Singer-songwriter Khalid, who's turning 28 years old today, has turned his birthday post into a call to action — urging his fans, peers, and supporters to join him in speaking up for families impacted by ICE raids, and announcing that he's partnered with the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to raise funds.
"I want to say happy birthday to me, but it feels really difficult to be happy with the knowledge of the hundreds of thousands of families impacted and affected by ICE in our communities," the singer wrote in a statement. "As the state of our society grows more dim and dismal, celebrating another year of life as families are stripped apart, going without food, and confusion and pain runs rampant in the street we walk in, I start to think about all of the birthdays that immigrant children, parents, grandparents, cousins, nieces and nephews, teachers and students, everyday workers, and most importantly citizens, who are missing from their families. All of the empty rooms and broken homes speak volumes, but the visibility alone isn't enough."
Besides speaking up about ICE, Khalid noted this is still Black History Month, and "the injustice that Black Americans face should not go unnoticed and should be spoke about. Black education and history is disappearing at an alarming rate. Black stories are being lost, and Black voices are being silenced. By turning away the education of Black history in America, not only in our schools, we are diluting the vital truths and innovations, the sacrifices and advancements that have been created by Black culture in our country."
"By undermining the importance of Black Americans, we're contributing to the erasure of American history. Black History is American History," Khalid added. "Many Black Americans and Immigrants affected in our country have been stripped away on their birthdays, so why should I flaunt my freedom? Democracy is at the brink of existence."
The singer remarked, "For this birthday, I don't hope for gifts. I hope for restoration, I hope for families to be reunited, I hope for healing of Black voices in our country and education system, and I hope for change in this country."
Toward the end of his statement, Khalid explained what he's doing to help (besides amplifying that message to his large audience). "It's clear we are all very afraid and are losing hope, but with the support from each other and the communities we are a part of, the only way out of the chaos is through the chaos," he wrote. "For this reason, I'm teaming up with The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota and the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund to donate $40,000 to assist in the efforts of supporting our communities that have been impacted."
The statement concludes with Khalid urging people to help this cause and speak up using their own platforms. "For my birthday, all I ask of my fans, peers, and supporters, is to join me in speaking up and donating to these funds to support the people who need us the most."
Khalid's full Instagram post can be seen below.
"This is my message for 28," he wrote in the caption. "For more information and ways to support, check out my bio."
Khalid's bio has two websites for fans and peers to send donations: One for the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM.org), and another for the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (via SavingPlaces.org).
