LONG THREAD ALERT: around a year ago I went oddly viral. what started as a picture of me flexing the good booty angle (😂), quickly turned into virality over a few comments I made towards men who saw the picture and began disrespecting/dismissing black women. 
since it’s been a year, I wanted to bring back this bizarre blip in my life and then redirect it to provide something useful. nothing I said that day was special or extraordinary, and it ended up opening my eyes to more concerns than I could’ve imagined.
as a quick preface, I want to say thank you for all the kind words and comments people have given me. I had quite a tough winter with my mental health, and each person who wrote me has helped me more than they could know. so thank you x10! I love my internet friends ❤️
so, although you may think yourself to be a champion of women/equality, it’s hard to truly fathom how tough it is for black women. they exist between a toxic crossover of racism and misogyny, which leaves them as one of the most mistreated and marginalized groups in the world.
this isnt an opinion, this is fact. here are some statistics:
-more than 4 in 10 bw experience physical violence from a domestic partner (more than other races)
-bw experience higher rates of psychological abuse
-bw face higher rates of being killed by a man (2.5x more than ww)
-more than 4 in 10 bw experience physical violence from a domestic partner (more than other races)
-bw experience higher rates of psychological abuse
-bw face higher rates of being killed by a man (2.5x more than ww)
sexual assault:
-bw experience higher rates of rape than other women
-“black and native american girls who are survivors of sexual assault are more likely to be funneled into the juvenile justice system as a direct result of their victimization” (sexual abuse to prison pipeline)
-bw experience higher rates of rape than other women
-“black and native american girls who are survivors of sexual assault are more likely to be funneled into the juvenile justice system as a direct result of their victimization” (sexual abuse to prison pipeline)
discipline/education:
-black girls are disciplined at higher rates than all other groups of girls
-black students are punished more harshly than white students for the same behavior
-black students with disabilities are 3x as likely to receive OSS as their white counterparts
-black girls are disciplined at higher rates than all other groups of girls
-black students are punished more harshly than white students for the same behavior
-black students with disabilities are 3x as likely to receive OSS as their white counterparts
“the disproportionate disciplining of black girls may be attributed to school administrators’ stereotypes & racial biases; black girls are more likely to be seen as “disruptive” or “loud” compared with other groups of boys & girls, stemming from common stereotypes of black women”
US survey/opinion: “black girls, compared to white girls, need less nurturing, less protection, less support, to be comforted less, are more independent, know more about adult topics, and know more about sex. researchers describe this as the “adultification” of black girls.”
maternity/health:
-bw are 3x as likely to die from pregnancy/childbirth as ww due to racial discrimination within our healthcare system
“healthcare providers are more likely to underestimate the pain of their black patients, ignore their symptoms, or dismiss their complaints”
-bw are 3x as likely to die from pregnancy/childbirth as ww due to racial discrimination within our healthcare system
“healthcare providers are more likely to underestimate the pain of their black patients, ignore their symptoms, or dismiss their complaints”
-bw are more likely to have low birth weight babies partially due to a corrupt healthcare system
“research suggests that stress related to experiences such as racial discrimination contributes to these disparities in outcomes” (low birth weight)
“research suggests that stress related to experiences such as racial discrimination contributes to these disparities in outcomes” (low birth weight)
this doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of ways we’ve been failing bw. aside from surveys & statistics, we still fail. we oversexualize, we hold ridiculous double standards, we discredit their successes, we disrepect their hair, we disrespect their bodies, we appropriate.
the best thing ive learned as someone who wants to help & do better is to listen. read, research, & listen. I speak up when I feel its appropriate (like now), & sit down and listen when its not my place. no matter what, I will never know what its like. so listen to those who do.
here are a handful of great women who are fountains of information:
@angelicaross @whereisvonna @TamikaDMallory @aliciagarza @angela_rye.
please respond and add more!
@angelicaross @whereisvonna @TamikaDMallory @aliciagarza @angela_rye.
please respond and add more!
here are a handful of black female owned businesses to support:
@beautybakerie @TheLipBar @poshcandleco @camillerosenat
my girls at @jKoCosmetics & @TheRichEra
please add lots more here too!
@beautybakerie @TheLipBar @poshcandleco @camillerosenat
my girls at @jKoCosmetics & @TheRichEra
please add lots more here too!
and please get out and vote in your local government! it’s one of the best ways to make a tangible difference. here’s a simple how-to guide. you can almost always vote absentee 😊
usa.gov/register-to-vo…
usa.gov/register-to-vo…
we have to make an effort to do better for so many groups that exist on the margins of society right now.
bottom line is that black women deserve better, and we have a moral responsibility to undo the corrupt systems/behaviors that we’ve put in place.
bottom line is that black women deserve better, and we have a moral responsibility to undo the corrupt systems/behaviors that we’ve put in place.
as always, I am no expert. just a girl who wants to be able to know more and do more. please feel free to correct me on any mistakes I’ve made, and offer any edits or comments that you feel are important. if you made it this far, I thank you for taking the time to read ❤️
