Posts tagged with "black women"

Sonya Massey: A Life Cut Short by Standard Police Violence Against Black Folks

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“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 murder of Sonya Massey – a 36-year-old Black woman – a victim of yet another unjustified act of police violence, has sparked outrage and calls for justice across the nation. Massey’s life was tragically cut short on July 6, 2024 during an encounter with law enforcement, leaving her family, her community and many across the nation shaken and devastated.

The loss of Massey, a mother of two, has left a void that cannot be filled and yet the incident has taken its place alongside the many others who have met a similar fate by the hands of police in these United States of America. Land of the free, home of the brave, we falsely claim. The rebuked demon responsible for her murder is also a figure in line with the thriving business of racism in America: an unqualified and deeply flawed white man who can get fired from multiple police departments, even get kicked out of the Army, and STILL enjoy the white privilege he naturally inherits as part of the lineage of white supremacy, the unrelenting terrorism of Jim Crow and David Duke’s hateful Klan that is part of our American culture. They don’t have to hang Black folks from trees anymore. They can simply put on a uniform and carry on the Black holocaust in America like it 1619. 

Although the police officer that should have never been one has been arrested and charged with murder, the investigation into the shooting continues. And despite Sean Grayson, the Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy who gunned down Massey in her own home after she called 9-11 for help, did not turn on his body camera during his callous act of violence, his partner did, which captured the horror that continues to send shock waves across the country. And the vicious white supremacist audacity of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois is clearly stated on their website, “No individual or small group hires or fires the Sheriff, or has the authority to interfere with the operations of the office.” Sheriff Jack Campbell is who hired this unqualified goon to terrorize the public he claims to serve and protect. If there is any justice, Campbell will be forced out of the office he wants to rule like an 1800s Klansman. 

The circumstances surrounding Massey’s untimely death is par for the course of American history. It is par for the course of the Black experience in America. And so, it is important that we, as a society, confront the issue of police violence, especially against Black people, and work towards a future where such tragedies are not just  prevented but severely punished. 

Grayson had a HISTORY of disciplinary issues. And yet, he was given a badge and a gun to terrorize the public. It is crystal clear that the “good old boys club” in America is alive and well ever since the birth of this nation built under the brutality of chattel slavery … Massey’s ancestors.  Audio recordings — obtained by CBS News — reveal concerns from superiors about Grayson’s integrity and misconduct. And yet, keeping in line with white privilege, Grayson kept his job. He was protected behind the blue wall of shame, racism and evil. How profoundly spiritual that Massey rebuked the demon standing before her in a police uniform before he shot her in the face. 

Our leaders are failing us in unimaginable ways.  From never-ending wars with standing ovations for a war criminal on the House floor, a compromised Congress ruled by a foreign lobby (AIPAC), including corporations, to the steady corroding of the values we supposedly espouse. We, the People are left to fend for ourselves as we tread these shark invested waters of our so-called democracy.

And so, a rally calling for #JusticeForSonyaMassey is taking place July 30th at 6 p.m. in Chicago. This is a call to action for all American communities to stand together and demand accountability. If you can, join to ensure that truth and justice prevail. Not just for Massey, but for all Americans. It’s time to end police brutality. It’s time to end the weaponizing of protecting and serving. It’s time to stop the unjust killings of Black people in America. 

 

The19th Amendment And Women’s Suffrage Leaders Excluded Black Women

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The passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution on Aug 18, 1920, marked a monumental milestone in American history. It granted women the right to vote, a fundamental democratic right that had been denied to them for centuries. However, racist policies often kept Black women out of the suffragist movement led by white women.

Did the 19th Amendment enable all women the right to vote?

On paper, the Amendment protected discrimination against all women, but in practice, it only gave white women the right to vote. Black women, Native American women, Asian American women, and women from other racial and ethnic minority groups were discriminated against for 45 more years until the passage of The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA). The VRA afforded crucial protections to Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color (BIWOC) voters. And, women with disabilities only gained protections in 1990 with the Americans with Disabilities Act. – Rock The Vote

The National Association of Colored Women‘s Clubs Inc. was established in 1896 as a merger between the National League of Colored Women and the National Federation of Afro-American Women. The organization functioned as an umbrella group for local and regional Black women’s organizations. 

Background:

  • The women’s suffrage movement had been gaining momentum for decades, with suffragists tirelessly campaigning for equal voting rights.
  • Notable figures such as Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Alice Paul played pivotal roles in organizing and leading the movement.

Legislative Process:

  • The 19th Amendment was first introduced in Congress in 1878, but it took years of lobbying and advocacy before it gained significant support.
  • The amendment was passed by the House of Representatives in 1918 and by the Senate in 1919, fulfilling the two-thirds majority requirement.
  • On Aug 18, 1920, the amendment was ratified by the required number of states, becoming part of the Constitution.

Impact:

  • The 19th Amendment had a profound impact on American society, empowering in practice only white women to participate in the democratic process and contribute to shaping the nation’s future.
  • It marked a significant victory for the women’s rights movement, (in spite of its racist implementation and practice) and paved the way for further advancements in gender equality.

Legacy:

  • The 19th Amendment stands as a testament to the resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment of women who fought for their right to be heard and to have a say in their own governance.
  • It continues to inspire generations of women and advocates of social justice worldwide.

Excerpts from African & Black History:

Sojourner Truth wasn’t just a voice for abolition, she was a powerful advocate for women’s rights as well. Her iconic “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech directly confronted the exclusion of Black women from suffrage, highlighting the hypocrisy of arguments used to deny them the vote. By connecting the struggles of enslaved people and women, Truth saw both groups as deserving of equal rights, including voting rights. Her courage and activism inspired other women and broadened the suffrage movement, raising awareness and demanding equality for all women.

Harriet Tubman was a staunch supporter of women’s suffrage, giving speeches about her experiences as an enslaved woman at various anti-slavery conventions, out of which the voting rights movement emerged.

Ida B. Wells was one of our nation’s foremost critics of racial injustice through her journalistic and philanthropic endeavors. She co-founded the Alpha Suffrage Club in Chicago in 1913 to educate Black women on how to cultivate Black candidates and ensure their votes. She also marched in the 1913 women’s parade in Washington, D.C., which would come to be regarded as a milestone in the history of the 19th Amendment.

Daisy Lampkin was instrumental for women’s voting rights. She was president of Negro Women’s Franchise League in 1915 and an active organizer with NAACP & National Association of Colored Women. She promoted interest in suffrage among Black women in Pittsburgh.

Mary Church Terrell was a pioneering figure in the fight for racial equality and women’s suffrage. She was one of the first African-American women to earn a college degree, earning both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Her life’s work focused on the idea of racial uplift.

Dr. Anna Julia Haywood Cooper was one of North Carolina’s early, outspoken Black woman suffragists. She advocated for civil rights for Black Americans, and her 1892 book, “A Voice from the South: By a Black Woman of the South,” is considered the first Black feminist publication. Dr. Cooper made contributions to social science fields, particularly in sociology. She is sometimes called “The Mother Of Black Feminism.”

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