by Faith Collins
“The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman.” – Malcolm X.
The American system has failed Black girls and Black women, including Black trans women. Studies have shown that Black girls, women, and non-binary folks are more vulnerable to abuse, and that about 22 percent of Black women in the United States have experienced rape. Black women are killed at a higher rate than any other group of women. For example, a 19-year old Black women activist who went missing and tweeted about being sexually assaulted was found dead on the night of June 13th. This young woman was a leader, who was calling for justice for Black women across social media. She didn’t deserve this; no black woman deserves this. When it comes to the Black Lives Matter protests and calls for justice for Black men, the public tends to ignore the oppression of Black women and LGBTQ people within the Black Community.
There have been too many losses of Black Women and mistreatment towards them. It’s time to take action and protect our Black Women and girls.
Stop degrading Black women. Insensitive jokes about skin color, hair, body types, and trauma are not funny. It’s hurtful.
Stop over-sexualizing Black women. They aren’t objects of pleasure, they are human beings. Stop feeding into harmful stereotypes.
Get more inclusive about your idea of women. Black transgender women are one of the most disenfranchised groups of people in the United States.
Call out your friends. Don’t sit by when your friends are making jokes and being disrespectful towards Black women. Say something.
Stand up for Black women. When you see Black women being disrespected, stand up with and support them. Help give them a voice that we all as humans deserve to have.
Take it beyond social media. Other than tweeting and posting on Instagram, get active in real life. Help use your voice to protect Black women every day.
Become an informed ally. Consider reading books by Black women scholars who are writing about their daily lived experiences, including sexual violence. Being an ally means being informed.
Here are some other ways you can use your voice to help protect Black women and enact change.
Pledge to Protect Black Women and Girls
Take the Pledge: Protect Black Girls
This campaign has been created to spread awareness to the people who may not face the disadvantages that the intersection of Black and transgender and feminine do face day to day. Sign this petition to advocate for Black trans women.
Follow @safifesse on Instagram for access to funds for Black Trans Women. These funds help provide Black Trans Women with food, transportation, health, etc. Actions you can take to help include donating, boosting links, and sharing with others.
YR Raw 