It’s Wednesday. On a warm evening in Flatbush I’m here sitting with my friend/coworker Zuri at 333 Lounge. We’re sitting by the bars with friends waiting to hear our friend Kojo Stone perform songs from his hit EP “Ego Trip”. As the music is setting up, I decided to just ask the questions about abuse right there and then. Our work schedules never matched so this was the perfect time. I also ended up texting my friend Regina the same exact questions regarding abuse as well. In the meantime, Zuri went on to tell me the issues that she dealt with her ex as well as her friend’s current relationship that was volatile. When asked if there any signs of abuse, she went on to talk about a night at a rooftop party. Her friend and her boyfriend weren’t together at the time yet they always kept in contact with each other. It then got to the point where he found out where they were, got into an argument, and he proceeded to try and throw her off the roof. That was “strike 1” in the conversation.
At this time, we weere listening to the soulful R&B songs that Kojo Stone played had everybody jamming, from songs like “Energy” to “Surface Love” with a live band at that it was just a good setting and nice vibes. Around this time Regina texted me back and gave me quite a story of what her friends had to deal with, what she witnessed growing up, and what she saw as the solution regarding abuse. Songs like “Always on My Mind” by Daville, “Longing For” by Jah Cure, and “I’m Not Afraid” by Etana were playing in the background as well. I had to point these specific songs out because to me it matched h the stories I was listening intently to and made me see the themes that could be pointed out for my project.
All in all, abuse is a form of oppression and violence that Black women have to endure. This is a declaration of war to their mind, body, and soul. The voices of Black women must not be silenced. Malcolm X said it best in the quote above..