On Black Girls: Collected Works

This is a collection of work on gender and race with a focus on Black woman and girls and whoever the combination of those words might encompass. This will mostly be used as a searchable archive for all kinds of sources both serious and not serious.

[onblackgirls]

#BlacklivesMatter Activist DeRay Mckesson Talks Being Black and Gay

#BlackLivesMatter activist DeRay Mckesson spoke at the San Francisco GLAAD Gala on Saturday to discuss the complexities of being black and gay.

“Our work as organizers is neither to tell people whispering in the library to shout nor to tell them to be quiet. Our work is to listen better because we have never been the voiceless; we have been the unheard”

Only 5minutes but an incredibly powerful speech by DeRay Mckesson about “coming out of the quiet”. It is often lost that there are many ways to use our platforms, our voices, our existence. It is important to be reminded that just because our place in the revolution may not be what we or others expected, it may not be MLK but it is still crucial. Together those whispers are loud. “Come out of the quiet”

[onblackgirls]

A conversation on the politics of respectability with scholar Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham.

This article is unnecessarily convoluted. It starts with EBH explaining that the way she uses the word “Respectability” in her work refers to a moral authority/high ground. Its essentially the high horse you put yourself on to prove that not only are you morally correct, but that your respectability puts you in a place where people should listen to you. Her argument is that if you want to get something done you have to be more narrow about your goals and then shoot for that. Respectability is one way people do that, by proving that they deserve to be heard and treated fairly because they adhere to moral systems that the oppressor already accepts and recognizes. Her point is that this is one way to get people to listen, because you are just like them, because you are respectable. You need allies to come to your side because there has never been a time when “we did something completely black and we changed our situation”.

She goes on to say “There's so much injustice, but the question is are you trying to be an actor in the transformation of America or are you an actor in constant protest?” I think this is an interesting question because embedded in her talking points is that you need to leave some people behind in order to get rights for the rest. Maybe this is oversimplifying but it feels as though she is asking us to prioritize getting something done vs. standing in complete solidarity. If we continue to only gain rights for the Black people that will be listened to, that are not too threatening, that are palatable to non-black allies, when do we start gaining rights for everyone else? She’s right, you can’t do everything at once. You can’t uplift everyone at once (if you define uplifting as changing laws). But personally I would rather not leave anyone behind, solidarity is critical. We are still fighting because there isn’t enough of it. I guess that means living in constant protest but I would rather do that than spend my life trying to transform white America from a deeply racist society to a slightly less racist, “you’re not like the rest of the blacks” society. I’m not naive though. I know someone has to fight for these political victories. Someone has to be the respectable negro that awakens the whites. Its just not going to be me. 

[onblackgirls]

Iron Shawls & Unanswered Texts

Text me where you are going to be, and I’ll hit you when I’m done.”

“Black girls don’t get diagnosed with depression, they get told they have bad attitudes…”

[onblackgirls]

This Is What it Looks Like to Stand in Solidarity With Black Trans Women

This is us standing with our sisters.

[onblackgirls]

In honor of International Day of the Girl, First Lady Michelle Obama shares her first-ever Spotify playlist. This is an official White House account on Spotify. Messages may be archived: WH.gov/privacy.

[onblackgirls]

9 Ways We Can Make Social Justice Movements Less Elitist and More Accessible

Ever participated in these ways of making social justice communities exclusive? They're pretty common, but this author's got some ways to include everyone – and some really good points about why it matters.

[onblackgirls]

Amber Rose Interview with BigBoy on REAL 92.3

“Amber Rose stops by the REAL 92.3 studio! Amber talks about attending the LA "Slut Walk" on October 3rd 2015, her FunnyOrDie skit, clearing up rumors and more!”

[onblackgirls]

Amber Rose @ Amber Rose Slutwalk, speaks on slutshaming and sexuality 

[onblackgirls]

Watercolors by Debra Cartwright 

[onblackgirls]

When we celebrate the carefree Black girl, who do we include?

[onblackgirls]

You Can Ask Me About My Hair, article by Jessica Myers 

from “Hair Stories Untold”, series and photo by Nakeya Brown

[onblackgirls]

It was like she was remixing her own song as she was making it up....I’m on the floor, too weak

[onblackgirls]

When I was 13 years old, the most striking aspects of my appearance were a blue weave, thick eyeliner, and a wardrobe full of dark band T-shirts. My peers had conflicting ideas about me: I didn’t fit the image of…

Article by Thahabu Gordon

[onblackgirls]

Schools’ Discipline for Girls Differs by Race and Hue

For graffiti on a Georgia school’s walls, two girls were suspended. But only one of them ended up in the criminal justice system.

Article by Tanzina Vega

[onblackgirls]

For Women Who Are Difficult To Love - Warsan Shire

[onblackgirls]

S/HE by Saul Williams

[onblackgirls]

Happy Tuesday