Despite Hoax, Violence Against Women Remains a Concern

Despite Hoax, Violence Against Women Remains a Concern

by David J. Leonard & Stephanie Troutman | NewBlackMan (in Exile)

Reports surfaced Tuesday that Sharmeka Moffitt's wounds were self-inflicted.  According to Winnsboro Police Chief Lester Thomas, “All of the evidence is pointing back to the victim inflicting this upon herself. No evidence has shown any other person was involved.”  He goes on to note, “This case is solved.” 

While our concern about the media silence remains steadfast; while our thoughts about the lack of care and concern afforded to women of color because of American racism and sexism remains real, we think our collective attention should turn to Sharmeka Moffit.  Our concern remains focused on her health and well-being. 

Whether her wounds are the result of an assailant or self-inflicted, as reported today, her pain, the trauma her body has endured, and the collective refusal to hear the pain endured by women of color, to give her and others the benefit of the doubt, and to see her as victim before criminal, is real.  The systemic of the humanity of women of color remains a disheartening.  The emerging response to call her a liar, to condemn her, and to dismiss the horror of this trauma event speaks volumes. 

We remain in thought about the emotional trauma facing Sharmeka and hope we can begin to listen.  We should all follow and heed the words from her family:

A Statement from the Family of Sharmeka Moffitt

"Our family is devastated to learn the circumstances surrounding our daughter’s injuries. While this was not the resolution we had expected, it is a resolution, and we appreciate the thorough investigation by the local and state police as well as federal agencies.

We are sincerely sorry for any problems this may have caused and wish to express our appreciation for the outpouring of love, prayers and support we have received from friends, acquaintances, church organizations and government officials.

 Over the coming days and weeks, our focus will be on Sharmeka and her recovery. We ask that you continue to pray for her and for our family, and that you respect our privacy at this difficult time."

Left of Black S2:E26 | A Daughter and Father Address Violence Against Women and the Legacy of Jazz Poetry

Left of Black S2:E26 | April 2, 2012

A Daughter and Father Address Violence Against Women and the Legacy of Jazz Poetry

Host and Duke University Professor Mark Anthony Neal is joined in studio by AfroLez®femcentric Cultural Worker Aishah Shahidah Simmonsand her father, International Human Rights Activist Michael Simmons.  The director of the groundbreaking film No! The Rape Documentary, Simmons and her father discuss her coming-out process, the critical importance of fathers in the lives of their daughters and the impact of their shared work addressing Violence Against Women.

Later Neal is joined via Skype© by Meta DuEwa Jones, Associate Professor of English at the University of Texas at Austin, who discusses her new book The Muse is Music: Jazz Poetry from the Harlem Renaissance to Spoken Word(University of Illinois Press).   Jones discusses how Langston Hughes often “queered” gender in his recorded performances, John Coltrane’s role in inspiring generations of poets, and the importance of collectives like the Dark Room Collective and Cave Canem to the emergent Spoken Word Movement.

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Left of Black is a weekly Webcast hosted by Mark Anthony Neal and produced in collaboration with the John Hope Franklin Center at Duke University.

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Episodes of Left of Blackare also available for free download in HD @ iTunes U

A Daughter and Father Address Violence Against Women and the Legacy of Jazz Poetry on the April 2nd Left of Black

A Daughter and Father Address Violence Against Women and the Legacy of Jazz Poetry  on the April 2nd Left of Black

Host and Duke University Professor Mark Anthony Neal is joined in studio by AfroLez®femcentric Cultural Worker Aishah Shahidah Simmonsand her father, Human Rights Activist Michael Simmons.  The director of the groundbreaking film No! The Rape Documentary, Simmons and her father discuss her coming-out process, the critical importance of fathers in the lives of their daughters and the impact of their shared work addressing Violence Against Women.

Later Neal is joined via Skype© by Meta DuEwa Jones, Associate Professor of English at the University of Texas at Austin and author of  The Muse is Music: Jazz Poetry from the Harlem Renaissance to Spoken Word(University of Illinois Press).   She discusses the influence of Jazz on the poetry of  Langston Hughes and how jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, would later inspire generations of poets.  Lastly, Jones touches on Spoken Word’s relevance to other art forms.

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Left of Black airs at 1:30 p.m. (EST) on Mondays on the Ustream channel: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/left-of-black. Viewers are invited to participate in a Twitter conversation with Neal and featured guests while the show airs using hash tags #LeftofBlack or #dukelive. 

Left of Blackis recorded and produced at the John Hope Franklin Center of International and Interdisciplinary Studies at Duke University.

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Follow Left of Black on Twitter: @LeftofBlack

Follow Mark Anthony Neal on Twitter: @NewBlackMan

Follow Aishah Shahidah Simmons on Twitter: @AfroLez

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dream hampton: 'The Problem with Chris Brown'

Are we witnessing a meltdown or can the young singer truly move past his past?

The Problem With Chris Brown
By dream hampton

In lieu of therapy, Chris Brown has Twitter. His small army of fans uses the hashtag #teambreezy to avoid forcing the still young, imploding star to seek the therapy he so desperately needs to not become his stepfather. It is tragic. He's young enough to be saved. Imagine what a true public healing would do for young Black teenagers entangled in the deadly dance that is domestic violence.

Read the Full Essay @ BET.com