As the November 2020 election approaches and state violence against Black people and Black communities intensifies, Black girls and the epidemic rates of normalized sexual violence and domestic abuse that they experience are not on the national radar. It has been well-documented that sexual violence and domestic abuse have skyrocketed in vulnerable communities of color during the pandemic. These critical and life-altering aspects of Black girls’ experiences are seldom the subject of national campaigns or national focus. Yet, according to the Black Women’s Blueprint, between 40-60% of Black girls have experienced sexual abuse by age 18. Black girls and women are more likely to die at the hands of a relative or intimate partner than are non-Black women. Further, Black girls have some of the highest rates of sex trafficking victimization as well as arrest, conviction, and incarceration for sex trafficking in the nation. According to the Department of Justice, only one in fifteen Black women report sexual violence, while Black women and girls across sexuality and gender identity (cis, straight, queer, and trans) are more likely to be sexually abused and harassed by law enforcement. Historically, rape culture and misogynoir (anti-Black misogyny) have been inextricably linked to state violence, religious violence, and patriarchal heteronormative power and control over Black girls’ bodies. As survivors, the multigenerational trauma of sexual violence reverberates throughout our entire lives in communities where victim-blaming, victim-shaming, silencing, moral policing, and family complicity are normalized. For Black girls, experiences with sexual violence, domestic violence, and intimate partner violence are more likely to result in long term consequences such as homelessness, addiction, PTSD, depression, incarceration, and self-harm.
During Domestic Violence awareness month, the #Standing4BlackGirls
coalition, led by Black women's youth and gender justice orgs the Women's
Leadership Project, Media Done Responsibly, the Positive Results Corporation,
the California Black Women's Health Project, and other community
partners, will hold space for survivors in an outdoor community
action to disrupt rape culture and sexual violence against Black
girls and women on Saturday, October 17th at 12:30 in Leimert Park on Degnan.
The action will focus on lifting up Black girl survivor voices
while calling on policymakers and elected officials to
earmark mental health and wellness resources for Black girls across
sexualities.
Chardonnay Madkins on #Standing4BlackGirls
Women’s Leadership Project
Media Done Responsibly
Positive Results Corporation
California Black Women’s Democratic Club
California Black Women’s Health Project
Afrolez Productions
AF3IRM Los Angeles
Black LGBTQIA+ Parent and Caregiver Group
Peace Over Violence
Rights4Girls
Women of Color Beyond Belief
YWCA Compton
National Radical Women
Freedom Socialist Party, Los Angeles
South L.A. Black Girls: Changing the Narrative on #MeToo, 2019
