Megan Thee Stallion Writes Moving Op-Ed on Why Protecting Black Women Is Essential
In the letter, she also expresses her thoughts on the hypersexualization of Black women and shares details on the violent incident involving Tory Lanez.
Megan Thee Stallion has written an op-ed further exploring the importance of protecting Black women. During her recent SNL performance, she presented this same messaging as she condemned Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron.
In her letter published by TheNew York Times, she writes, “I was recently the victim of an act of violence by a man.” On the incident involving Tory Lanez, she goes on to share, “After a party, I was shot twice as I walked away from him. We were not in a relationship. Truthfully, I was shocked that I ended up in that place.”
The Houston rapper then explains that she chose to not speak out about the shooting initially due to “fear for myself and my friends.” Megan adds here that she’s been met with skepticism and judgment despite being a victim.
As time has gone on she’s been self-reflecting on the shooting and it’s led her to realize it happened since “men treat all women as objects.” She then digs a bit deeper on this point and alleges it “helps them justify inflicting abuse against us when we choose to exercise our own free will.” In this section of the letter, she states that violence against women isn’t always connected to being in a relationship.
“From the moment we begin to navigate the intricacies of adolescence, we feel the weight of this threat, and the weight of contradictory expectations and misguided preconceptions. Many of us begin to put too much value to how we are seen by others. That’s if we are seen at all,” the op-ed reads.
Megan then emphasizes that Black women also struggle against stereotypes and are constantly seen as “angry or threatening” as they try to stand up for themselves. "There's not much room for passionate advocacy if you are a Black woman," she writes.
Later in the letter, Daniel Cameron and his handling of Breonna Taylor’s case which led to her explosive SNL performance were brought up. She mentions here that she used her platform to “harshly rebuke” Cameron for his “appalling conduct in denying Breonna Taylor and her family justice.” She expressed that she expected backlash, but since she was following the lead of John Lewis who made “good trouble,” negative commentary was a risk.
“But you know what? I’m not afraid of criticism. We live in a country where we have the freedom to criticize elected officials,” Megan wrote. “We live in a country where we have the freedom to criticize elected officials. And it’s ridiculous that some people think the simple phrase “Protect Black women” is controversial.”
To read the entire letter, head here. Further points are made by Megan in regards to maternal mortality rates for Black women, the hypersexualization of women of color including herself, and the high rates of violence inflicted upon trans and gender non-conforming people.