Reporter seeks a diagnosis, political trailblazers are underfunded, good sex as resistance
Plus, an all-Black gymnastics team in Georgia, Black women marathon runners, abortion limits' impact on Black pregnant women, and more.
Hello. Thanks for returning to The Wakeful. Let’s get to it.
The Big 4
Isn’t It About Damn Time to Let Lizzo Be?
Cosmopolitan, Patrice Peck
Last week, I wrote about Lizzo, the Met Gala, and her singular celebrity for Cosmopolitan (Fun fact: As the former senior opinion editor at Cosmo, I had fun being on the writer side of things this time.)
“Just like the history-making, industry-disrupting Black women pop phenoms who came before her—Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Rihanna—Lizzo is considered more symbol than human, more fantasy than real. But unlike those women, she faces the added marginalization that comes with being a fat Black woman in America—and a powerful, self-loving one at that.”
There’s so much more I wanted to include in the essay—particularly about accountability and individual privilege versus collective progress—but there wasn’t enough time. And as Audre Lorde wrote, “If I waited to be right before I spoke, I would be sending little cryptic messages on the Ouija board, complaints from the other side.”
What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and Why Does It Go Underdiagnosed in Black Women?
Capital B, Aallyah Wright
“Many doctors — fixated on my weight — told me to lose more pounds rather than ask about the societal factors affecting my health.”
Capital B rural issues reporter Aallyah Wright deviated from her beat to focus on an under-researched lifelong health condition affecting her and as many as 5 million other women and people with uteruses nationwide—polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS. This intimate deep dive follows Wright’s two-year long, winding search for answers to her debilitating symptoms, including an “unbearable pain” that forced her lay on the cold bathroom floor with a heating pad on her lower abdomen. A metabolic and reproductive health condition, PCOS causes irregular or missed periods and infertility issues and could result in “critical, life-altering” health problems, like type-2 diabetes, infertility, heart disease, high blood pressure, endometrial cancer, liver disease, and stroke.
Like most health conditions facing people with uteruses, the exact cause is unknown and the racial disparities don’t fair much better, as both concerns are vastly under-researched and underdiagnosed (though Black people are disproportionately affected by the condition, according to experts). In fact, two of the health care providers and professionals whom Wright includes in the report are Black women who first learned about PCOS while researching answers for their patients, only to realize they had the condition themselves. Dawn Kimberly Hopkins, a PCOS patient and women’s health nurse practitioner, told Wright:
“As a Black woman, I think we take on a little more than we should, and we kind of say, ‘It’s not a big deal,’ instead of saying, ‘Wait a minute, something is wrong. Let me figure it out,’’ Hopkins said. ‘I was so concerned with trying to help these women and not even looking in the mirror at myself.’
When her patients finally learned of PCOS, they were often ecstatic and emotional, Hopkins said, ‘because they’re so happy that someone is listening to them. I can’t care for you if I don’t listen to you. If I don’t listen to you, I won’t know what’s wrong with you.’”
This report serves as a reminder of the wide-reaching impact of discrimination, biases, and misogynoir in health care and medicine, from the physical, to the emotional and mental, to the financial. Definitely set aside some time to read and share this important article.
Related:
Also highly recommended: ‘I Had An Ovarian Cyst The Size Of A Small Grapefruit Removed—Here’s What I Wish I Knew’, Marsai Martin, Women’s Health
Like Keke Palmer, I Have PCOS. Her Pregnancy Reveal Gave Me Hope, Vanessa Haye, Refinery29
What Women Need to Know About PCOS Right Now, Kimberly Wilson, Essence
Op-Ed: Good Sex Is An Act Of Resistance
Essence, Dr. Candice Nicole Hargons
“‘Experiencing pleasurable, erotic, carnal, hedonistic desires as a Black woman defies every lie, misconception, stereotype, and limitation ever placed upon us.’”
For the past couple of years, I’ve been researching and reading more about Black feminist politics rooted in joy, pleasure, and ambivalence. They seem to be in the vein of what some of the folks calling for ideologies/movements like Black Women in Luxury and Soft Life seem to be grasping at: sustainable, regenerative forms of collective, collaborative resistance that center our wellness and humanity and reimagines what liberation work looks and feels like.
As a journalist who’s been covering racial disparities, inequities, biases, racism, etc. for roughly a decade, I’ve noticed how rarely, if ever, politics of pleasure are covered or even recognized and considered as such (when they are, the bylines as Black). That’s why this Essence op-ed by sex researcher and psychologist Candice Nicole Hargons struck me. In the essay, she shares the findings from a 2022 study she conducted with sex researcher and educator Shemeka Thorpe to learn how over 400 Black people defined good sex. It’s a quick read, as she concisely breaks down the top five definitions while zooming out to offer larger social implications, like good sex being fun, for instance;
“Fun sex, joyful and playful, is good. Fun is medicine in a world where we experience grief and stress regularly. Many of us are in places that devalue Black women’s ways of experiencing fun. Good sex can be one of the few opportunities to reclaim that.”
Looking forward to reading up on and contributing more to this kind of writing and work (because Black feminist politics of pleasure is by no means nothing new!) and sharing others’ contributions in The Wakeful as well.
Related:
Also highly recommended: How Pleasure Became Political, Mic, Tracey Anne Duncan
Black Women and Pleasure: Ancestral Lessons We Should Learn, Ms. Magazine, Tara T. Green
Beyoncé’s Radical Ode to Pleasure, Atmos, Ecleen Luzmila Caraballo
America Says It Values Black Women Leaders. It’s Time to Show It.
Ms. Magazine, A’shanti Gholar
“If U.S. Rep Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) makes history to become the third Black woman U.S. senator ever, she will serve there alone. Currently, there are no Black women in the Senate. However, the climb to this role is up a cliff, and that is for a nationally known political figure with 25 years of experience in Congress. Why? Money.”
In the United States, Black women are at once hypervisible and invisible. We see this in our politics, with select individuals like Vice President Kamala Harris, Stacey Abrams, Maxine Waters, Lauren Underwood, and other household names receiving a good amount of media coverage and garnering wide-spread public support. At the same time, as a 2022 Newsweek op-ed revealed, most Black women running for office are paid dust by the media. That year, the top five national newspapers (The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, and The Wall Street Journal) reportedly ran only three articles about Black women running for national office from January 1 through July 31. There’s also the fact that we’ve never had a Black woman governor in the nation’s 246-year history.
That’s why I appreciated A’shanti Gholar’s Ms. essay about the “massive gap in funding” for Black women political leaders and candidates and Black women-led political organizations. This gap is one of the many, many things I’d never personally seen discussed or written about point-blank, but am not surprised to learn. The renowned political strategist gave receipts, like:
“As it stands, Black women candidates only raise one-third of the money as white women. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, data shows that the 113 Black women running at every level raised only $81 million in the first three quarters of 2020, compared to the nearly $811 million pulled in by their 379 white women counterparts across party lines.
An Open Secrets study from the same period confirmed, “Black women tend to have the lowest totals in every category—particularly in overall fundraising and in the amount raised from large individual donors.””
What I especially appreciate is how Gholar connects the dots between data and candidates’ lived experiences,” pointing to the previous fundraising struggles of current leaders like Malia Cohen, who became California's first Black state controller in 2022, and U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, the first Black person elected to represent Ohio's 13th Congressional District. With the 2024 election just around the corner, take the time to read and share this story and those in the related section. Because as Gholar notes, “While this is a widespread issue, it often only gets addressed in spaces for Black women” and “can no longer only be discussed behind closed doors.”
Related:
More Black Women Run for Office, but Prospects Fade the Higher They Go, The New York Times, Jazmine Ulloa
Black candidates keep losing winnable races — and say the Democratic Party may be why, Politico, Brittany Gibson and Holly Otterbein
‘People underestimated them’: Advocates for Black women in politics want the Democratic Party to learn from the midterms, The 19th, Candice Norwood
Spotlight Story
An all-Black National Championship gymnastics team based in Conyers faces financial battles, prejudice with empowering photo project
The Citizens, Nefeteria Brewster
Speaking of fundraising, this story about the only all-Black gymnastics team in Georgia in The Rockdale Citizen caught my eye. While my childhood gymnast days are far behind me, I do remember the gym where I trained having up-to-date equipment, a key factor not only for our safety and security, but also our self-esteem and self-pride as young children. But my gym was in the predominantly white Fairfield, Connecticut, not the predominantly Black Conyers, Georgia.
“The outcome for the past two years has been success for the Champion Mindset Gymnastics team. The all-Black National Championship team, which is based in Conyers, has remained undefeated in its division. But behind the scenes they have had to tumble through other challenges — mainly generating funds to replace old equipment for their gym.”
Just like the Black women political leaders above who won in spite of their disproportionate fundraising challenges, the Champion Mindset Gymnastics team have successfully accomplished so much with so little. But just because they can doesn’t mean they should have to. Nefeteria Brewster reported on the team’s struggles and a photography project launched by photographer Jermaine Horton to bring more awareness to the team and empower them to keep on keeping on.
“It was something about their story that made me want to be here,” Horton told Brewster. “Just the fact that (they seem to go unnoticed) made me want to show them off and let those who (feel they shouldn’t take part in the majority-white sport) know just how (great) these girls really are.”
According to Brewster, those interested in donating to the team can visit their GoFundMe page or contact Coach Socoya Tokumori at 808-557-9792 regarding sponsorships.
Sports
Naomi Schiff: ‘It’s sad to think that skin colour is what you are judged on’
The Guardian, Giles Richard
“The driver turned F1 TV presenter on being inspired by Lewis Hamilton, landing a stunt role in a Bond film and handling abuse.”
Black American female runners are blazing a new trail in the marathon
The Washington Post, Kelyn Soong
“The list of Black female marathoners in the United States is short, but not “because Black women aren’t capable of it. Endurance sports, in general, have not been a historically diverse space.”
Crime & Law
Ex-Officers Get House Arrest in Girl's Gunfire Death at Game
Associated Press
“Three fired police officers who pleaded to misdemeanor charges in the death of an 8-year-old girl killed when they opened fire outside a high school football game near Philadelphia have been sentenced to 11 months of house arrest during five years of probation”
The Root, Candace McDuffie
“It’s unknown what merchandise was actually stolen. Although news outlets have dubbed the man in the video as a ‘good samaritan,’ he is anything but. Not only was he not a T.J. Maxx employee, he was also much bigger than the woman he attacked. Quite frankly, the bystander shouldn’t have gotten involved at all.”
Health
Opinion: When addressing maternal mortality, ‘we must leave no Black woman behind’
CNN, Kimberly Seals Allers
“The misconception and narrative that Black maternal mortality rates are tied to income has already caused harm. Black women professionals, scientists and medical doctors have shared with me their near-death misses in childbirth; several of them also shared that they too considered themselves not at a high risk.”
Local program addresses disparities in Black maternal, child health
The Badger Herald, Lucy Wentink
“Since its launch in 2022, more than 400 Black women have been screened and connected to ConnectRx Wisconsin. Early results have also indicated that Black women patients participating in the program are experiencing fewer C-sections, more full-term births and higher infant birth weights as a result of doula-assisted births and partnerships between clinical providers, patients and the community.”
Is Cleveland Really the Worst City for Black Women? A New Podcast Examines That Question and More
Cleveland Scene, Maria Elena Scott
“In 2020, a Bloomberg City Lab study that analyzed livability for Black women in 42 American cities — looking at health, economic and educational outcomes — ranked Cleveland dead last.”
Are More Black Women Being Misdiagnosed With Mental Illness Than Necessary? The Experts Weigh In
21Ninety, Sughnen Yongo
“Often when Black women do seek mental health, thoughts and behavior that are actually trauma responses are pathologized.,” Le Goy said “For example, the cultural expectation for Black women to be Superwomen can be defined by a non-culturally attuned therapist as someone who is avoidant, resistant to therapy, or shut down rather than someone who is just doing their best to survive.”
Fibroids linked to ovarian cancer risk in Black women, study finds
Axios, Arielle Dreher
“Endometriosis and fibroids in both Black and white women are associated with a greater risk for ovarian cancer, a new study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology found. Why it matters: It is the first study to include enough Black women to confirm the association between fibroids — noncancerous tumors that develop in the uterus — and a modestly increased risk of ovarian cancer in this group, the study's authors said.”
Blavity, Martie Bowser
“The odds are stacked against Black women seeking a donor with the same cultural background. Angela Stepancic was one of those women and chose to do something about it. In 2022 she opened Reproductive Village in Washington, D.C. The cryobank prioritizes Black donors and recipients and intentionally has drop-off locations in minority-majority cities, including Houston and Atlanta.”
The Body, Michael Chancley Jr., M.S.W.
“But there’s a deprioritization of Black women and women in general because of our reproductive future. Right? We’re perceived as messy or hard to deal with because we have families and children. The research industrial complex is not as ready to engage with us in a sustainable way as they are with our male counterparts. It’s so goddamn frustrating.”
Politics
How Abortion Limits Are Hurting Pregnant Black Women (Podcast episode)
MSNBC, Trymaine Lee
“Black life is fragile, and strict abortion bans are putting even more lives at risk. Today, the story of one woman desperate to become a mother who nearly lost her life when she was turned away from the hospital after serious complications with her pregnancy, and an OB-GYN, and why these stories are only going to get worse.”
The Black woman with a shot at Cardin’s seat
Politico, Brakkton Booker
“Her potential candidacy represents what many Democrats — both in Maryland and nationally — are clamoring for: a Black woman in the Senate. When Kamala Harris left the Senate to assume the vice presidency, that left zero Black women in the chamber.”
A Black Woman Made History in South Carolina, Now She'll Take Center Stage in 2024
The Root, Jessica Washington
“Her work extends far past ushering Democrats through what should be an uneventful primary. She’ll also be tasked with galvanizing Democrats in the 2024 General Election, which is no easy task in a state like South Carolina.”
Entertainment & Lifestyle
As A Black Trans Girl, My Natural Hair Journey Led To A Rebirth
Refinery29, Eshe Ukweli
“Hair showed me my identity as a trans woman and remains a pathway to identity for women of all experiences. It continues to offer us lessons in self-love and remains a means to radically take up space. Yet beyond all of the sentiments and teachings learned, my hair and its care offer me a soft place to simply be and a quiet spot away from the world to land and exist in the totality of Black womanhood.”
Marsai Martin Is Clinique’s Newest Brand Ambassador
Teen Vogue, Shama Nasinde
“The 18-year-old producer and Black-ish actor claims many titles, but her latest role as Clinique’s brand ambassador and producing partner is a new feat.”
This trailblazing Black model helped change the face of fashion — over and over again
CBC, Sheena Goodyear
“A pioneering model, agent and activist, Hardison has been credited with changing the game for Black people in the fashion and modeling industry, increasing diversity on the runway and in magazines, and paving the way for today's Black superstars. But she says she never saw the full scope of her impact until she co-directed and starred in a new documentary about her own life and legacy.”
Black Women on Broadway Awards return in June
The Grio
“The awards show was launched in June 2020 by actresses Danielle Brooks, Amber Iman, and Jocelyn Bioh. The 2023 BWOB Awards celebrate Black women’s achievements in the New York theater industry — onstage and off-Broadway. The ceremony will be held at the Knickerbocker Hotel on June 5.”
Education
A new report finds Black girls in Pennsylvania face ‘daunting educational barriers’
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Megan Tomasic
“The report also found that Black girls in Pittsburgh Public Schools were more than three times as likely as white girls to be suspended, with 20% of Black girls receiving one or more out-of-school suspensions each year. Pittsburgh Public teaches more than 20,000 students, almost 52% of whom are Black. Almost 65% of students are considered economically disadvantaged.”
RELATED: Black girls’ education is fundamentally inequitable in Pennsylvania, a new study says. Here are eight fixes. The Philadelphia Inquirer
Business & Economy
Black Women Are More Likely to Be Breadwinners. That’s Not a Bad Thing
Word in Black, Bria Overs
“Pew found one-in-four Black wives out-earn their husbands. And, according to Pew’s survey and analysis of existing government data, Black women are more likely than any other ethnic group to be in marriages where they’re the breadwinner or in an egalitarian marriage.”
(h/t James Pothen)
Detroit Free Press Appoints Nicole Avery Nichols As First Black Woman Top Editor
BET, Nigel Roberts
“I firmly believe in centering people and their experiences within the heart of journalism, and I am thrilled to be leading one of America’s most powerful newsrooms as we tell the stories that matter most. I look forward to engaging new audiences amid our ever-changing and diversifying media landscape.”
Technology
Google Designer Says Gender Disparity is An Issue In Tech Field
Yahoo/Built By Girls
“Her first-hand experiences with discrimination and disparities in the tech world led Sharae to found SheDesigns. SheDesigns provides mentorship and courses for women of color wanting to enter the tech field.”
AfroTech, Ngozi Nwanji
“The talent that Black women exhibit when given an opportunity in the video gaming industry has been game-changing. However, the level of representation doesn’t measure in comparison to how limitless they are. According to data from the International Game Developers Association, only 2% of game developers are Black, per CNBC.”
Environment
She ripped up her manicured lawn and challenged the norms of gardening stories
NPR, Melissa Block
"The (nearly always white) men and women who claim to be models for how to truly experience the natural world always seemed to do so in solitude. Just one guy – so often a guy – with no evidence of family or anyone to worry about but himself."
Have you seen these Black girls posted by the Black and Missing Foundation?
Madelyn Chrishawna Pitts, 27, Woodbridge, VA
Madelyn Pitts was last seen leaving her residence located in the 14700 blk Riverwalk Way in Woodbridge. Madelyn did not return home after a disagreement with her mother. She may also be suffering from undiagnosed mental health issues.
Lasheky A. Hill, 46, Racine, WI
Lasheky Hill was last seen at 1031 Dr. ML King Dr., 3. Lasheky got picked up from her residence around 10pm on Sunday, March 25, 2023, and has not been seen since. According to police, many people have been spoken to including the male who picked her up from her residence; Lasheky remains missing.
Tatyana Washington, 30, Chicago, IL
Tatyana Washington was last seen on surveillance leaving her residence located in the 5000 block of South East End Ave on April 16, 2023. She hasn't been seen since.
O'Maurionna Lindsay, 16, Manning, SC
O'Maurionna Lindsay was last seen leaving Manning High School around 1:25 p.m. Friday with an unknown person(s). She was last seen wearing a white shirt, gray tights and sandals. Deputies say Lindsay may be headed to North Carolina.
Ashauntae Aaron, 22, St. Paul, MN
Ashauntae Aaron was last seen on April 9 at the Oxboro Urban Rentals, located in the 200 blk 7th St., W. Ashauntae's family believes she's a victim of exploitation and being held against her will. It is also believed that an unknown person is in possession of her cell phone and is reaching out to friends and family attempting to extort money from them.
Jessica “Peggy” Booth-Rucker, 56, San Leandro, CA
Jessica “Peggy” Booth-Rucker was last seen on April 16, 2023, at Faith Fellowship Church, located 577 Manor Blvd, San Leandro, CA. Peggy’s 2000 light gold colored Cadillac Escalade is also missing. She is in need of her medication.
