Erasing Black Girlhood

Black girls aren’t receiving equal love or support from society as white girls of the same age. Society tends to have bad views or ideas on black, such as black girls don’t need as much nurturing, that we know more about sex or adult topics, that we don’t need as much love, we need less support, less protection, and are more independent. None of these are true, black girls need the same amount of love, support, protection, and nurturing as all other races. We aren’t more independent, and we don’t know more about sex or adult topics than any other races. The problem gets even worse when people in a power position have these views.

We are being held by the power of hurtful words, and chain of negative emotion, causing us to feel trapped and willing to do anything or change who we are to get out of that situation. We get followed in stores even if we’ve never stolen before, if they go to any school not predominantly black, we must worry about racial slurs and jokes, including the N word. I’m not saying it’s all white people’s fault, everything would be so much easier if that was our only problem. It’s so much more complex than, as black girl we must deal with prejudice of white men, white women, and black men. That means sexism and race, that alone could destroy a girl, erase any kindness and love she had in her heart, and change how she trusts and view the future people in her life.

It will have a huge effect on her self-worth, some black girls feel like they must act stronger, sometimes putting up this angry or aggressive persona to avoid getting hurt but this never fixes the problem it just makes it worse. That low self-worth can cause them to enter unhealthy relationships or friendships and blame themselves for other’s mistakes. Then they must worry about older men hitting on them thinking they are older than they are, not because of their clothes, makeup, or even their hair, it’s because people tend to believe black girls are older than they are. Grown men have scared black girls by cat calling, following, and even touching them because they just assume the girls are old enough.

One big study, by Georgetown Law Center, called “Girlhood Interrupted: The Erasure of Black Girls’ Childhood” focused on society’s perception of black girls, they surveyed 325 adults, mainly white females, from different educational backgrounds and different regions of the country. They asked the following questions: “How much do black [or white} females need to be comforted?”, “How much do black [or white] females seem older than their age?”, “How much do black [or white] females need to be supported?”, “How often do black [or white] females that on adult responsibilities?”, “How independent are black [or white] female?”, “How knowledgeable are black [or white] females about sex?”. The researchers found that participants believe, black girls are drastically more grown overall, than white females their age, they especially find this to be true in black girls ages 5-14. It’s views like this that cause these statics, black girls are more likely than white girls, who committed the same violation, to get suspended. We are twice as like to get suspended for minor violations, such as dress code, cell phone usage, or loitering. Is it beneficial? No, we are twice as likely to get suspended for disobedience, and three times as likely for disruptive behavior, fighting, and bullying/ harassment. In conclusion, black girls need a place where we can feel safe and loved, away from society’s perception. Away from hurtful words and actions, where we can express themselves and gain friends we can talk to. To gain the tools we need to let wrong doings slide off their back like water, to learn about black authors, because you don’t in public school, to inspire us. Often when this info is given people first thought is usually what did these girls do, and not why are they treated so harshly, that needs to end, the fact is this can cause a tremendous amount of pain, but as long as this injustice is happening we must have plan to help black girlhood survive, to revive it little by little.