Melina Abdullah facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Melina Abdullah
Abdullah in 2016
Born	Melina Rachel Reimann 1972 (age 52–53) Oakland, California, U.S.
Education	Howard University (BA) University of Southern California (MA, PhD)
Employer	California State University, Los Angeles
Children	3
Relatives	Günter Reimann (grandfather)

Melina Abdullah, born in 1972, is an American professor and a leader in her community. She used to lead the Pan-African Studies department at California State University, Los Angeles. She also helped start the Black Lives Matter group in Los Angeles. She is a co-director for Black Lives Matter Grassroots.

Melina Abdullah was one of the first people to help create Black Lives Matter. She is seen as an important leader for the movement in Los Angeles. Besides her work with BLM Los Angeles, she has hosted three radio shows. These shows were "Move the Crowd," "Beautiful Struggle," and "This Is Not a Drill."

In April 2024, Cornel West, who was running for president as an independent, announced Melina Abdullah as his running mate.

Early Life and Education

Melina Rachel Reimann was born in East Oakland, a part of Oakland, California. Her father, John Reimann, was a union organizer. Her grandfather, Günter Reimann, was a German economist who was against Adolf Hitler. Her mother is Linda Fowler Blackston.

Abdullah went to Howard University. There, she earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in African American Studies. Later, she earned a Master of Arts (M.A.) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in political science from the University of Southern California.

She changed her last name from Reimann to Abdullah after marrying filmmaker Phaylen Abdullah. She kept the name even after their divorce.

Career and Community Work

Melina Abdullah is a professor at California State University, Los Angeles. She also used to be the head of the Pan-African Studies department there. She was interviewed in 13th, a 2016 movie about the justice system in the United States.

Since 2014, Abdullah has been part of the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission. This group works to improve relationships between different communities. She also writes articles for a publication called LA Progressive.

She is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Activism and Advocacy

Melina Abdullah describes herself as a "womanist scholar-activist." This means she uses her knowledge and studies to fight for fairness and freedom. She believes her teaching and her activism are connected. She works to help people who have been treated unfairly.

Abdullah is part of several important groups. These include the Black Community, Clergy and Labor Alliance (BCCLA). She also works with the Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA-CAN). She has also worked with Rabbi Brous in Los Angeles. They have spoken together about fighting unfairness and supporting different groups.

As part of her activism, Abdullah has been involved in protests. She has said that some legal actions against her were meant to stop her activism. Her activism often includes speaking out at Police Commission meetings.

Personal Life

Melina Abdullah has three children.

Awards and Recognition

In October 2021, Melina Abdullah received the Chatham House Centenary Diversity Champion Award. This award recognizes people who promote diversity and inclusion.

Appearances in Media

Melina Abdullah has appeared in various TV shows and documentaries. She has shared her views and experiences on these platforms.