Commentary by Dedan Waciuri
“Afro-Americans are more sinned against than sinning” ~ Ida B Wells
“A woman was lynched today” is what the headlines would have read if Ida B. Wells was still around to articulate the current lynching of Sonya Massey, whose life was violently taken away on July 6, 2024.
During the 1800s, Ida B. Wells documented the countless amount of bodies that were taken by this country’s racial violence against Black men, women, and children. It has been documented that from 1880 to 1930, at least 130 Black women were murdered by lynch mobs, numbers that tend to increase each year as Black women continue to face the violence of racial and gender inequality in this country.
Sonya Massey was a 36-year-old Mother, daughter, and member of our community who deserves Justice. This senseless murder stands as yet another example of the violence that the Black community experiences daily, often by those who are sworn to protect our community. Sonya’s call for help should have never resulted in her murder done by local authorities
At Emancipate NC, we continue the legacy of the great Ida B. Wells by speaking truth to power and denouncing the racial violence this country produces and manufactures against Black America. Join us as we encourage others to join local organizations and educate others about community defenses and safety.