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gollygee

(22,336 posts)
Fri Jul 24, 2015, 06:03 PM Jul 2015

7 Ways to Turn Your Anger Over Sandra Bland Into Action

http://www.blackgirldangerous.org/2015/07/angry-about-sandra-bland-here-are-7-ways-to-turn-that-anger-into-action-in-support-of-incarcerated-and-formerly-incarcerated-black-women/

The funneling of black children through the school-to-prison pipeline is a dangerous trend that pervades society. As a result, black people make up a disproportionately high percentage of the prison population. For young black girls, the reality is that we make the largest growing demographic of incarcerated people in the U.S.

With #BlackLivesMatter rallies occurring across the nation, and tragic stories such as those of Natasha McKenna and Sandra Bland surfacing every week, it’s important now more than ever to center the experiences of formerly and currently incarcerated black women. It’s crucial to acknowledge and amplify our voices if we wish to have a truly inclusive and liberating movement.

I have always been outspoken about my views regarding white supremacy and anti-black racism. The predominately white university I attended had a history of putting on minstrel shows, further marginalizing the already small black student body. I was hanging with friends one night and race was brought up. Feeling triggered, our conversation quickly escalated into a heated debate. Next I recall being pepper sprayed, slammed against a police car, and without my rights read to me, unfairly taken to jail. While behind bars, I was mistreated and neglected. I experienced physical abuse by correctional officers, who hurled misogynoiristic slurs at me. Even after release, I still carry the trauma. Many black women will continue to live through these conditions with some, like Natasha McKenna and Sandra Bland, even dying at the hands of our captors. If we really believe that black lives matter, we must actively take steps to show up for black women.

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7 Ways to Turn Your Anger Over Sandra Bland Into Action (Original Post) gollygee Jul 2015 OP
Thank you for sharing this artislife Jul 2015 #1
kick gollygee Jul 2015 #2
 

artislife

(9,497 posts)
1. Thank you for sharing this
Fri Jul 24, 2015, 07:38 PM
Jul 2015

My friend Tanya which Black and I who is Latina but can pass went drinking together one night. It was fun and we drank a lot and said good night and took our buses home. I came back to a note shoved under my door ranting about my cigarette smoke. I have since quit but I smoked in my apartment. The neighbor came back and I proceeded to bore him into submission about my rights to do as I pleased in the privacy of my own home. Really. .I was that boring drunk. He finally agreed and avoided me the rest of the time
Tonya came home and she and her relative had a disagreement. The relative was visiting but she called the cops. Tonya was arrested from her own home and put in with hardened criminals. This country has a lot if work to do.

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