BODY AUTONOMY MATTERS
“No Exceptions” Bill is One of the Most Disrespectful Blows to Black Women
America’s legacy of misogynoir deprives Black women of agency
Black women’s bodies are often seen as a commodity in America. But, this dynamic isn’t due to chance. Nor did the Jezebel or Sapphire stereotypes pop up overnight. For hundreds of years, White men openly raped enslaved Black women, sometimes in front of their husbands or other family members. Stereotypes became a tool to justify the mistreatment and dehumanization of Black women. As long as people fed into the lie that Black women were promiscuous, White men could convince the public to turn a blind eye to their abuse.
America has never reckoned with the violence perpetrated against Black women, which is why it was kind of disturbing to see the New York Post published an opinion piece on “Why More Black women Should Consider Marrying White Men.” To be clear, folks should marry whoever they want, as long as that person makes them happy, but the history of White men forcing themselves on Black women in this country taints the conversation about pressuring Black women to date outside their race.
Also, when it comes to the debate over the “right to choose,” it’s clear that Black women have endured the most…
