Black women on labeling faith, pregnancy fears, and benefits of basic income
Plus, pregnant women in Haiti are at high-risk, a writer speaks to Chat GPT’s “Black Female Therapist," Trans theater leader Giselle Byrd makes history, columnist calls LSU "dirty debutantes," & more.
THIS WEEK IN BLACK WOMEN NEWS
22 stories across global and national news, culture, sports, health, politics, lifestyle, and more.
Sports
The NCAA women’s tournament is better than the racist, misogynistic press coverage it receives
Andscape
“The column previously stated, ‘Do you prefer America’s sweethearts or its dirty debutantes? Milk and cookies or Louisiana hot sauce?’ That line has since been removed. The author asked these questions: The team that wants to grow women’s basketball or the one seemingly hell-bent on dividing it? The tender star player or the one who taunts? He wasn’t finished: The UCLA-LSU game represented good versus evil. Right versus wrong. Inclusive versus divisive.”
More Sports
“Players from first all-Black All-American women’s basketball team reflect on making history in 1984,” Andscape
Global
Thousands of pregnant women at risk in Haiti's paralysed capital, UN says
The Strait Times
“The U.N.'s Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) said if the situation continues some 450 women out of those 3,000 are at risk of potentially fatal obstetric complications, while more than 500 sexual violence survivors could be left without medical care by late March. […] In neighboring Dominican Republic, U.N. experts have warned of pregnant or post-partum Haitians being allegedly arrested during medical check-ups and deported. Infants born there to Haitian parents do not receive Dominican citizenship.”
More Global
“Women in the DRC are pushing for land rights, and curbing gender-based violence in the process,” Positive News
“French parliament backs bill against hair discrimination affecting black women,” France24
“Biggest Tory donor said looking at Diane Abbott makes you ‘want to hate all black women’,’ The Guardian
“Gazan and Sudanese women share harrowing stories of escaping from war into Egypt,” The National
Health
Number of Black women who say they are scared of having children rises
The Hill
“Nearly 40 percent of Black women of reproductive age said they feel less safe and think about the risk of death if they become pregnant in the new poll from In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda with PerryUndem, published Monday. Among people living in restrictive states, 1 in 3 said they have thought about the risk of being arrested due to something related to pregnancy.”
More Health
“Ingham County has a new effort to help stop Black women from dying from pregnancy-related issues,” WILX10
“Louisiana’s toxic air is linked to low-weight and pre-term births,” 19th News
“I Spoke To Chat GPT’s “Black Female Therapist.” Will AI Save Our Mental Health?,” Refinery 29 Unbothered
“For months, doctors said her bleeding was ‘normal.’ But it was cervical cancer,” 19th News
Culture & Lifestyle
'I'm Spiritual': Navigating Black Women’s Complex Relationship With Religion, Spirituality And Labeling Our Faith
Essence
“I grew up reading Vanzant’s work, but I had never thought of myself as a religious pluralist. I was raised in church and hold a deep respect for God’s word as I was taught it from the Bible. Christianity is the foundation of my faith. However, something deep within me shifted and awakened after my mother’s sudden passing in 2022. I was in search of divine intimacy and I needed more in my spiritual toolbox to carry me through that grief season.”
More Culture & Lifestyle
“Giselle Byrd on the ongoing fight for trans visibility in the arts,” Out
“The Legacy of Black Cowgirls,” Capital B
“Beyond Beyoncé: Black Women of Country, Past and Present,” The New York Times
“Book Review: Short story anthology 'The Black Girl Survives in This One' challenges the horror canon,” AP
“The Women Who Run Harlem,” The Cut
“The Mentorship Journey Of Shirley Chisholm Guiding Barbara Lee In 'Shirley' Biopic,” Essence
Business, Career & Money
A Georgia basic income program is giving Black women $850 a month. They say it helps them pay bills and reduce debt.
Business Insider
“C. Harper, one of the recipients, told Georgia Public Radio that she was struggling to pay for rent when she enrolled in the program in 2022. After joining, she said she found permanent housing for herself and her children and used the money to help get a teaching certificate. ‘The end result was I was able to get a better job,’ Harper told GPR.”
More Business, Career & Money
“Black Women In DEI Are Under Attack,” Forbes
“Girls Rock Wings inspiring young Black women to become pilots,” CBS News
“Why Black women face mistreatment, discrimination in higher education,” PBS
“How Gyrl Wonder Became A Safe Haven For Collegiate Black Women,” Forbes
“Paris Woods wants to help Black women take control of their labor and their funds,” NPR
Politics & Legal
Judge clears Black woman sentenced to 5 years after ineligible vote
The Washington Post
“A Texas appeals court reversed the conviction of a Black woman who had been sentenced to five years in prison on a charge of illegally voting in the 2016 presidential election, acquitting her in a nationally watched case that civil rights attorneys cast as part of a broader fight for voting rights. Crystal Mason voted with a provisional ballot in 2016 but, she has said, did not know she was ineligible to do so at the time. The ballot was not counted, but she was convicted of illegal voting in 2018.”
More Politics
“Group created by Shirley Chisholm to lift up Black women is roiled by lawsuit,” The Washington Post
Have you seen these missing Black girls & women?
Please visit Black and Missing Foundation on Instagram and the BAMF website to view these and other missing persons posters.
