The justice system is designed to protect victims, punish suspects, and rehabilitate citizens. There is only one problem. The system shows American citizens that it works smoothly for whites but does not work for black people and especially black women. Black women are still currently unheard and mistreated within the justice system and are constantly being left out of conversations.
Historically black women have been the underdogs within society. Black women are the last to get any form of equality. When all women were incapable of doing anything equivalent to men, white women and black men still had a step higher in the societal structure. There have been numerous movements to address the disparities in the "-isms" of America. Racism and sexism. These -isms lead to patriarchal societies, misogynistic societies and create a superior race. When all of these come together it forms a society where black women have to fight consistently for the smallest piece of opportunity. The black struggle is nothing new. The struggle is commonly covered up. It is the struggle to be heard, believed, equally convicted, equally sentenced, equally victimized, and equally represented. Black women are incarcerated at a very close rate to black men.
- Black women are: Sentenced longer for smaller crimes, underrepresented in the media when they are victims, victim-blamed, represented harsher than their counterparts when they are a suspect, and jailed longer. Sentenced longer for smaller crimes is a very common one. An uncommon conversation is black women are left in jail longer with extremely hefty bonds without being sentenced to prison. Additionally, this creates
- traumatizing bonds with police
- breakdown of family
- economic gaps/financial hardships
- lack of empathy for black women
- more children in foster systems
- Insecurity of blackness
- unsolved violent crimes against women
- a continued cycle of mistreatment.
FEAR:
There are many names to be dropped for the black women who have spoken about the issues they deal with. Throughout the course of life, women have been thrown in jail for defending themselves, responding to abuse, and being too politically independent.
In 1961, Fannie Lou Hamer went to have a procedure done in Mississippi. While on the table she was given a hysterectomy without her consent. This was something very common in Mississippi at the time. White doctors would prey on poor black women. It happened so much they nicknamed it the Mississippi Appendectomy. Ms. Hamer was enraged. It changed her perspective swiftly. In 1962 Ms. Hamer attended a meeting with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. This was the beginning of her fight for civil rights. Racism and Sexism were huge factors in politics during the Civil Rights Movement. Black men and women were thrown in jail at significantly higher rates for activism. While in jail, black women had to deal with enslaving activities like rape. In 1963, while fighting for the Civil Rights of not only black people but primarily black women, Fannie Lou Hamer was arrested and beaten terribly in jail. She lost some of her vision and had vital organs damaged. The organ damage actually aided in her passing in 1977. (National Endowment of Humanities, N.d). How many other Fannie Lou Hamers are there? How many other black women were beaten in jail and never had the opportunity to speak up for themselves?
REPRESENTATION
Civil Brand was a popular movie in the black community. It actually addressed many common issues within the prison systems of America. To some women actively dealing with these issues, Civil Brand had a fairy tale ending.
There are two reasons why black women are silent about the crimes committed against them. The first is the secrecy in jail. The secrecy could be an advantage for outside connections, inside connections, and better treatment. The second reason is the fear of retaliation. Women have documented their experiences in jail and been punished because of it. (Issac, 131)
FAMILY
There isn't a doubt that Black men represent the highest percentage incarcerated. When you factor in the number of homes left without fathers you will see it impact black families more. To add fuel to the fire, with the increase of black women incarcerated you see more children without a family. As of 2011, 2.6 million children have a parent incarcerated (Sykes, 2011, para 9).
Children without parents go to foster homes that may put them in the same cycles as their parents. The apple never falls far from the tree. There are success stories but it is very rare. Who protects the children while their mom is in jail?
When stereotypes are created by people who hold the power, the stereotypes spread. The best way to stop stereotypes is to stop fueling them. Who protects the black woman? From the minute the transatlantic slave trade began off the continent of Africa, the stereotypes started. Who protects the black woman? When white people referred to black women as mammies, jezebels, and sapphires who could stop them? No one. When all men had rights who protected the black woman? When women's movements did not help improve black women's life, who protected black women? When black women finally got their voice who protected them? When the music began playing in the ears of many and genres were created, how does a genre for us, hate us? How were lyrics created to degrade the women capable of continuing black life? How could it take black men to the enemy side? Who is helping defend and protect black women? When will black women be equal to everyone else? (Adams,2006)
HOW TO "PROTECTHER"
- Reject stereotypes
- Educate more black minds
- Educate people around you about common misconceptions
- Defend black women
- believe black women
- emphatize with black women
- Be willing to understand black women
- Support black women
ALL SOLUTIONS ARE POSSIBLE. Ignorance and rejection to growth are the only drawbacks to these solutions******
My research into issues that face black women while incarcerated or in their everyday lives can be presented to people who are unaware of these issues. This research shows there is no even equality between white men, black men, white women, and black women. These problems can be fixed with a change of heart. There are laws that can be placed to show black women you support.
No more Breonna Taylors. No more epidemics of missing black women and children. No more #MeTooMovements just to be heard. No more black women ignored. No more black women incarcerated because a man feels threatened. No more black women serving 50+ years for self defense. No more trafficking. PROTECT THEM! Protect her.
A note to black women:
You are a queen. You are capable. You are more than the stigmas. You are worth more than what you are given. You have an abundance of black girl magic. You stay being different. When it feels like the world is against you have perseverance. When all the odds in the world are not in your favor, you must survive. You must continue to fight for what is right. Black women, I understand you are tired but it is not time to rest. Keep pushing, queen. Wipe the tears away. If black women have no one else, black women have each other. You cannot compete with a system that was not created for you. The best way to beat a faulty game is to find the loopholes. While doing that enjoy your life and remember to smile more and stay strong. Look up, Queen! Your crown is tilting.
Adams, Terri M. and Douglas B. Fuller. 2006. “The Words Have Changed but the Ideology Remains the Same: Misogynistic Lyrics in Rap Music.” Journal of Black Studies 36(6):938–57.
Early, Rosalind, Amy Lifson, Donna M. Lucey, and Martha S. Jones. n.d. “‘The Sweat and Blood of Fannie Lou Hamer.’” The National Endowment for the Humanities. Retrieved December 3, 2021 (https://www.neh.gov/article/sweat-and-blood-fannie-lou-hamer).
Isaac, Alicia R., Lettie L. Lockhart, and Larry Williams. 2018. “Violence against African American Women in Prisons and Jails: Who’s Minding the Shop?” Violence as Seen Through a Prism of Color 129–53.
Nellis, Ashley, Nicole D. Porter, and Nazgol Ghandnoosh. “The Color of Justice 2016 Report.” The Sentencing Project, June 14, 2016. https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/the-color-of-justice-2016-report/#III.%20The%20Scale%20of%20Disparity.
Sykes, Bryan L. and Michelle Maroto. 2016. “A Wealth of Inequalities: Mass Incarceration, Employment, and Racial Disparities in U.S. Household Wealth, 1996 to 2011.” RSF. Retrieved December 3, 2021 (https://www.rsfjournal.org/content/2/6/129).
Credits:
Created with images by Ichigo121212 - "prison prison cell jail" • wjgomes - "angolans woman girl" • trevoykellyphotography - "people three portrait" • erinbetzk - "africa women female" • Leroy_Skalstad - "girl african portrait" • F8studio - "Portrait of three happy young african woman friends smiling while using mobile phone together with win gesture isolated on yellow background" • AS Photo Project - "Group of five happy african american traveler girls sitting in car open trunk." • Riccardo Niels Mayer - "Two Little African Girls Performing A Hand Clapping Game" • Black queen design - "Group of african afro women friends laughing. Black business woman with afro hair. Black lives matter" • kaentian - "Hand handshake husband and wife who were imprisoned."