Dear Black Women,

I see you.

     Standing strong when there is chaos all around you. Helping your community, your family, and most importantly, yourself. Using your existence to infiltrate spaces, spaces that historically  served only the white and many times male constituents of our society. You strive to supersede these historical practices that work to make your job 10x’s harder. The work you put in, is rarely recognized by your colleagues, employers and our greater society. Organizing other minorities in your departments, schools, and offices to strengthen the Black Lives Matter movement.  Showing up to town halls with the hopes that, collectively you can continue in our ancestors path to dismantle systematic racism and anti-Black culture. Starting businesses to reduce the amount of anti-Black culture allowed to perpetuate in every facet of life as you know it. I see how your actions build upon a foundation; and a foundation that tangible change will be built upon. This involves small, yet powerful acts such as holding people accountable. The small actions that spark change are hard, but I see you; making sure you're visible, and not allowing anyone to disregard your presence.

      This is not the first time I have seen you rise to the occasion, using your physical presence and energy to call out systematic rules used to deprive and ignore Blacks. You stood side-by-side with white women during the women’s suffrage movement eliciting significant reform. Well- known African American women such as Sojourner Truth and Harriett Tubman, but also less known yet vitally important Maria Stewart, the first woman to publicly speak for abolitionism and women’s rights. Henrietta Purvis, and Mary Ann Shadd all former slaves that were vital to the women’s suffrage movement from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. While the contributions of the former two do receive some historical attention, historical history books hold little space for the latter three. Today, I come before you to say, I see you. Your presence, while ignored for much of our written historical accounts, has always been there, readily standing up for yourself and the Black community. Resilience shines through your body, but with resilience comes sorrow, trials and tribulations. You did not put in place the anti-Black culture that stifles your growth yet I see you, working towards a more inclusive space for not only future generations, but yourself, today. I see you; you are resilient.

I hear you.

  Your voice is crystal clear. Calling out the anti-Black culture that has widely been ignored by the non-Blacks. Using your voice to educate allies while strengthening the voices of Black Women throughout. I acknowledge the frustration you hold when your voice falls upon deaf ears. Even more frustrating is the fact that many of these conversations have been rooted in society well before your time; you are not the first to call for change in a system rooted in race. The evidence is unequivocally on your side, yet still some ignore your scream for change with too much ease. I hear you. I know you feel disheartened when history shares parallel stories about the experiences of Black Women; you feel as though change is stagnant.

      I am here to say I hear you. Your voice echos to a larger picture that is invoking personal changes in those who do listen. Whether it be those finding the courage to support you and the Black community in the process of becoming a true ally, or helping other Black Women find their voice; your voice has sparked change, a change that cannot be ignored, even by the nonbelievers. Do not take that lightly. It took the death of fellow Blacks for simple if any infringement of the law for folks to simply take the time to listen to your story and the struggles you have had to face simply because of your skin. I get how petty that is, yet you rise above it, continuing to press for change in a system that was never meant to aid in your pursuits of success.

       The society we live in has failed you for centuries. The Black female body has been physically and mentally abused from the foundation of this country you call home. The American Dream tells us to put in the work, and you will be rewarded. As Black Women you have worked to create a stronger society, a society that still works to stifle your voice, but even so, your voice permeates through, creating a wider space for others to be heard. I hear you and I stand with you as a Black Woman, who understands. I uplift you just like you uplift me. I want to magnify your voice. To elicit change, but to relieve you of the burden, it is not yours to carry, just like it is not mine, we did not put in place the prejudices we must live through on a daily basis. 

You are not alone.

  You are NOT alone. Across the country, scratch that no, across the world, Black Women are taking up the cause with the hopes that future generations of Black Girls and Women will have the respect that they deserve. The respect that was never awarded to your ancestors. Some of you have never dropped the cause. Working to create spaces for Black Women to excel and be respected, and even in the face of a global pandemic your steps have never faltered. There are no cookie-cutter solutions to dismantling racism. We are traveling on a highway, imagine we are where the 405 freeway meets the east-west I-10 in Los Angeles. We may be in different lanes but we are traveling in the same direction, dismantling racism. At times our lanes can feel isolating and lonely. We are here at A WOC Space to support you, amplify your voice, and unite your actions with unwavering support. We do NOT have amnesia, your tenacity runs through the course of our veins. You are not alone, and we are here for you when the road gets lonesome, steep, and rocky. As a reminder, you are supported. Today more than ever, we as Black Women are relying on each other to support one another. Know you have an unwavering ally here. 

We see you, we hear your voices, and we are here to support you.

With Love,

     A WOC Space