Caveat: These are my thoughts powered by experience and living (and fighting to live) in a body both woman and Black. -JBH

“Damn shame—being a Black woman.”

-Mama Pope

This nation has a very weird necromancy with Black women. This nation will use us as fodder and battle cry.

Let us examine what happened to Carlisha Hood in Chicago, Illinois in July 2023. This situation is frightening as a Black woman who has children, daughters specifically.

It has been demonstrating all over social media (especially, TikTok) there is a group of Black men who would rather see us all dead, randomly or violently assaulted, than living without the weight of a partnership that is not healthy, loving, viable or supportive.

I have had many conversations on social media, angry men (Black and White), and I am at a loss as to why it is the world hates, tries to recreate us, only to continue to fail and doing so.

You hate Black women when we’re here, but…love Black women when we leave?

As a student of history, I know there is no civilization in the history of the world which has prospered when it has abused its women, has thrown away its women, or made it mission to kill its women.

I echo the sentiments of the social media creator, Navi Robbins—he said in June/July 2023, there deep anti-Blackness within our own community. On some level, he’s right.

This behavior and poisonous thinking has been ensconced so long, shared so long that it will take at least two generations to change.

I have not lost hope.

But, I would be lying to say I wasn’t afraid.