. We can still protest. We are still here’.

My dear brothers and sisters, you are an inspiration. They say diamonds are made under pressure but you have proven to be more precious for you have been under pressure for decades. You were destined to be here to make so grand a gesture. Look over your shoulders. Your victory has already being written as a past occurrence. But you, each and every one of you, are the future.

To the little girls who sat on their fathers’ shoulders and chanted that the government must fall,

To the youth who lost their lives while they cried for change,

To the mothers and grandmothers who stood side by side and raised their flags, and the women who stood tall and led the way to freedom, raising their arms to proudly declare their lineage,

To the young and old alike,

I say with utmost humility, thank you! Thank you for your courage and persistence. Thank you for your resilience and hopefulness. Thank you for representing those of us who could not march beside you or participate in your acts of civil disobedience. Thank you for demonstrating and exemplifying the great character of the Sudanese people and their generosity. Thank you for not giving up or giving in. Thank you for rewriting history. Thank you for continuing to dip your pens into the ink pot and insisting on rewriting it again and again and again, until you are given the answers you seek. Thank you for enduring what you’ve endured for the sake of a better Sudan.

With my sincere gratitude and love,

Nihal Mubarak

Nihal Mubarak is a poet and short story writer whose work has been published online and in print. Her writing focuses on themes that explore her Sudanese heritage as well as her American identity. She is currently pursuing her MFA in creative writing from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts.