The GGE Update: Every Black Girl Deserves Joy

The following was submitted by Girls for Gender Equity.

Dear Community,

As we transition from spring to summer, our usual hope and excitement has been darkened by a wave of hateful atrocities. In just the past month, we have witnessed horrific violence in Uvalde, Buffalo, and across the nation, ongoing brutality against LGBTQIA and trans communities, egregious attacks on reproductive freedom, and more. We are tired of “shocked and saddened” statements, and we are tired of the capitalist demand to push through, no matter what. If you, too, have been feeling heavy, hopeless, distracted, or burnt out, we see you. We hope that in this time of grief, trauma, and violence, we can turn to each other and find the community we all need and deserve. We hope that we can continue to support each other in carving out time and space for rest, joy, love, and celebration.

It is important now more than ever for us to continue our legacy of centering Black girls and gender expansive young people of color. As we build on twenty years of activism and chart a path forward for the next twenty, we are unequivocal in our commitment to building a world in which Black girls, women, and gender expansive youth are honored, supported, protected, and cared for. The Black Girl Bill of Rights, written by youth organizers at the 2016 Black Girls Movement conference and modeled after the UN Declaration on Human Rights, is a centerpiece of the A National Agenda for Black Girls platform because it lays the foundation for the more just and equitable world we want and deserve.

Listen as youth organizers on A National Agenda for Black Girls read the nine-pointed bill and its new preamble, and follow along on social media this week as we re-introduce the bill and its new branding. Show your support by signing on today, which will lead you to an entire digital toolkit to share widely! You can even purchase a poster to ensure the rights of Black girls are front and center, everywhere you go!