Racism affects black girls as much as boys. So why are girls being ignored?

[brer cat]

This is an excellent article from today's WAPO. I was struck by how much I identified with these feelings...I had them myself when I was in business school in the late 60s and often the only female in my class. It can be devastating. These girls have it much harder than I did then.

But the horror of that moment stays with me, the realization that being smart and working hard might never be enough. I wasn’t sure how I could survive a world that would constantly question my abilities, give me more obstacles than my peers, and then downplay my achievements when I somehow managed to deliver.

I was overwhelmed by the thought of having to be a black girl for the rest of my life.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/02/25/racism-in-schools-affects-black-girls-even-more-than-boys-so-why-dont-they-get-as-much-attention/?hpid=z11

[marym625]

1. I just read this

Think it was from a post in GD.

Why are women of color ignored everywhere? It's just so wrong.

The girls and women are ignored in so many disenfranchised groups. Girls of color even within the feminist/women's movement. It's something we need to change. And we can't wait.

[brer cat]

2. Sorry if it is a dupe.

My online time has been very spotty lately and I well could have missed it.

It is so important that we recognize that these girls and women are being left behind.

[marym625]

3. Oh no. I didn't mean that

I have no problem with duplicate posts. There are way too many posts to not. People miss stuff all the time because there are so many posts.

This is too important not to post again

[hedda_foil]

4. In New York City, 90 percent of all girls expelled from school were black. None were white.

There are no words.

[sheshe2]

5. It's sad...

Racism is a national disaster in this country. It robs us of brilliance, ingenuity and progress. And in a country where policymakers at the highest levels neglect black girls in favor of offering support to their male peers, we continue to undermine the progress of the entire community.

Mentoring black boys doesn’t help black girls raise children alone or try to attend school while pregnant. Focusing only on black boys doesn’t keep black women from being the group with the fastest-growing rates of imprisonment or highest HIV infections. It doesn’t stop the gender bias that disproportionately burdens girls with family and childcare responsibilities at home. “Trickle-down” community building that delivers support to only men and boys doesn’t help black women and girls any better than trickle-down economics helps the poor. And prioritizing black men and boys over black women and girls is simply about putting men first and women last.

Women and girls are always left behind. I truly wish the President would address this as well, brer cat.

Thank you for your post.