It is important to take the time to address the ways in which the anti-Blackness in our society perpetuates sexual violence and the silencing of survivors’ voices. Intersectionality plays a big role in most of our lives. In order for there to be change, there must be more than an acknowledgement of intersectionality, and work done to combat various systems of oppression. Here are a couple of Black-led organizations that work to address sexual violence, racial inequality, gender based violence and advocate for LGBTQA+ rights.
Black Women for Wellness: https:www.bwwla.org
Ujima Community: https://ujimacommunity.org
Black AIDS Institute: https://blackaids.org/
Trans Women of Color Collective: https://www.twocc.us/
TJI Justice Project: http://www.tgijp.org/
Black Women’s Blueprint: https://www.blackwomensblueprint.org
Sister Love: https://www.sisterlove.org
It is crucial to take the time to address what is going on in the world, which has been going on for a long time. In a time where there is so much injustice exposed in the world, it is far too easy to be discouraged – to be silent and caught up in our own lives. To non-Black POC and white people, we all have been there before, but we must do better.
Silence in itself is a response. There comes a time where silence is violence, that rings true now more than ever. When you are silent it is not you who faces the consequences, but other people do. Often people who are oppressed and marginalized. Instead use your privilege to educate yourself, and others, challenge the beliefs being brought up at the dinner table, go to protests if you are able, donate, sign petitions, send emails, stop supporting racist brands, support Black owned businesses, provide space for Black voices, don’t diminish anyone’s experience/reality, and be willing to listen and learn from your mistakes. Yes, there has been so much injustice exposed, in what could feel like a short amount of time. Acknowledge that just because you may have newly become aware of these injustices, does not mean that they were never there before. It is our privilege that shields us, and our privilege that we must challenge.
To the Black Community, while I definitely don’t have the right words to say, I just wanted to acknowledge that it has taken too long for people to even begin recognizing the injustices that Black people face. That during a pandemic claiming the lives of many, many are protesting for a right to live and exist (a right that should’ve already been a given). While many of us will never know the reality of being a Black person, please know that you are not alone. But, I know that words are just words and change requires action.
To my non-Black POC and white people, we need to do better. Take it day by day, take action in any way you can, truly listen in order to be able to change. All of us together can help change the system and create a better world.