10 Things to Know This Week
1. Visioning Resistance: a Black Feminist Call to Action TONIGHT: Black Women’s Blueprint invites you to our monthly member meeting tonight at 6:30pm. Tonight we will be creating a blueprint for resistance that honors all of the expressions of Blackness and the many identities that will be impacted under the new presidential regime. We will be envisioning answers to the following questions How will we resist? How do we envision black feminism creating revolution inside of this moment? And how can we hold space for resistance in all forms? We look forward to being in community with you all tonight. For more information please visit our Facebook Event Page.
2. #GivingTuesday was a huge success. Thank you to all who stood with us and answered the call to support black survivors of sexual violence. Thanks to you we raised almost $15,000! This money will be put towards making a difference in the lives of Black women and girls. In the era of Trump, this kind of show of solidarity is critical and life-giving. We at Black Women’s Blueprint are honored and humbled by the participation of so many of our loved ones, supporters and allies.
3. The Dakota Access Pipeline Endangers Women and the Environment. This Ms. Magazine article details the potential impacts of the Dakota Access Pipeline on Native women. "In particular, the demonstrators stressed that the rates of sexual violence against Native American women may increase if the federal government permits the completion of the pipeline. Native American women, as a population, already face a high risk of violence. According to FORCE, four out of five Native American women experience rape, stalking or abuse within their lifetime and one-third of Native American women are stalked, abused or raped each year. Ninety percent of the individuals committing these crimes are not members of the native community." Click here to read more.
4. DAPL and the Matter/ing of Black Life: This essay explores the relationship between the water protectors protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline and the movement for Black lives. The movement is “a movement for all of us. A movement for the recognition that water is life...To be clear, this is not a fight that is specific only to Native peoples- this is a fight for all of us.” We at Black Women’s Blueprint stand in solidarity with the water protectors and celebrate the victory of the pipeline no longer being built through tribal lands while recognizing that the fight for the full recognition of Native peoples’ rights is not yet done. Read the full article here.
5. Our Very Own Farah Tanis, Executive Director of Black Women’s Blueprint gathered at the White House with other fierce activists on the Briefing for Haitian American Women.
6. 16 Days of Activism: From November 25th through December 10th the 16 Days of Activism is a call to end gender-based violence worldwide leading up to world Human Rights Day. We at Black Women’s Blueprint are centering the struggle and experience of Black women worldwide with sexual violence as well as celebrating the legacy of Black women’s activism that we continue. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to read the her-stories of Black women’s human rights struggles. Don’t forget to share with us how you are continuing the legacy of resistance using the hashtag #16DaysofActivism
7. On This Day December 5th 1935: Mary McLeod Bethune founded National Council of Negro Women. The NCNW was organized to represent the national and international concerns of Black women and to help Black women fight for job equality, the right to vote and anti-lynching legislation. The NCNW gave Black women the opportunity to realize their goals and fight for social justice and human rights through united, constructive action. Read more here.
8. WOC Bartering Network Black Women’s Blueprint is continuing our long tradition of promoting solidarity economy. The WOC Barter Network is for women who want to build an interconnected socio-economic community. A community for traditional sharing, bartering, lending, trading, gifting, and swapping. Solidarity Economy dates back to centuries past where there was no universal form of currency/money. Instead, people worldwide bartered, lent, and traded for everyday goods and services. The only difference today is that we can do it at remarkable speeds, thanks to technology. Through technology we can create a redistribution market that transforms businesses, values collaborative consumerism, and helps us change the way we live. We call everyone to a creative, supportive, and collective action. To join or for more information contact sally@blueprintny.org
9. Check out How These Two “Trap Scholars” are Changing Sexual Health for Black Women. Fierce activists Kimberly Huggins and Brittany Brathwaite teamed up to create KIMBRITIVE. The culture and aim of KIMBRITIVE is to take their wildest ideas and create innovative, relatable and educational workshops and content with the goal of normalizing healthy conversations about sexual health, reproductive justice and everything in between. KIMBRITIVE is determined to protect #BlackGirlMagic, showing a constant, unwavering commitment to showing up for black women and girls, both in achievement and in standing up for black women and girls in moments of violence. Read the full article about this awesome duo here.
10. Words of Fire Call for Papers has been released! Please answer the call to action by clicking on this link. Given the impact of the 2016 Elections on Black Women and All Survivors, Black Women's Blueprint calls for resistance and urgent communal care through this call to action and convening. Words of Fire will carry us with full momentum into the next phase of Black feminist futurity where our thriving and surviving are not only paired with struggle and resistance but rebirth and regenerated sources of power and global justice.
Black Feminist Quote of the Week
Invest in the human soul. Who knows, it might be a diamond in the rough. - Mary McLeod Bethune
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