Rapper Megan Thee Stallion is detailing her own experience as a Black woman in America and speaking up on behalf of others ahead of the upcoming election.
In her op-ed published by The New York Times on Tuesday titled “Why I Speak Up for Black Women,” she explains how Black women still face obstacles despite conversations being had about racial justice.
“In the weeks leading up to the election, Black women are expected once again to deliver victory for Democratic candidates. We have gone from being unable to vote legally to a highly courted voting bloc — all in little more than a century,” the performer wrote.
She added, “Despite this and despite the way so many have embraced messages about racial justice this year, Black women are still constantly disrespected and disregarded in so many areas of life.”
Megan Thee Stallion went on to tell the story of how she was a victim of an act of violence by a man.
She said she was shot twice after walking away from him.
According to Megan Thee Stallion, as a victim, she was met with “skepticism and judgment.”
She expressed her frustration with how Black women are perceived if they choose to defend themselves.
Black women “are seen as angry or threatening when we try to stand up for ourselves and our sisters,” Megan Thee Stallion wrote.
She defended comments she made during her appearance on “Saturday Night Live” about Kentucky’s attorney general, Daniel Cameron, “for his appalling conduct in denying Breonna Taylor and her family justice.”
“But you know what? I’m not afraid of criticism. We live in a country where we have the freedom to criticize elected officials. And it’s ridiculous that some people think the simple phrase ‘Protect Black women’ is controversial,” Megan Thee Stallion said.
She continued, “We deserve to be protected as human beings. And we are entitled to our anger about a laundry list of mistreatment and neglect that we suffer.”
The rapper cited statistics proving Black mothers face racial bias in healthcare.
She questioned why Black girls are not educated about notable Black women including NASA research mathematician Katherine Johnson, Rosa Parks, or the founders of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Megan Thee Stallion’s “hope” is that Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) “will usher in an era where Black women in 2020 are no longer ‘making history’ for achieving things that should have been accomplished decades ago.”
While she acknowledged the power Black women have to vote, she recognized there will still be struggle after the election.
“But that will take time, and Black women are not naïve. We know that after the last ballot is cast and the vote is tallied, we are likely to go back to fighting for ourselves. Because at least for now, that’s all we have,” the performer wrote.
