Who Will Protect The Black Woman?

    “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman.  The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman.  The most neglected person in America is the Black woman” –Malcolm X.  Over the past two months, I have seen multiple videos of Black women who were killed by their husbands or partners. When children are involved, they lose both parents.  Each video invoked a range of emotions to include sadness.  I cried for the children, family and friends who will have to live with the aftermath of this heinous act.  Domestic violence is like a wildfire spreading throughout the Black community and the perpetrators are getting younger and younger.  
     Statistics show that Black women and girls had the highest homicide rate increase from 2019 to 2020.  I do not want to think about the numbers between 2021 and 2022.  More than 40% of Black women will experience domestic violence in our lifetime.  The homicide rate for Black women and girls are overshadowed by the homicide rate of Black men and boys.  However, the heightened vulnerability of Black women and girls should be addressed alongside the homicide of Black males.  The lack of media coverage and police involvement as it relates to domestic violence in the Black community is indicative of our invisibility and ongoing disrespect.  
     Black women have been beaten, neglected, and disrespected since slavery.  Although we focus on the physical, domestic violence includes sexual, emotional, mental, verbal, exploitation, and financial abuse.  The average Black woman has been mistreated by her husband/partner.  Almost every woman in my family to include myself and most of my friends has been cheated on by their husbands, and some of us endured domestic violence.  It takes some Black men years of neglecting and mistreating their wives/partners before honoring and respecting them.         
     I blame the entertainment industry for contributing to the disrespect and violence towards Black women.  Some rap artists write lyrics that are misogynistic.  Their music objectifies, degrades, and promotes a culture of rape, violence, and murder of Black women.  Some Black female artists are participating in their own objectification and degradation.  Plus, the misinterpretation of scripture contributes to women being seen as second class citizens or property.  Overly zealous men will argue that Ephesians 5:22-23 and 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 validate the abuse of women.  
     Domestic violence happens to all women but it is more pronounced for Black women.   We have to start teaching Black males how to value themselves, communicate effectively, and manage their emotions.  There is honor in protecting your wives, mothers, girlfriends, sisters, aunts, cousins, and daughters.  Black women have always protected Black men.  Who will protect the Black woman?