[Women Prisoner News] "7 Ways to Turn Your Anger Over Sandra Bland Into Action In Support of Incarcerated (and Formerly Incarcerated) Black Women"

[Diana Block]

http://www.blackgirldangerous.org/2015/07/angry-about-sandra-bland-here-are-7-ways-to-turn-that-anger-into-action-in-support-of-incarcerated-and-formerly-incarcerated-black-women/

7 Ways to Turn Your Anger Over Sandra Bland Into Action In Support of
Incarcerated (and Formerly Incarcerated) Black Women
Posted on July 24, 2015
<http://www.blackgirldangerous.org/2015/07/angry-about-sandra-bland-here-are-7-ways-to-turn-that-anger-into-action-in-support-of-incarcerated-and-formerly-incarcerated-black-women/>
 by editors
<http://www.blackgirldangerous.org/author/blackgirldangerousgmail-com/>

*by Desiree Stevens*



The funneling of black children through the school-to-prison pipeline is a
dangerous trend that pervades society. As a result, black people make up a
disproportionately high percentage of the prison population. For young
black girls, the reality is that we make the largest growing demographic of
incarcerated people in the U.S.



With #BlackLivesMatter rallies occurring across the nation, and tragic
stories such as those of Natasha McKenna and Sandra Bland surfacing every
week, it’s important now more than ever to center the experiences of
formerly and currently incarcerated black women. It’s crucial to
acknowledge and amplify our voices if we wish to have a truly inclusive and
liberating movement.



I have always been outspoken about my views regarding white supremacy and
anti-black racism. The predominately white university I attended had a
history of putting on minstrel shows, further marginalizing the already
small black student body. I was hanging with friends one night and race was
brought up. Feeling triggered, our conversation quickly escalated into a
heated debate. Next I recall being pepper sprayed, slammed against a police
car, and without my rights read to me, unfairly taken to jail. While behind
bars, I was mistreated and neglected. I experienced physical abuse by
correctional officers, who hurled misogynoiristic slurs at me. Even after
release, I still carry the trauma. Many black women will continue to live
through these conditions with some, likeNatasha McKenna
<http://countercurrentnews.com/2015/05/police-report-confirms-officers-mckenna-with-her-hands-cuffed-and-legs-shackled/>
 and Sandra Bland
<http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-officials-release-video-in-texas-jail-hanging-case-20150720-story.html#page=1>,
even dying at the hands of our captors. If we really believe that black
lives matter, we must actively take steps to show up for black women.


There are ways we can start today:

*1. Let Us Live:* The criminalization of black girls starts early; they
face higher rates of suspension compared to their non-black counterparts,
which begins and upholds the school to prison pipeline. Showing up for
incarcerated black women means allowing space for us to live authentically.
We live in a heightened state of being policed but our personal treatment
of black girls can make a difference. Support our agency. Let us dance. Let
us wear our hair in a way we see fit. Support us in taking back our
autonomy in proactive way.
------------------------------

*2. De-stigmatize your perception of incarceration:* In a criminal
(in)justice system where prosecutors are 95% white, where jurors are
overwhelmingly white, and whose history was built upon criminalizing black
people, it’s no surprise that black people face harsher and longer
sentences. From Jim Crow to the “War on Drugs”, the livelihood of black
people has been and continues to be policed. As black women our actions,
like grocery shopping, walking to a bar as a black trans woman
<http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/the-transgender-crucible-20140730>,
or defending ourselves against domestic violence
<http://www.essence.com/2015/03/04/marissa-alexander-exclusive> carry the
risk of incarceration or death. In an effort to fight for black women and
femmes who are disproportionately targeted by these laws, it’s important to
realize how we are systematically policed and how that manifests into
imprisonment.



*3. Uplift the narratives of incarcerated black women: *In the US, black
women are more likely to face imprisonment than women of any other racial
group, yet mainstream media ignores our stories. It’s important to bring
our narratives to light. Black women’s experiences with police brutality
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWK9m2Tfr8w>,
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWK9m2Tfr8w> mistreatment inside prison,
and unfair sentencing need to be shared. Fundraise for our attendance to
statewide and national conferences so we have a greater platform to share
our truths.#SayOurNames <http://www.aapf.org/sayhernamereport/>. Share our
stories. Center us, and let it be known that
#IncarceratedBlackWomensLivesMatter, too.



*4. Intentionally give space:* There is a lot of pain associated with being
institutionalized and carrying the risk of incarceration. Since our voices
are often silenced, it’s important for us to have a space to go to where we
are heard, & feel validated. Be that space.



*5. Work with orgs that serve incarcerated people and center black women &
femmes:*Despite constant harassment on the inside, one of the most
important experiences I had was a phone call from my sibling. It kept me
going and gave me something to live for. Being locked up can be bleak but
it doesn’t have to be. *Black & Pink* <http://www.blackandpink.org/>
and *Dignity
& Power Now* <http://dignityandpowernow.org/> are just two entities that
offer support to currently and formerly incarcerated people. Be intentional
about providing support to black queer and trans women, as we often deal
with intersectional forms of violence in and out of institutions. Write a
letter, make a phone call, put some money on our books; small things like
this can be hugely impactful for us, and can make time spent on the inside
a little less dreadful.



*6. Share the wealth!* It can be difficult to navigate life once released
from jail. With a criminal record, it can be difficult and nearly
impossible to secure employment. Monetary assistance is essential. Donate
to crowdfunding efforts that help once-jailed black women in our re-entry
efforts. Support the entrepreneurial projects of formerly incarcerated
black women. If you cannot give money directly, consider donating items to
community centers that focus on giving back to black women. Contributions
like this can drastically change the life of a black women whose life is
forever changed because of incarceration.



*7. Advocate for & support policy changes:* There is legislation in place
that unfairly criminalizes black women and you can play a role in
eliminating it. For example, the zero-tolerance policies that exist in
primary and secondary schools, disproportionately target young black girls
at our most vulnerable phase of development, needs to be abolished. An
alternative response could be restorative justice, a community-based
response to conflict. This method minimizes the influence of police and
offers all parties involved the opportunity to be accountable. At the same
time, it allows young black girls the safety from having to interact with
oppressive police officers. Implementing these can be instrumental in
creating change. President Obama just unveiled new criminal justice
proposals <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JES214BYd2k> to lessen the
impact of mass incarceration in the US. These include minimizing sentences
for nonviolent drug possession, eliminating solitary confinement, “banning
the box” on job applications, and restoring voting rights to released
prisoners. We also need to support these reforms and fight to abolish other
harmful laws.



In the midst of anti-black misogyny, and subsequent criminalization, that
we are subject to, it’s our collective duty to memorialize those we’ve lost
at the hands of our oppressors and to show up for black women and girls who
continue to be subject to them. Together, we can help shift the narratives
of incarcerated black women.

http://www.blackgirldangerous.org/2015/07/angry-about-sandra-bland-here-are-7-ways-to-turn-that-anger-into-action-in-support-of-incarcerated-and-formerly-incarcerated-black-women/

--
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://womenprisoners.org/pipermail/news_womenprisoners.org/attachments/20150725/74a8fede/attachment.html>