Struggles of being a black woman

The everyday struggles of being a Black woman

Opinion/ A.Hoof The neglect of Black women starts from birth “The most disrespected person in Ameri- to lack of medical care and as victims of my cousins the same. Whenever we get into ca is the black woman. The most unprotected crime”, Dr. Leitz, licensed marriage and arguments the first thing that they call us person in America is the black woman. The family therapist, and a child custody recom- (the darker skinned cousins) gorillas & start most neglected person in America is the mending counselor, said. comparing our skin to other dark animals and black woman. “- Malcolm X. Many doctors dismiss what black women / or objects,” East High sophomore NyAsiah Black women have faced an unmeasurable say when they believe they are experiencing Gully said. amount of oppression. We experience racial complications or are in pain. We always Black women have been the blueprint fr inequality with childbirth, colorism in our must hold up to the standards of being many trends. Things black women did that own community, and harsh stereotypes. Nev- independent and a “strong black woman.” were considered “ghetto” became trendy er have black women been able to develop When expressing our feelings or pain and when non- black women did them. Black a culture, instead we’ve had to conform to speaking up about what we go through we women wore long acrylic nails and were society’s ideas and expectations of a black are often are not believed. This falls into bashed for wearing them. Now, you look and woman. why we are not taken seriously when telling see everyone doing the same thing without Tiffany Johnson is a survivor of neglect doctors about our pain during pregnancy the backlash. We wear colorful wigs and get from the medical field. “I do feel that the and become vulnerable when they do not called every harsh name in the book, but quality of care changes according to your listen to our needs. when you look at non-black, people wear race and economic status. There are individu- Colorism is a huge issue in the black them they become “cute” or “stylish”. To al providers (nurses, doctors, etc.) that I don’t community. Many black girls with kinky hair this day when a black woman wears her box believe personally feel that way however they and dark brown skin don’t grow up seeing braids to work, she gets labeled unprofesare governed by policy and procedures that girls that look like them on TV. If black sional and gets side eyed from her non-black often limits their ability to provide quality girls of a darker tone did see someone that co-workers. Once non-black people started care, “ Tiffany Johnson said. looked like them on TV the character was to appropriate this aspect of black culture it According to CDC (Center of Disease stereotyped as ‘ghetto’. This messes with became “just hair”. It wasn’t ‘just hair’ when and Control Prevention) “Black Women are young black girls’ self-esteem and leads black people were fired or sent home from three to four times more likely to die from them to these ideas that they aren’t pretty school because their hair was a “distraction to pregnancy-related causes than white women.” enough if they don’t straighten their hair or others”. Calling it appreciation of the culture We are most likely to die or have compli- dress a certain way. is a statement of ignorance; people can cations within our pregnancy because our We often also face colorism within our appreciate culture without copying it. Black health and needs are not taken seriously. immediate family. “I experienced colorism women deserve better. “We are thought often described as a lot within my family. All my grandma’s “brave” or “strong” but are vulnerable due kids are light/Brown skin making most of

Black Girl Magic Black Girl Magic Black Girl Magic Black Girl Magic “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. According to the CDC (Center of Disease and Control Black Girl Magic Prevention) “Black Women are three to four times more Black Girl Magic likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.” “We are thought often described as “brave” or “strong” but are vulnerable due to lack of medical care and as victims of crime,” Dr. Leitz said. Black Girl Magic Black Girl Magic Black Girl Magic Black Girl Magic East Scroll /15