Pivotal election results, Megan Thee Stallion and depression, and a bunch of "First"s
Plus, Hulu's "Black Cake," the all-Black women team summiting Kilimanjaro, menopause's racial disparity, "Black Girl Mathgic" to ban math anxiety, Detroit's domestic violence crisis, and more.
A few thoughts on my latest essay for MSNBC…
I’m kicking off this week’s newsletter with my latest for MSNBC, an essay unpacking Megan Thee Stallion’s new video for “Cobra.” This track marks the 28-year-old superstar’s first solo single since Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years for shooting her in 2020. Many of you know that I’ve been covering news and issues about Black girls and women since the start of my 10-plus-year journalism career, with one of my specialties being cultural criticism ie. examining, unpacking, deconstructing, and analyzing a cultural product about, created by, and/or for Black girls and women (in this case, a music video and song created by, about, and arguably made for, a Black woman) and theorizing the product’s emergence—the fact that it’s come about, that it exists—and its importance, its impact, its power.
A song is not simply a song. The same goes for a music video, the visuals of said song. Many Black girls and women recognize and intentionally create cultural products as an opportunity to be seen and heard, to be considered, an opportunity to co-sign or disrupt, to spark a revolution or at the very least offer a bit of kindling. And as I point out in my essay, Megan Thee Stallion is absolutely one of those Black women, from her incendiary video for 2020’s “Thot Shit,” to her radical “Savage Remix” performance on SNL, to her entire 2022 album “Traumazine”—her first since the 2020 shooting and the very public horror show that ensued (again, it’s all in my essay if you need a refresher on exactly how Megan’s been “that [textually rich, discourse-provoking] bitch.”)
That’s why it’s critical that we think seriously about/actively engage with not only Megan’s cultural products, but those of the Black women journalists, critics, mental and public health professionals, students, and activists deconstructing her products and that of other Black girls and women, celebrities or not. By actively engage with, I mean read/watch/listen to (maybe a few times), share, discuss, leave constructive comments, “like,” follow, and possibly offer financially support (as I mention in my essay, Megan independently released and self-funded the very pricey-looking, CGI-filled “Cobra” video through her new entertainment company, Hot Girl Production.)
And with that, I leave you to the essay and this week’s newsletter.
—Patrice Peck, founder of The Wakeful
Megan Thee Stallion says she’s depressed. So many successful Black women are.
MSNBC, Patrice Peck
“With the possible exception of Meghan Markle, who said she experienced suicidal ideation while living with the royals and dealing with the British media, I can’t recall any other Black woman’s story of her mental health crises receiving this much attention. With “Cobra,” Megan Thee Stallion has thrown a long-overdue floodlight on an urgent mental health crisis hiding in plain sight: the rate of suicide among Black women, particularly successful Black women.
A new study from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Howard University that looked only at women in the U.S. found that Black women aged 18 to 65 ‘have the highest risk for suicide irrespective of their socioeconomic status.’ In fact, the study found that Black women in the highest income strata, those considered “blessed” like Megan, had a 20% increase in the odds of suicide and self-inflicted injury compared to white women in the lowest socioeconomic strata.”
RELATED:
“Megan Thee Stallion's ‘Cobra’ Shows Black Women They Can Be Vulnerable and Magical,” PopSugar, Christa Janine
“Megan Thee Stallion Sheds Her Skin In ‘Cobra’,” Refinery29 Unbothered, Ineye Komonibo
THIS WEEK IN BLACK WOMEN NEWS
21 stories across global and national news, entertainment, crime, literature, health, technology, music, beauty, and more.
Forward Laila Edwards makes history with Team USA women’s hockey
Andscape, Branson Wright
“Edwards, a forward, is the first Black woman to play for Team USA, and her skills will be on display Wednesday in Tempe, Arizona, when the national team begins the first of seven games of Rivalry Series play against Team Canada. While grateful for being selected, Edwards is concerned it took 25 years (the first women’s national team to compete in the Olympics in 1998) for a Black woman to make the team.”
RELATED:
Black Women Sue Kansas Police Department Alleging Rape & 'Government-Sanctioned Terrorism'
Jezebel, Kylie Cheung
“Five Black women filed a federal lawsuit on Friday accusing officers of the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department (KCKPD) of rape, intimidation, and using “government-sanctioned power and terrorism” to silence and intimidate them. The lawsuit names former police chiefs Thomas Dailey, James Swafford, and Ronald Miller, as well as detectives and former detectives Terry Zeigler, Michael Kill, Clayton Bye, Dennis Ware, and Roger Golubski. Golubski is specifically accused of raping four of the five women.”
Inside the legal fight by Black women over hair relaxers
Reuters
“This special episode takes us inside the legal fight by Black women to demonstrate hair relaxers were harmful and the cosmetic companies who made them knew that and kept marketing to them anyway. Those companies vigorously deny those claims, saying their products are subject to vigorous safety reviews and approved for cosmetic use by U.S. regulators.”
N.Y. Times writer quits over open letter accusing Israel of ‘genocide’
The Washington Post, Avi Selk and Samantha Chery
“Silverstein said Hughes also violated the policy earlier in the year, when she signed an open letter protesting the Times’s coverage of transgender issues. “She and I discussed that her desire to stake out this kind of public position and join in public protests isn’t compatible with being a journalist at The Times, and we both came to the conclusion that she should resign,” he wrote in the email.”
Hulu’s Oprah-Produced Mystery ‘Black Cake’ Is Most Enticing When It Looks Toward the Past
Variety, Aramide Tinubu
“‘Black Cake’ is most compelling when looking toward the past. With her Jamaican lilt and captivating expressions, Isaac delivers an incredible performance. Covey’s transformation from a bold teen to an isolated young woman with few options keeps the audience engaged, and eager for the next piece of the puzzle. The vibrancy of 1970s Jamaica and the cold, wet isolation of the U.K. come to life in the limited series. Also, the mystery surrounding the demise of Covey’s gangster husband, Clarence ‘Little Man’ Henry (Anthony Mark Barrow), makes for alluring television.”
RELATED:
“Hulu’s “Black Cake” Delivers a Beautifully Complex Story of Family, Identity, and Secrets,” Autostraddle, Nic
Angela Davis Says Black Women Have Always Led The Charge For Change
The Observer, Genoa Barrow
“Education, of course, is an element there, but there have to be ways in which we say, “no more” and I think Black women have always been involved in these efforts to eradicate violence. When I think about Ida B. Wells and the work that she she did against lynching and the connection between the sexual assault of Black women and the use of rape as an excuse to lynch Black men, it’s not one thing, it’s a whole range of efforts to create a different kind of consciousness. That is the only thing that will allow violence to become obsolete in our world.”
Team of all-Black women, including Coloradan, aspiring to summit Kilimanjaro in 2024
“The group behind Full Circle Everest, the first all-Black climbing team to summit Mount Everest, has announced a new expedition for 2024 — a group of all-Black women who will pursue the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. The expedition, called Above the Clouds, is focused on "fostering connection, community & joy on a journey to the Roof of Africa," the team wrote on an Instagram post in early November.”
Menopause Isn't Easy, But It Can Be So Much Harder For Black Women
Poosh, Jessica Jolie Badonsky
“Researchers are linking these more intense and longer-lasting symptoms to ‘weathering,’ a hypothesis formulated by Dr. Arline T. Geronimus, who found that health deterioration is the result of outside stress. This hypothesis applies to fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, menarche (first period), and menopause. Recent research also links a person’s ACE (Adverse Childhood Experience) score to more severe menopausal symptoms. The ACE score comprises 10 questions assessing childhood experiences and traumas, with scores ranging from 1 to 10. A study involving 1,640 women experiencing “bothersome” symptoms found a clear connection between an ACE score as low as 4 and perimenopausal symptoms.”
RELATED:
“How Menopause Affects Women of Color,” The New York Times, Alisha Haridasani Gupta
Detroit woman's 'Black Girl Mathgic' service helps kids battle math anxiety with fun
Fox 2, Liz Lewin and David Komer
“‘It’s negative feelings around doing and solving math problems, so you can have physical manifestations of math anxiety - sweaty palms, tears,’ she said. Avoidance is another manifestation of it. An overwhelming number of studies show when it comes to STEM, subjects and jobs, women and girls are disproportionately suffering from math anxiety. Which is why this Black girl from the east side of Detroit is doing her part to build up their confidence and change the narrative.”
Ohio election results seen as major victory for Black women
The Grio, April Ryan
“Civil rights groups were also closely watching what was considered one of the toughest battles in state elections for abortion rights. ‘We’ll take this win and continue the fight for reproductive freedom where women are being denied the right to control their bodies,’ said Karen Boykin-Towns, vice chair of the NAACP National Board of Directors. ‘A lot went into securing this victory, and we thank those who worked tirelessly, specifically our Ohio NAACP members and all the coalition partners,’ she continued.”
Why Are Black Women Facing A Slow Economic Recovery?
Black Enterprise, Atiya Jordan
“Today, Black women get 64.1% of bachelor’s degrees, 71.5% of master’s degrees and 65.9% of doctoral, medical, and dental degrees. The highly educated group is purchasing homes at higher rates than Black men. However, Black women ‘consistently experience significant disparities when compared to their white counterparts – in unemployment, wages, access to key work-family supports, and in advancement opportunities — often reflecting the prevalence and combined effects of racial and gender bias,’ a study found.”
New book explores the influences behind the life and work of bell hooks
The 19th, Nadra Nittle
“In both her church and her campus ministry, Gloria Jean Watkins learned to love and accept herself despite growing up in a household where she perpetually felt rejected. By adulthood, she’d gained the confidence to pursue a career as a writer and a scholar, fashioning a new identity — bell hooks — for herself in the process. In ‘Feminism Is for Everybody,’ hooks’ 2000 primer on the women’s liberation movement, she reveals that achieving self-love and self-acceptance was critical to her personal development, as she would not have become a fully realized person without them.”
Alarming Rise in Domestic Violence Rates in Detroit Affecting Black Women and Children at Concerning Rates
Lynzee Mychael, Michigan Chronicle
“Domestic violence affects the Black community at significantly elevated levels, with statistics revealing that 45.1% of Black women encounter incidents of intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence, and/or stalking over the course of their lives, according to a report by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. It is essential to understand the specific challenges faced by Black women and children in Detroit and address the factors contributing to this alarming trend.”
Black Women Are the Next Targets of Right-Wing Legal Activist
The Daily Beast, Kali Holloway
“Let’s put aside the fact that it’s both brazenly disingenuous and ahistorical to declare that a document which literally protected white people’s right to enslave Black human beings was somehow a “colorblind legal covenant.” Instead, let’s focus on Blum’s other brazenly disingenuous argument—often propagated by zero-sum-minded racists who believe a win for Black folks is necessarily an “L” for white people—that by giving to Black women, Fearless Fund is basically just stealing from other folks.”
It’s been 25 years since a Black woman won album of the year. Will SZA change that?
CNN, Lisa Respers France
“If SZA wins, she will become the first Black woman to triumph in the category since Lauryn Hill in 1999 for “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” Monáe would become the first Black and nonbinary artist ever to win the category. In the 66 years of Grammy ceremonies, Black performers have only won the event’s top prize 11 times. In addition to Batiste, Hancock and Hill, Stevie Wonder won album of the year in 1974, 1975 and 1977; Michael Jaackson won in 1984; Lionel Richie in 1985; Quincy Jones in 1991; Natalie Cole in 1992; Whitney Houston in 1994; Outkast in 2004; and Ray Charles in 2005.”
The First Black Female Officer In The U.S. Air Force
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Melanie Burney
“After completing their training, the women were preparing for a big, Air Force-sanctioned party at a nearby home of one of the cadets. The day before the event, the classmate pulled Ortega aside to inform her she could not attend because her neighbors would feel uncomfortable with a Black party guest. ‘Sandy, I know you will understand,’ she recalled the smiling classmate saying. Ortega wanted to be seen as a team player, so she cheered and waved when the women boarded a bus the following day for the party — and then sat alone at the barracks and thought about their cruel behavior.”
Daniel Cameron loses bid to be Kentucky’s first Black governor
The Grio, Gerren Keith Gaynor
“The current attorney general is a controversial figure in Black communities in Kentucky and across the country for his handling of the case involving the Louisville police shooting of Breonna Taylor in 2020.” “The fury toward Cameron was so fervent that activist Tamika Mallory moved her social justice organization, Until Freedom, to Kentucky to register voters across the state and campaign against his gubernatorial aspiration. Reacting to Cameron’s loss in a statement provided to theGrio, Mallory said, ‘Tonight was a good night and an affirmation of the power of organizing.’ She added, ‘We began this journey fighting for justice for Breonna Taylor and took our protest to building power. In honor of Breonna, Daniel Cameron lost with a mandate.’”
RELATED:
“The Killing of Breonna Taylor Still Reverberates in Kentucky Politics,” Capital B, Grace Panetta
Cherelle Parker Defies the Progressive Agenda
The New Yorker, Eliza Griswold
“‘I’m not one of those people,’ Parker told me. ‘I’m not a defund-er. I’m not a left-er. I think a whole lot of it is a bunch of bullshit.’ Instead, she ran as an outspoken centrist, promising to make Philadelphia ‘safe, clean, and green.’ During the first mayoral debate, she stated her opposition to defunding the police. She was the only Democratic candidate to support stop-and-frisk policing, which, according to data analyzed by the Pennsylvania A.C.L.U., disproportionately affects Black Philadelphians. She also proposed that the city hire three hundred more police officers, a plan that Philadelphia magazine has called ‘regressive’ and ‘wasteful.’”
RELATED:
“Cherelle Parker makes history: Philly elects first Black woman mayor,” WHYY, Susan Phillips
“Cherelle Parker shattered a glass ceiling, but Black female mayors still face racial and gender bias,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sharon D. Wright Austin and N’Jhari Jackson
Nadia Mohamed is Minnesota’s first Somali American Mayor
Minnesota Reformer, Nafi Soumare And J. Patrick Coolican
“Nadia Mohamed has been elected the mayor of St. Louis Park, making her the city’s first Black mayor in 170 years, Minnesota’s first Somali American mayor and the second known Somali mayor in U.S. history. Mohamed also represents a new generation of leadership in both the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and St. Louis Park. She’s just 27, though she had already been elected to a citywide at-large seat on the City Council in 2019.”
D.C. Council Officially Confirms Pamela Smith As Metropolitan Police Department Chief
DCist, Jenny Gathright
“The D.C. Council confirmed Pamela Smith as the city’s new police chief in a unanimous vote on Tuesday. Smith, who has served as acting police chief since D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser appointed her in July, is the first Black woman chief of the Metropolitan Police Department and only the second woman to ever lead MPD. She assumes the role at a time when homicides in the District are at levels not seen in two decades – and when retirements, resignations, and recruiting challenges have left the department with its lowest staffing levels in 50 years.”
Three Days That Changed the Thinking About Black Women’s Health
The New York Times, Dara Mathis
“She had hoped that 200 women would attend; nearly 2,000 showed up. The event inspired a remarkable change in attitudes. There were panels and workshops on high blood pressure, diabetes, lupus, childbirth and mental health. But more than addressing specific illnesses, the conference encouraged Black women to share information and consider how oppression affected their interactions with the health system. Crucially, it reframed health as inextricable from racism.”
Have you seen these missing Black girls & women?
Please visit Black and Missing Foundation on Instagram to view these and other missing persons posters.
