The Lives of Black Women Matter Too

Ferguson, MO became a contentious cultural flashpoint in the summer of 2014. Ever since, the news has been filled with reports of African Americans being killed by police or dying while in their custody. The situations vary, but the litany of names has seared itself into the public mind:

  • Freddie Gray
  • Michael Brown
  • Philando Castile

Notice there are no names of females on the list above.

Korryn Gaines Killed by Police

On August 1, Baltimore County police fatally shot 23-year-old Korryn Gaines to death in her apartment. According to the Washington Post, she held her small child and a shotgun in her arms. After several hours of negotiation, police shot Gaines when she stated she would kill them if they didn’t leave. Her child was also wounded in the firefight.

Gaines is the ninth black woman to be killed by police in 2016, a fact that puts the U.S. on a pace to break 2015’s record of 10. As of this writing, there have been 564 fatal police shootings overall, and at least 137 of those killed were black.

Say Her Name

Though most media reports and Black Lives Matter protests are focused on the now-familiar names of male victims, a subset of activists has begun the “Say Her Name” movement to highlight the dangers black women face in encounters with the police.

A report by the African American Policy Forum points out that police brutality affects women in many ways. They are more likely, for instance, to experience assault and sexual harassment than they are to be killed, but these forms of brutality should not be ignored in discussions about police overreach.

As the Black Lives Matter movement becomes a more prominent political issue this election season, many women are speaking out about the sexism in the coverage — and in the culture at large.

When Sandra Bland was pulled over during a traffic stop in 2015 and later died in police custody, it was a tipping point in the discussion. This case and that of Philando Castile show that, even when following direct orders from the police to hand over their license, registration and insurance, both black men and women are still in significant danger. Doing the right thing doesn’t always make you safer but it finally made mainstream media sit up and listen.

Inclusive Conversations

Activists like Dream Hampton advise that feminists and protesters focus on violence against women as well. “It’s not a competing narrative, but it’s just not a complete narrative, … that this only happens to black boys and men.”

To start that conversation, educate yourself about the names you maybe haven’t heard:

Say their names, and share their stories. A police encounter is equally as dangerous for black women as it is for black men, and they must be included in any discussion that seeks to make real change in the way the police interact with different communities. That conversation won’t solve the problem, but it’s a necessary starting point to understand the issue — the whole issue.

Disclaimer: This post was written by a Feministing Community user and does not necessarily reflect the views of any Feministing columnist, editor, or executive director.

Holly Whitman is a feminist writer and journalist from the UK, but now based in Washington D.C. When she's not running what she hopes will one day become one of the best political blogs written by a woman, she can be found volunteering at local women's shelters and campaigning for reproductive rights and equal pay.

Holly Whitman is a feminist writer and journalist based in Washington DC.

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