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The #SayHerName movement was created by Black women and girls, speaking out about how their stories get less attention. Major protests usually happen in response to police brutality aimed at Black men, but the problem doesn’t hurt just one part of our community.
Now, more Black women’s cases are becoming increasingly visible because of organizing like #SayHerName. However, the inclusion feels bittersweet for many in our community because of marginalization. This is a problem that NEEDS to be addressed.
When we say “all Black lives matter,” does that include every Black person? Will we see the day when people rise up on an international level for Black trans people like Layleen Polanco, Tony McDade, or Brianna Hill? The answer is more complicated than we’d like to think.
#SayHerName refuses to neglect the violence that takes Black women and girls’ lives within our community. Black women are more likely to be killed by domestic violence or, like Oluwatoyin Salau, at the hands of those they march alongside. This has to stop.
To achieve Black liberation, we have to fight for the safety of ALL Black people regardless of age, gender, or disability. It’s not about the racist misconception of “Black on Black violence.” It’s about acknowledging harm that jeopardizes our movements. Let’s fight for everyone, together.