Why the Policing of Black Women is a Crime

This is something that people can’t pretend doesn’t exist anymore.

Not only are major injustices such as police brutality being showcased in a mocking fashion, our people are experiencing unwarranted policing on an everyday basis.

And not just by those in uniform.

If there was any doubt in your mind about what you see on the news, the body cams, in the workplaces, or just about anywhere, allow me to clear things up for you:

Racism does exist.

Gender discrimination does exist.

I can definitely talk about racism, and I can definitely talk about gender discrimination, but only from the female perspective, so that’s what I’m going to do.

What sucks the most about gender discrimination is that it often comes from those within our own race.

From the time we are little girls, we are taught to straighten our hair, groomed to become a good wife, and trained to keep our feelings inside so as not to come off as “angry” or “bitter”.

And honestly?

A lot of us are angry and bitter, but these emotions are often a result of our upbringings, which is a bit of an oxymoron.

How ironic.

On the other hand, while a lot us encounter anger and bitterness within ourselves, there are COUNTLESS times when these titles are placed on us when that is far from the truth.

Case and point, how many times have you been reprimanded in the workplace for being the “aggressor” because of dispute with a co-worker of a different race, even when they shared some or even all of the fault?

Ever been pressured into straightening your hair or wearing protective styles for a more professional look?

Ever been targeted by an employee while shopping because of assumptions about our integrity?

Our self-defense is always perceived as aggression, even when we’re not reciprocating people’s hostile energy.

Marissa can call the manager raising hell and get a free meal and a gift card, but we can’t even request for an extra roll without a snide look and an upcharge.

Casey can curse like a sailor in the office, but we get bad marks in our yearly evaluation for our supposed “hostile” tendencies.

Justin is called a “great boss” for setting clear boundaries and not taking crap, while we are called a bitch.

Even bringing it back to our own people, we are said to be too combative by many Black men, the same Black men who claim to love a strong-willed woman.

Now don’t get me wrong, Black women can be aggressive, hostile, bitchy and combative, which needs to change, but so can everyone else.

If you are going to call one person out on something, call them all out.

But we can’t make this change if we don’t first acknowledge the route of all this.

Intimidation.

Because of their upbringings, people of other races and genders are trained to search for fault in our existence for “correction”.

Of course, this doesn’t apply to everyone, some of my friends are a testament of that, but it does to enough people to where it’s become a huge problem.

This mindset has become so deep-rooted in people’s subconscious; they don’t even realize that they’re doing it.

Allow me to give you some pointers.

If you find yourself in a managerial position, going to remind your employee of the attire guidelines in the employee handbook, first stop and ask yourself; “Does anyone else in the office dress the same?”. “Does anyone else with different textures style their hair in unique fashions?”, “

If you find yourself going to chastise your employee over an alleged dispute; “Did I get their side first?”, “How does she usually conduct herself in the office?”, “How does the other person usually act in the office?”

If you find yourself targeting a shopping customer for “some odd reason”; “Is she really doing anything suspicious?”, “Am I just analyzing her physical appearance to support my assumptions?”, “Is she being aggressive, or just standing her ground?”

It’s not the answer to all our problems, but it’s a start.

Change begins within, people have got to start questioning their underlying intentions before acting.

The policing of Black Woman goes way beyond favoritism, it’s discrimination and in some cases, racism.

And while the law may not acknowledge the two as we see in our everyday lives, it is a crime.

None of us asked to be here, we didn’t get to request how we wanted to look, so we shouldn’t be punished because of things beyond our control.

So, if you can’t get with that program, then expect a big piece of humble pie coming your way.

It may not be immediately or even soon after, but it will come, and when it does, it will be so sweet.

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