Trayvon Martin THIS COULD BE YOU…

Abuse of Power As we watch the Trayvon Martin case unravel and spiral with the tensions of social and political injustice, spiked with intoxicating gulps of racial discrimination, and most of the abuse of power… Did you ever think this could be you?

IT IS YOU! THIS IS US! Although we as African American masculine identified women do not dominate the 6 o'clock news as perpetrators and offenders of the law or as being racially profiled we are consistently impacted by all of these injustices, just like black men. In fact our absence in the media has kept us SILENT! This is not exclusive to our neighborhoods or social environments.

Work &Worship, Have your brothers and sisters in your place of worship abuse their power to discriminate against you? Have your coworkers covertly or overtly misused their leadership to make you feel uncomfortable about your identity?

How are communities of faith responsible? Jihad for Love /watch?v=ONavlcBL-2w Thoughts? Gays in Black Churches

Discussion/Anecdotes Have you ever been racially profiled? Have you ever been mistaken for a black man by a police officer? Have you ever been physically assaulted by an officer Has your boss/coworker ever overtly made you feel uncomfortable due to your masculine identity? What types of discrimination have you experienced in your places of worship?

Be Activists, Be Present, Be You

Colors of Abuse The multiple colors of abuse often times follow the same patterns… So how do we prevent it? How do we protect ourselves?

Responsibility Who is responsible for protecting us? We are… Vote! Speak Up! Be the change you want to see in the world!

Protect Yourself! Break the Silence! Real Bois Talk: spaces like this encourage breaking the silence. Women’s Legal Advocacy Organizations Don’t be afraid to go to therapy. Start groups in your churches, mosques, and places of worship. Know your rights!