Born and reared in the south, actually a place some refer to as the "southern part of heaven" I was taught  to fear people like this and I am fully cognizant of the terror inflicted upon my ancestors and even recent generations under the banner of the confederate flag and even the cross. Truth is I fear those in blue uniforms, black robes and who sit behind classroom desks and in closed doors of banks and businesses more. BUT the only way we will win is to put think and act strategically on how to dismantle the southern strategy that is fully operative on steroids. The sad reality is that many of the people who came out to support Silent Sam and are "proud" of the confederate flag have been the pawns of politrickery and unwittingly used to uphold a system of inequality that has harmed working class and poor whites. They are viewed by the likes of Fox News commentators and the GOP as necessary and major players in the subjugation of the working class and poor and maintaining the racial divide. I am not a simpleton by any stretch of the imagination. Trust me:>) And like Lauryn Hill, "I know enough people who won't turn the other cheek" and at times I do have brief periods of wanting to tell some of these hate-filled people --now we can take it to the streets if you really want to cause I got some "cuzzins" who already feel like they ain't got much to lose and are just waiting to do as one said "try out his new thing" --but that would be a foolish and okay yes unGodly response. That being said, I know the likes of Roof who killed the Emmanuel 9 are alive and well. I am cautious and yet still committed to the cause of justice and advancing our humanity by any means necessary.

Read full report:  "Black Girls Matter: Pushed Out, Overpoliced, and Underprotected"  from the African American Policy Forum (www.AAPF.org)



http://www.aapf.org/recent/2014/12/coming-soon-blackgirlsmatter-pushed-out-overpoliced-and-underprotected

A Few Important Facts About  Black Women and Girls published by AAPF

HOMICIDE RATES: In 2010, the homicide rate among Black girls and women ages 10- 24 was higher than for any other group of females, and higher than white and Asian men as well. The rate of firearm deaths for Black girls and women ages 10-24 from 2008-10 was more than 6.5 times higher than white women and girls, more than 3.5 times higher than Hispanic women and girls, and more than 9 times higher than Asian/Pacific Islander women and girls. In 2011, 94% of Black women are murdered by someone they knew.

HIGHER RATES OF IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL DISCIPLINE: According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2007, Black girls’ suspension and expulsion rates were higher than any other group of girls and higher than white and Hispanic boys. 38.5% of Black girls had been suspended, compared to 11.6% for white girls and 24.1% for white boys. 4.6% of Black girls had been expelled, compared to 0.7% of white girls and 1.6% of white boys.

DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR BLACK FEMALE DROPOUTS: Numerous studies have found that dropping out of high school is linked to serious long term consequences, many of which are greater for Black women than Black men. For example, a black woman who has dropped out will make about $7,000 less a year than a high school graduate, will be more likely to need welfare support than both female and male peers, and children of women who drop out are more likely to drop out than children of male dropouts.

HIGH INCIDENCE OF EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES: Black girls have higher incidence of emotional difficulties than other girls, including signs of depression. In 2009, one national survey found that 67% of Black girls indicated that they felt sad or hopeless for two or more weeks straight, compared to 31% of white girls and 40% of Latina girls.

GENDER AND RACE DRIVE THE WAGE GAP: Statistics from the Insight Center for Economic and Community Investment illustrate that, as of 2007, Black women earned only 64 cents per dollar earned by a white man, compared to 78 cents on the dollar earned by white women. What these numbers do not reflect is the fact that the closing of the gender wage gap has been slowing since 1990s and had even increased between 2011- 12.

NET WEALTH GAP: Single black women have the lowest net worth among all racial and gender groups, only $100 compared to $7,900 for single Black men, $41,500 for single white women, and $43,800 for single white men. This means that Black men have approximately 79x the wealth of Black women; white women have approximately 415x the wealth of Black women; and white men have approximately 438x the wealth of Black women.

DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF TITLE IX: In 2007, over thirty years after Title IX was passed, white women were benefitting more from the legislation than any other women. According to a report from the Department of Education, when looking at high school sophomores, the participation rate in sports for white women was 51%, compared to 40% for Black women, 34% for Asian/Pacific Islander women, and 34% for Hispanic women.

HIGH RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT: Black women ages 18-24 have the highest unemployment rate amongst women nationwide and, during the Great Recession, lost more jobs than their male counterparts.

HIGH INCARCERATION RATE: Just like Black men, women of color are incarcerated at far higher rates than their white peers. Black women are incarcerated at nearly 3 times the rate of white women. An estimated 1 in 18 for black women will be incarcerated at least once in their lifetime compared to 1 in 111 white women and 1 in 45 Latinas.

HIGH RATES OF TEEN PREGNANCY: Teenage pregnancy disproportionately burdens young Black women. Despite a national decline in teenage pregnancy rates, the pregnancy rate among Black teens is still twice that of White teens.

MARRIAGE DISPARITY: Black women disproportionately experience inequalities of love. Recent statistics gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that, between 2006-10, 55% of Black women were never married, compared to 34% of white women, 49% of Latinas, and 55% of Black men. Likewise, Black women have lower rates of cohabiting (9.3%) than their white (11%) and Latina (16%) peers.

HEALTH DISPARITIES: Black women have the highest rates of HIV among women, are more likely than non-Black women to die from breast cancer despite lower incidence overall, and face high rates of being uninsured even where employed.

 LIMITED PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT COMPARED TO MALE PEERS: Over the last decade over 100 million dollars has been invested in achievement, dropout prevention, and mentoring initiatives exclusively targeting Black and brown boys. During this same period, less than 1 million dollars in funding targeted Black and brown girls.

 CONTACT African American Policy Forum 435 W. 116th Street, Room 827 New York, NY 10027 aapf.info@gmail.com