Our Black Asses BEEN Marchin’
Welcome to the lucky number thirteenth installment of This Black-Ass Life! In honor of the already historic March For Our Lives protest, we wanted to talk about the Black folks that BEEN marchin’. We BEEN marchin’ for civil rights, labor rights, women’s rights, queer rights and more! Without further ado, let’s get into it.
Quick note: Though we’re hyping up Black folks today, we want to take a quick moment of silence for Sanaa. We still love her, but we know what she did. She need to leave the partying to French because she clearly can’t hang.
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l. The Facts
When it comes to fighting for our rights, some part of our identity is usually erased or ignored at best and attacked at worst. There are at least a billion examples, but here are a few:
Bayard Rustin led organizing for the March on Washington, but was often pushed from the spotlight due to his queer identity.
Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera were trans activists of color who launched the Stonewall Riots and forced LGBTQ rights to be at the forefront of culture. But they’ve only recently received greater recognition. Remember that whitewashed Stonewall movie from just a few years ago?
During the original Women’s March on Washington, White feminist suffragists tried to segregate Black activists like the icon Ida B. Wells. For the record, she didn’t comply.
A. Philip Randolph and other Black labor rights activists had to fight for labor rights while their own civil rights struggles were ignored. They even experienced racism from their own “brothers and sisters” in the labor rights movement.
And check out this list of unsung Black women heroes of the Civil Rights Movement.
Why is this important?
Because Black trans and queer folks still have to fight for recognition as popular Black radio hosts laugh at the thought of murdering Black trans women for “fooling men into thinking they’re women.”
Living at the intersection of multiple oppressive identities can be awful and overwhelming. Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I A Woman” speech lays bare the struggle Black women fighting White women for recognition in the women’s rights movement and fighting Black men for recognition in the Civil Rights Movement. Feel familiar?
I (Mitu) know the headline may *feel* absurd, but read: Straight Black Men Are the White People of Black People.
What can my Black Ass do?
As Shirley Chisholm said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” Or build a whole new damn table.
Here’s a list of 50 inclusive organizations you can support.
ll. Other Things
Damn, damn, damn (Florida Evans voice) - We just cannot believe Sanaa Lathan bit Beyoncé.
I (Mitu) can’t stop thinking about this picture and the subsequent comments re: Howard Scammer Tyrone.
I (Jumoke) loved Black Girls From the Hood Are The Real Trendsetters. As a suburban Black girl who desperately wanted to look and tried to emulate the styling of Black girls from the hood, I love the that this piece rightfully pays homage.
Also, did y’all see the fed up Howard students singing “Bitch Better Have My Money” to the admin staff? The kids really are gonna be alright.
Nailed It is the Netflix cooking show you did not know you needed. Shouts to Nicole Byer.
This conversation on Twitter regarding Stephon Clark’s anti-Blackness tweets and Black women’s response to Black men who openly disprages them shows the complexity of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Our Black-Ass song of the week (special guest star Mabinty Q):
Ultralight Beam - I (Jumoke) am disappointed that Mabinty chose to use this very important opportunity to promote a Kanye song).
Obligatory Kanye check-in:
ALL LOVE: Kanye was all smiles at the zoo and Ye lookalike Saint gave baby sister Chicago sweet kisses.
Things we are looking forward to / things we are not looking forward to:
I (Mitu) am not looking forward to any love re: Roseanne, romanticizing the working class as all White and making excuses for voting choices that endanger the rest of us. Roxane Gay says it better than I ever could.
I (Jumoke) am looking forward to warm-ass weather. This cold spring is for the birds.
lll. Text from a Black-Ass Mama
Throwback to my (Mitu’s) mama sending a chain warning text about a man who apparently creeps in Walmart parking lots and asks women to smell (secretly chloroform) rags.
Stay Black, keep marching and know we see you. We’ll hit your inbox next on April 16.