Generational Trauma and the Victimization of Black Women and Girls in America

One in four black girls will be sexually abused before the age of 18. Forty-five percent of black women have experienced abuse from an intimate partner. Forty percent of human trafficking victims are black. As fragments of data, these statistics are alarming. Contextualized within the historical experiences of black women and girls in America, they are the results of the sexualization of black women rooted in generational trauma steeped in racism, slavery, dehumanization and so much more. We dive into the history, data and language of these experiences; how they are shaped by policy making and practices in the U.S.; and the role each of us can play in shifting the experience from black woman tropes and victimization to beautifully complex and deserving of multilayered support. Ayana Wallace, Training and Technical Assistance Manager at Ujima: The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community, lends her unique and courageous voice to this conversation providing both history and hands-on understanding of black women survivor needs and experiences. Ms. Wallace has worked for over a decade in the domestic violence field providing direct service to survivors, technical assistance to advocates, law enforcement, community-based partners and faith communities, and toward the advancement of national initiatives that benefit survivors.