Written by | Ray Cornelius
I had the distinct pleasure of supporting my sister in media, Rose Scott of WABE 90.1, Monday night for a conversation she hosted with #BlackLivesMatter co-founder Patrisse Khan-Cullors. The event took place at Atlanta’s historic Jimmy Carter Center and was free and open to the public.
Khan-Cullors is on a nationwide tour promoting her new book, When They Call You a Terrorist, which is being described as a “poetic memoir and reflection on humanity.” While she and the other co-founders of the movement—Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi—have been labeled “a threat to America,” Khan-Cullors see there defiant push for truth and equality through #BlackLivesMatter as an expression of love for Black people who have been criminalized far too long by systems of racism and hate.
“Black Lives Matter, when we first started felt like a deep expression of love. It felt like a deep expression of care and generosity and rage and disgust. But it wasn’t contained. We couldn’t contain it. There were no logic models for it. There were no 501 c3 goals. It was raw and necessary,” said Khan-Cullors to the packed audience.
The #BlackLivesMatter Movement began as a hashtag response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in the Summer of 2013. Garza responded to the devastating news with a social media post and caption that read: “Our Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter.” Cullors followed that up with the now famous “#BlackLivesMatter.”
Since that time, the trio have gone on to help fight injustice towards Black people around the world. Their scope has also expanded to spotlighting the marginalization of other minority groups including LGBTQ and Transgender. Khan-Cullors is also pulling back the curtains on recent issues of hospital neglect towards African-American women after a near death experience she had during her recent pregnancy.
“The complete neglect of Black women in hospitals is disgusting. It’s disturbing…I remember one of my last visits before I ended up having my c-section, I called my midwives and told them I was having anxiety every time I had to go to the hospital,” said Khan-Cullors. “I want to do more research and see if this is common and if this happens to all women or just Black women. It made me realize how little support Black women get when we’re literally giving birth to the world.”
Patrice Khan-Cullors will be appearing in Chicago tonight speaking about her book with the Black Youth Project 100’s Charlene Carruthers.
See more photos below from the event and click here to purchase your copy:
Dryer Buzz’s Yalanda Lattimore +
A Seat at the Table‘s Denene Millner + daughter
Rose Scott +Patrisse Khan-Cullors
Rose Scott +Patrisse Khan-Cullors + Mary Hooks
Yalanda Lattimore + Rose Scott
Ray Cornelius + Rose Scott
Photo Credits: RayCornelius.com