Why aren’t more people angry about the murder of Nia Wilson?

Nia Wilson was 18 years old, taking public transport in her neighborhood and got slashed in the throat by a white man. Black women continue to experience the intersection of gender and race based violence. Nia Wilson’s murder and the way our society has responded dismissively is reflective of the deeply seeded dehumanization, sexism and racism that faces black women every single day. Her murder is not an isolated incident. It is the result of decades of violent rhetoric, policy and structural violence. Her murder is what hate looks like. It is a hate crime. I am livid because as a self-defense instructor I am so tired of the reality that faces so many of my sisters. Black and brown women should not feel unsafe navigating our own neighborhoods. There is so much trauma and pain that so many of our women and sisters carry.

For non black/non women identifying folks, show up. Where are the national vigils and rallies? Where is your love for black women? Where are your op-eds and written pieces? Why is this business as usual? Check the ways in which we have internalized racism and sexism that we are so easily able to gloss over Nia Wilson’s murder.

I so deeply love all of us and pray that we are all safe, with our hearts lighter by the day. At first I was angry that this story did not ripple through our hearts and spill onto our streets. At first I was agitated by how quickly we are to ignore the murder of another black woman. We will continue to build spaces for love, healing and security. We will continue to hold each other and build for each other.

This Friday join Malikah in #oakland for a space lead by Aisha Almuid centering the voices, healing, security and experiences of black women.
#justiceforniawilson #sayhername #blacklivesmatter #niawilson