Richie- Arrested Justice Response

In Beth Richie’s piece, she discusses the way violence towards black women is presented and consumed differently from violence against black men. Particularly, she explains how police brutality against black women is rarely discussed, even within anti-violence communities. Stories like Ms.B’s show the disparity between discussions of police brutality against black women compared to black men.

While reading Richie, specifically the section “Brutality in Public Housing,” I was horrified, but unsurprised by the acts described against Ms. B by Chicago Police. Like Richie, I was horrified that I too have been living in the same city, but have little knowledge about the police brutality towards women of color. Most of the times I’ve heard talk about police brutality, it references specific cases about, usually, black men. I can name many more black men who were victims of police brutality than black women, mostly because of the news and media coverage over this cases.

Richie’s discussion about gendered violence and Ms. B’s story was an eye-opening depiction of what truly happens to many black women even in the very city I thought I knew. Black women and other marginalized women who are in public housing or situations like Ms. B’s are not only at risk of losing their homes, but have the added trauma of a looming police presence. In the past when I’ve thought about police brutality it has usually been violence against black men and the idea that police see black men  or boys as a threat, even if they are 12 years old.

Gendered biases relating to police brutality is apparent in all media. Specifically, this reading made me think about the Black Lives Matter movement. This huge movement that has garnered tons of awareness about police brutality was sparked by Trayvon Martin’s  case and the acquittal of his murderer. However, there is also a very apparent disparity between this movement and a similar movement- #SayHerName. The #SayHerName movement was made for awareness of police brutality towards black women and girls, although the message is the same as the black lives matter movement, it didn’t get the same media exposure.

We've talked about how there are sometimes conflicts within groups like the Women's March relating to racial differences. Women of color are sometimes made to feel like they have to ignore the racial violence towards them in order to be part of the feminist movement. Similarly, black women might be told that violence against them is because of their race, but not because of their race and gender. Does the Black Lives Matter movement, or other organizations for black people, do enough for police brutality against black women?