Ebony Obsidian
IRC Ambassador and Humanitarian
Ebony Obsidian is a first generation American actress with East African and West Indian roots. Best known for her work in Golden Globe-nominated film If Beale Street Could Talk; Emmy-winning Netflix series Master of None; the current highest-rated scripted TV show on cable among Black Americans, BET’s Sistas; and more.
Inspired by her family's experience of the longest recorded war in Africa—the civil war between Eritrea and Ethiopia—and by their arrival in New York, Ebony joined the IRC team as an Ambassador in 2021. Her mother was monumentally encouraging of her daughter's venture into the humanitarian space and was even present for her first meeting with the IRC. In 2023, Ebony’s mother passed away, only fueling her efforts to learn more about how she can better serve refugees and immigrants—both in the United States and abroad.
In Ebony’s words, “The IRC is an organization that doesn’t create dependency on its aid, but instead, works with refugees to create foundations for life moving forward. They are hands-on and efficient. The IRC is family.”