National

#SayHerName: Black Women & Girls Matter Protests Sweep The Nation

Published

10 years ago

May 23, 2015

By Lynette Holloway
Special to the NNPA via The Chicago Defender

Black women and girls matter too. Don’t forget. #sayhername #BlackWomenMatter #blackwomenslivesmatter pic.twitter.com/SoQde3dshr
— satan with a fro (@delafro_) May 21, 2015

In an effort to stem the tide of violence being waged against African-American women in the criminal justice system, the Black Lives Matter movement on Thursday began incorporating women and girls in its protests against police brutality. The Black Youth Project 100, Ferguson Action, BlackLivesMatter, and We Charge Genocide, among others, led rallies in at least 17 cities across the U.S., including in Chicago, New York City, and Washington, D.C., to raise awareness about the often ignored experiences of Black women and girls with police violence. Activists also hoped to give voice to their stories about sexual, physical, and structural violence by law enforcement officials, according to a news release from the Black Youth Project. In a striking case of injustice, the group says, Chicago Police Det. Dante Servin was acquitted last month of the 2012 killing of Rekia Boyd, who was unarmed when she was shot in the back of the head by the off-duty cop. “This national day of action was catalyzed by a group of young Chicagoans, who decided to call for the immediate firing of Dante Servin during the May 21st Chicago Police Board meeting,” Charlene Carruthers, national director of BYP100, said in a statement. Via the Black Youth Project:

Sexual assault and harassment continue with impunity, with police rarely being held accountable for the crimes they inflict against the Black community in general and Black women and girls, specifically. A 2014 study released by the Black Women’s Blueprint and Women’s All Point Bulletin to the Committee Against Torture reports that the over-policing of Black women has increased since 2000, and cites rape and sexual violence as the second most prevalent form of police violence. “As we continue to struggle for justice on behalf of our fallen brothers, we join to declare collectively that when we say ‘Black Lives Matter’ we mean ALL Black lives – including our women, transgender and queer sisters, and girls too,” says BYP100 National Co-Chair, Jessica Pierce.
“The respective murders of Aiyana Jones, Rekia Boyd, andMya Hall at the hands of law enforcement officers are just as important as the tragedies of Freddie Gray, Tamir Rice, and Michael Brown.” It is beyond apparent that Black women and girls are not exempt from the same police brutality experienced by Black men, and that their murderers and perpetrators also leverage a biased judicial system to evade justice. BYP100 is committed to seeking justice for all Black women and girls who have been victimized by police and state violence until justice prevails.

It’s unfortunate that the plight of Black women was drowned out of this critical movement from the start, but we’re happy the Black Youth Project and other activists are now shutting it down for Black women. Check out some posts from events across the nation:

Black women’s lives matter, too, iactivists remind nation via @washingtonpost http://t.co/TkjSL5Ddjp
— Elizabeth Chang (@ElizabethGChang) May 20, 2015

black women lives matter! #SayHerName pic.twitter.com/P86Bw4FCGP
— BlackOUT Collective (@blackoutcollect) May 21, 2015

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OP-ED: The Illusion of Allyship. White Women, Your Yard Signs Mean Nothing to Me

NNPA NEWSWIRE – “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 9, 2024

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Political yard signs can symbolize intentions and allegiance. But this year, they’ve also symbolized betrayal. During this general election, Black women were led to believe that more White women would stand with us. Exit polls, however, told a different story. Despite overwhelming displays of support, more White women still chose to vote for the convicted felon, reality TV star, and rapist. White women answered the call but left us hanging at the polls.

A Familiar Disappointment

I live in DeKalb County, Georgia, and the abundance of Harris-Walz yard signs could’ve fooled me. But I’ve seen this before, back when Stacey Abrams ran for governor. White women showed up, put up signs, attended rallies, knocked on doors, and phone-banked. Yet, when it came time to vote, they let us down—not once but twice. I’ve been here for over 15 years, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that political signs are symbols without weight.

In every election, I’ve talked with White women. Most aren’t the primary earners in their families and vote along party lines, aligning with the preferences of their fathers and husbands. These conversations reveal a reluctance to break from tradition, even when their votes affect women and certainly when their votes impact the lives of people who look like me.

The Illusion of Solidarity—Symbols Are Not Enough

On social media, I’m seeing White women posting pictures of blue bracelets to “prove” they didn’t vote for Trump. “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.

I’ve seen Black Lives Matter signs and black squares posted on Instagram to “prove” support for Black people, but we now know that was a lie, too. Will those same people who claimed Black lives mattered now take down their Harris-Walz signs and show their true selves?

Navigating these truths is a daily struggle for me—professionally and socially. White women often misuse their privilege, supporting us only when it’s convenient. Seeing overqualified Black women sabotaged or abandoned by White women at critical moments is a constant emotional challenge. It’s exhausting to live with this reality, especially when solidarity seems like something they pick up and discard at will.

One clever campaign ad from Harris-Walz that spoke directly to White women. “Your Vote, Your Choice” emphasized that their vote was private—independent of their household situation. Another was from Olivia Howell Dreizen, the “Vote Without Fear” campaign, which empowered women to consider the greater impact of their choices. But it seems many still couldn’t choose the roadmap to freedom—even when it was handed to them.

A Call for Action Beyond Words

White women, I want to believe you care, but actions speak louder than yard signs, bracelets, or Instagram posts. Show up in our communities, advocate in your workplaces, and stand up to dismantle the structures that uphold white supremacy. Only through real action will we know where you stand.

If you choose not to act, we see you—and we know exactly where you stand. Good luck these next four years.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper Publishers Association.