This is an attempt to keep the conversation going in our own
voices and not allowing others to speak for us.
“As attention is called to the ugly reality of present-day
sexual harassment, there must also be attention to the historical sexual
violations of Black women during the enslavement era and beyond. For well
over 350 years Black women were viciously raped, savagely beaten and tortured,
and had fetuses cut out of their bellies, oft times by the perpetrator of
sexual assault upon them. Women who resisted were terrorized, continuously
defiled and disrespected, and lynching’s were commonplace. Oft-times White women
were complicit in condoning the sexual crimes of White men against Black women,
and oft-times falsely accused Black men of rape, leading to their murder and
dismemberment. Just as we do not condone or take lightly present-day
disclosures and accusations of sexual harassment, the unfettered crimes against
Women of African Descent during the enslavement era and beyond that to date
still await remedy must never be forgotten.” * In the aftermath of the
Alabama election Black women are in the spotlight for organizing and
spearheading the decisive defeat of known sexual offender Roy Moore. These efforts were not done for Doug Jones
but for the protection of the women and their families from further draconian
policies. Alabama has a legacy of Black women who have taken a major stand such
as Rosa Parks; however, we don’t want to forget Celia who in 1855 killed her
white master after being sexually assaulted by him for over five years and was
convicted by a slaveholding jury and lynched.**
Many are startled by the fierce determination of Black women in this
election and unfortunately resurrect the stereotype of the strong Jezebel woman
who can withstand abuse, retort with a sharp tongue and move on to the next
challenge. This however is not the
reality for most, the torture, denigration and marginalization of Black woman
is as evident now as it was when Celia attacked her “Master”. Black women make up over 30% of those
incarcerated and are likely to be imprisoned four times the rate of white women
(incite.org); 67% of Black women are sexually abused before they reach the age
of 18, unfortunately by Black men who have inculcated the societal ideas that
view Black women as worthless, not deeming protection, care and respect (Bureau
of Justice Statistics). One out of every
four Black girls will be victimized by sexual abuse in their lifetimes often
leading to alcoholism, drug addiction and suicide. More Black women are killed in America than
any other race (Bustle.com), between 2011 and 2013 Black women in the US died
at a rate of 40.0 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 12.1 for white
women (huffingtonpost.com 6-27-17).
Gruesome statistics such as these do not materialize from the sky but
for a society that has historically denied respect, justice and protection to
Black women that is directly connected to their former enslavement. Our bodies,
our humanity has been historically under attack. We did not show up for the
candidate, we showed up for ourselves as we have been doing so for centuries. Reparations
must be made to those who continue to bare the badges of slavery, our status
should not be tied to our historical caretaking and engendering success for
whites, but our own merit as rightful citizens of this country.
*Statement by a group of women of African
descent involved in the reparations movement, Institute of Black World
Reparations Conference, New Orleans, December 8, 2017.
**DeNeen L. Brown, “Missouri v. Celia, a Slave: She killed
the white master raping her, then claimed self-defense”, Retropolis, October
19, 2017.
Ife Williams and Yvette Modestin (Lepolata Aduke) and
Members of #40
Email us at reparations40@gmail.com
