Black women and infertility, Beyoncé's controversial "silence," Inclusive sex education
Plus, a wildlife show host breaks barriers, Botox trends as haircare, an Ohio woman faces felony charges for miscarriage, Cassie's friend confirms singer's allegations against Diddy, and more.
This Black Woman Just Made History As The First To Host A Wildlife Show On Broadcast TV. Meet Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant
Essence, Rayna Reid Rayford
“During her studies at Emory University in Atlanta, Wynn-Grant said, ‘As far as I knew, I was the only Black student in environmental science.’ Understandably, ‘it was really tough and uncomfortable to be in those spaces. On top of that, it seemed like everyone else was an environmental science major because they grew up in the outdoors. They were inspired because their families went camping, or they had traveled around the world. Whereas for me, my understanding of nature was through a textbook or through a PowerPoint presentation,’ said Wynn-Grant.”
Black women are more likely to experience infertility than white women. They’re less likely to get help, too
The Guardian, Lisa Armstrong
“The desire to control Black women’s fertility can be traced back to chattel slavery and was borne from a bevy of racist ideas – the most pervasive being that Black women can reproduce easily. It’s a belief that’s still commonly held today, and in addition to serving as the basis for reproductive discrimination, the trope has furthered the idea that infertility is only an issue for white people. […]
American women overall are waiting later to become pregnant, which can contribute to infertility and necessitate the use of ART. But Black women in particular, contending with discriminatory reproductive care and saddled with the trope of hyper-fertility, face a more difficult issue: they need ART and other medical interventions at a much higher rate than they’re receiving them.”
Let’s finally stop pretending Beyoncé stands for liberation
The Washington Post Karen Attiah
“Meanwhile, Brand Beyoncé’s performative use of Black radical aesthetics challenges nothing. It threatens nothing. It does not move people to mobilize to build true power or to help the oppressed. Most of all, it does not move audiences to muster their love, solidarity and courage to challenge U.S. power and abuses.
Rather, its primary aims are to champion individualism, inspire feel-good endorphins and move us to whip out our credit cards at the checkout line. Brand Beyoncé is part of the same system that wants us to fork over cash for absurdities such as the ‘It’s the freedom for me’ Juneteenth napkins at Walmart, but not to demand justice and freedom from state brutality. It likes its revolution profitable — not problematic.”
RELATED:
“The Silence Is the Loudest Part of Renaissance: A Film,” Vulture, Angelica Jade Bastién
“The ‘Renaissance’ film and what we hear in Beyoncé's silence,” It’s Been A Minute, Brittany Luse, Barton Girdwood, Jessica Placzek, Veralyn Williams
“Renaissance isn’t a deification of Beyoncé. It’s a reminder she’s human.” Vox, Alex Abad-Santos
Black women are spending more than $1,000 on Botox to avoid sweating out their edges while exercising
Business Insider, Lauren Edmonds
“The procedure faced criticism online in January when a TikTok video of a woman discussing Botox as a means to avoid frizz went viral on Twitter, prompting some users to argue the procedure is too extreme. At the time of writing, the video has over 2.5 million views. Despite some online pushback, Fakunle said she's seen more Black women try Botox in real life.
‘A few of my followers on Instagram reached out to me to mention that they got it,’ she said. ‘One girl got her sideburns done, and that has been working really well for her. Another girl messaged me and said that she ended up getting her entire hairline done as well and how she loves it.’”
Woman’s miscarriage leads to ‘abuse of corpse’ case before grand jury
WKBN, Nadine Grimley
“The case against a Warren woman charged with abuse of a corpse is now headed to a Trumbull County grand jury. Brittany Watts, 33, was overcome with emotion Thursday afternoon after learning her case is moving forward. Watts is charged with felony abuse of a corpse, accused of trying to plunge a toilet after having a miscarriage delivery at 22 weeks while using the restroom.”
RELATED:
“What?! Black Woman’s Miscarriage Results in Felony Charge,” The Root, Kalyn Womack
Black Girl Gamers Founder Jay-Ann Lopez Is Tired Of Waiting For Change
Refinery29 Unbothered, Patricia Karaounos
“Of course, the Black gaming community is making its own strides in the industry, regardless of the obstacles it faces. Black Girl Gamers, for example, has now grown to include 10,000 members in its safe and celebratory space to share in what they love. And, earlier this fall, Sarah Bond was appointed president of Xbox, becoming the first Black woman to hold the role. While Lopez is hopeful Bond’s promotion will have a positive trickle-down effect (without putting responsibility for every Black woman gamer on the exec’s shoulders), she also notes that the community can’t — and shouldn’t have to — do it all alone.”
Pasadena police officer sues department for racial discrimination
CBS News, Dean Fioresi and Matthew Rodriguez
“In the lawsuit, Crutchfield claims that she was punished after stepping into a situation on Feb. 20, when additional officers were called to an argument involving the two sons of Charles Towns, a Black man who was shot and killed by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies in Altadena in January.
Crutchfield's attorney said that police were called to the scene when one of Towns' sons, a juvenile, was "understandably upset by the death of their father." While the responding officers were interacting with the teenagers, Crutchfield said that one was thrown face-first into a cactus, causing the situation to escalate and prompting her to step in and attempt to push the other officer away.”
Fantasia Barrino Taylor Is Ready for Her Second Chance
Elle, Danielle James
“‘He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will abide in the shadow of the Almighty’: Psalm 91 is Fantasia Barrino Taylor’s daily prayer. Among churchgoing folk, it’s called the Psalm of Protection, and it’s no surprise this is her touchstone, as Barrino Taylor has had a tumultuous life—’all that stuff,’ as she alludes to her history of abuse, struggles with literacy, and early motherhood. After winning American Idol at 19, the preacher’s kid from High Point, North Carolina, felt the unrelenting weight of stardom, and by age 26 had landed in the hospital for a suicide attempt. That was 13 years ago—through which she has risen from the proverbial ashes, fully spreading her wings.”
Earth Mama, a Piercing Portrait of Black Motherhood
AnOther, Alex Denney
“Earth Mama folds one woman’s complicated feelings about her predicament into a wider story of injustice. We’d call it the year’s quietest protest film, but the truth may be knottier still, Leaf revealing conflicting attitudes towards parenting among the Black community through Gia’s support network. In one cruel moment that comes off as a weird inversion of macho talk, best-friend Trina admonishes her to “step up and be a fucking mother”, and in another inspired scene, a propos of nothing, the moochers who hang around outside Gia’s door deliver poignant monologues about their own relationships with their parents. To leaven the drama, Leaf adds in magic-realist touches that mirror her themes of separation, connection and inherited trauma, with Gia dreaming of severed umbilical cords and trees in silent conversation with one another.”
Why a White Billionaire Slammed Harvard’s First Black President as a So-Called Diversity Hire
The Daily Beast, Ameshia Cross
“The broader issue Gay finds herself in is an ever-expanding, right-wing rage that positions DEI, civil rights, and advocacy for Blacks as essentially a threat to America. The comments under Bill Ackman’s tweet showcase gross support for this theory. For instance, filmmaker Mike Cernovich equated DEI with Marxism and said former Sen. Joseph McCarthy—notorious for his witch hunts for suspected communists, which destroyed numerous lives and robbed innocent people of their livelihoods—was right.”
TikTok’s most viewed video of 2023 is a makeup tutorial — this is why it’s so important
Metro, Gregory Robinson
“According to their data, influencer and model Nyadollie Deng claimed the top spot with a quick and easy makeup tutorial that, at the time of writing, has had more than 504 million views since it was uploaded back in March. The video posted by Nyadollie, who is a dark skinned Black woman, is simple, but is powerful in what it represents to the beauty community.”
Stop Stereotyping Black Girls: Offer Inclusive Sex Education in Schools
Ms., Natasha Crooks
“Sexual health education was introduced to schools in 1913 to ensure accessible and accurate information. Still, a recent study of 25 Black girls aged 9 to 18 indicated that 92 percent missed sex education in schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, they were without essential knowledge about their bodies and sexual health.
Puberty is a particularly risky period of development for Black girls. The rapid physiological changes associated with puberty begin as young as eight years old, resulting in earlier menarche and the development of secondary sex characteristics that make Black girls appear older and more mature than their age. Puberty also brings the emergence of sexuality and complex sexual identities. But social determinants of health, like racism and sexism, impede healthy responses to the challenges posed by early puberty.”
Hair Relaxers Will Be Safer without Formaldehyde, but It’s Just a Start
Scientific American, Amanda Joy Calhoun
“I am relieved that formaldehyde-containing relaxers may be taken off the market, but if the goal is to protect the health of Black women and girls, then they must be able to safely wear their natural hair without negative messaging and penalties. Schools need to be mindful of racist comments about Afro-textured hair. Reporting systems should hold individuals accountable for anti-Black racist behaviors targeting Black hairstyles. The CROWN Act should be federal, not just state, legislation. Black children and adults should never fear losing their jobs, school placements or health because of their natural hair.”
Sean Combs Traumatized Me
Rolling Stone, Tiffany Red
“I’m stepping forward to recount my experience as a witness to events detailed in my friend Casandra Ventura’s now-settled civil lawsuit against you. I’m breaking my silence, freeing myself from haunting recollections, standing in solidarity with Cassie, and standing up for myself. I fear for my safety as her suit alludes to me, although not by name. I hope that revealing my identity to the public will afford me some measure of protection.”
Have you seen these missing Black girls & women?
Please visit Black and Missing Foundation on Instagram to view these and other missing persons posters.
