Living In The Light: I AM Here

“I AM Here”

Okay, lets talk….

It’s frustrating that we are in the 21st Century and people are still fighting to be seen and treated as human beings, in spite of race, gender, sexual preference, sexual identity, gender identity, or social economic background. As a woman, as a black woman, as a black woman of transitional experience, I fight everyday to be seen. When I walk in a room, or arrive somewhere, I want the anticipation of my presence, or my reputation as the strong, loving, caring, intelligent black woman that I am to have arrived before I do physically. The importance of being seen, respected, and included, since the beginning, has been a struggle for women, a fight for black women, and damn near impossible for black women of transitional experience.

If you look into the rates of admission into colleges/ universities in this country you will discover that black women account for the highest rate of those college/ university admissions outside of ANY demographic of races. However, that’s not the normalized narrative is it? Why is that? Perhaps maybe its made more popular or conversant when it comes to academic success to equate it to being white, or any other race besides Black.

I find that not only insulting, but dismissive as a Black woman, or Black person period. Especially since it was the blood, sweat, tears, and flesh of the Black woman, and man who built much of what they get very little credit or recognition for. Since we were brought to this country the black women brought with her the strength, values, and divine ability that carried this nation through every trial and tribulation it has gone through. Though she was battered, beaten, raped, humiliated, had her family ripped from her arms, and treated worse than an old yard dog, the Black woman sat in the shadows polishing, and cleaning the filth and disgrace from the face of her white oppressors for them to shine in the face of the world. All the while it was her, it was my forebear, my ancestors, that was the influential driving force behind this whole “show” from the start to this moment. Perhaps, this is why higher education, or education in general, was/is seen as more of a societal threat than any gun or weapon when it came to Black folks. It would, and oftentimes does reflect the ignorance, and inadequacies of those that choose to suppress it.

Now with all that being said, which really didn't even skim the surface, about the oppression of Black women in the history of this country, let’s throw in Black transgender women and reveal the face of a whole other beast. Not only do Black trans women press on against the continuous oppression from the “other” man, but the often tragic oppression as well from the “brother” man. Imagine a single rose trying to grow and reach the light of the sun, but planted in the middle of two big boulders threatening to crush her, and shadowing her from the light she deserves just as much as them. Think about it, paint your own picture, and see the basis of this metaphor. Black trans women are denied housing, education opportunities, employment, heteronormative community support services,

and healthcare; just to name a few. There is a devastating health crisis in this country regarding Black transgender women. The life expectancy Black transgender women are 35-40 respectfully. Between 2017-2020 80% of transgender homicides were Black women. 44% of transgender women with HIV are Black transwomen. At the corner of Racism Avenue and Transphobia Street Black trans women face chronic homelessness, and mercilessly subjected to discrimination, constant harassment in school and work places, threats of bodily harm, and a staggering suicide rate within our communities.

It’s not enough that we rally and fight only when something happens to one of us, and then when the fever has passed, AGAIN, we as trans people of color are forgotten until the next wave of violence comes crashing down upon us. We are NOT a fad, or

“juicy” story that captures your attention for the moment. We are

danger on a regular f***ing basis, and taken for granted. Sadly, there are even those in our very own LGBTQIA community that don’t give the respect, honor, and tribute we deserve. The time is now for the constant remix of uncomfortable conversations, lobbying, voting, protesting, and screaming of “ALL BLACK LIVES MATTER” to be kept on replay. We will continue shout #AllTransLivesMatter, #JusticeForChanelHines, #ProtectionForChanelHines, and #SayTheirNames until the change that needs to happen comes to fruition for us all. We are no longer asking for our rights, we are demanding them. We will lay our grievances upon the table of the oppressors and force them to feast until their bellies pop with that freedom and justice for us all. Each step we take is a step closer to our better day; steps taken together!

So until next time, this is your girl Javannah saying, “Be good to you!”