Open Letter to Mayor Wheeler: State of Black Femmes
October 25, 2020 | (edited 9:11am 10/27/20)
***FOR IMMEDIATE REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION**
If you are a Black Femme and/or Black survivor of gender violence, and would like to add your name, CLICK HERE.
To: Mayor Ted Wheeler
Re: State of Black Femmes in the Portland Metro — Divestment Recommendations for Immediate Action
Mayor Wheeler,
The personhood of Black femme Portlanders is a matter of public health and safety.
Despite the historical exclusion of Black people in the state of Oregon, Black femmes, and our backs, play critical roles throughout every aspect of the city of Portland. Black femmes contribute to the infrastructure of our most cherished organizations, school communities, and efforts providing mutual aid and service to our neighbors. Our presence is needed, every day, all the time — to serve as hosts, to make decisions, to provide labor, and to fix issues.
The resiliency and strength of Black femmes inspires a culture of positive change, community advocacy, and empowers younger generations. Were it not for Black femmes, there would be no Black Lives Matter movement. There would be no one to campaign against the Black bodies hanging from trees like strange fruit.
The superwoman schema suggests the perception of Black women is seemingly invincible — - a social phenomenon passed down from generations, to generations. The obligation to emit strength, succeed, suppress emotions, and care for others is a Black femme’s subconscious. As a result, we are seemingly invincible, suffer in silence, and endure substantial negative consequences.
We are often the “first one” or the “only one” in schools, workplaces, groups, and the communities in which we reside. The politics of power and privilege unique to this experience translate to social anxiety, tokenization, and humiliation.
Self care is a luxury. We must not wait until Black femmes go missing and murdered for meaningful responses to invest in their personhood. Network stress suggests that the stress of friends, family, and loved ones in the lives of Black femmes may be just as substantial as personal stress. As a result, we suffer consequences to our sleep, relationships, diet, blood pressure, amongst other complications.
Additionally, Black survivors of gender violence are often discarded, and do not have trust for law enforcement to advocate on their behalf. It is long overdue to recognize your obligation to invest in Black survivors, whose critical voices carry solutions, strategies, and tactics for institutional, interpersonal, policy, and cultural transformation.
The Demand
With or without ample possibility from a $35 million divestment from police, The City of Portland and surrounding agencies must invest in the creation of a dedicated entity that provides programs exclusively for Black femme empowerment — led, and operated by Black femmes. The general budget may also be a funding source, as it should also reflect values of equity and justice accessible to all, including Black femme Portlanders.
- Community Building Programming for Black Survivors. A specific component for Black youth is included, where they may access without parental consent.
- An Empowerment Body for Black Femmes, that provides a leadership and decision-making venue for their voices to impact community solutions, policy shifts, and annual budget procedures, in support by a City and County Quasi Partnership.
- A Study on The Status of Black Femmes, funded by the city, but led the previously named empowerment body. The Study will review unemployment, income level, and other indicators of high relevance to Black femmes.
We are far greater than our ability to withstand death, despair, and pain. You and our City Commissioners must prioritize this divestment strategy from the Portland Police Bureau now. The safety and well-being of Portlanders at-large will positively transform, when Black femmes have an exclusive space for community alternatives and solutions.
If you are a Black Femme and/or Black survivor of gender violence, and would like to add your name, CLICK HERE.
Sincerely,
- Shanice Clarke, Black Millennial Movement; Portland, OR
- Salomé Chimuku, Black Millennial Movement; Portland, OR
- AJ McCreary, Equitable Giving Circle Executive Director; Portland, OR
- Joy Alise Davis, Imagine Black; Portland, OR
- Shani Harris-Bagwell, Bagwell Consulting; Portland, OR
- Arya Morman, Rooted.Black Inc; Portland, OR
- Mireaya Medina, Community Worker; Portland, OR
- Candace Avalos, Black Millennial Movement, Portland OR
- Catherine Braxton, In Search of A Garden, Portland, OR
- Dyvisha Gordon, Community Member; Portland, OR
- Michelle DePass, Portland Public Schools Director; Portland, OR
- Rhiannon Wasmann, Community Member; Portland, OR
- Shardé Nabors, SN Facilitation & Consulting; Portland, OR
- Avel Gordly, Portland, OR
- Jeanine N. Morales, Deputy Director, NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon; Portland, OR
- Ragina Gray, Abolitionist
