HERE and there: An open letter to white women in the movement to end gender-based violence

Dear White Women:

Welcome. I’m glad you are HERE. Let’s talk about here and over there.

I hope this time you will stay here. When I saw hundreds of lovely pink knitted hats across the country, I was finally convinced that you were here to stay.

For years white feminism has waged a war against Black women, Black men, Black children, Black babies and our Black communities. With too many causalities to name them all. It wasn’t televised, it wasn’t video-taped, but the pain and scars remain visible in the lunch rooms and board rooms over there. Those most impacted have been silenced on the margins. Like my sister Lina Juarbe Botella would say, on the margin of the margins. You know them well. You should call them by their names. Say Their Names. All Black Lives Matter. So, Say Their Names.

CONTINUE READING

Image by Brittany Rockwell