The first 100 days: The Black girls’ agenda
There are a few moments in history after which we spend a lifetime recalling where we were, what we were doing, and how we felt during that memorable moment. On Jan. 20, many of us felt a sense of pride, hope and validation as we witnessed the first woman and first African-Asian American sworn in as the vice president of the United States of America. For a moment, there was a sense of victory over the years of systemic racial and gender oppression.
to break, policies and practices that negatively impact girls, especially Black girls, are still in place. Now is the time that we lace up our Chucks, put on our pearls and call the Biden-Harris administration forward to make good on their campaign promises. Equity was a high value as they solicited votes in 2020, and it must remain elevated on the agenda.
Gwen’s Girls and the Black Girls Equity Alliance call upon the Biden-Harris administration to make history once again by being the first to prioritize Black girls in its first 100 days.
They must better understand Black girls. The Black Girls Equity Alliance issued reports outlining how the intersection of racism and sexism negatively impacts girls’ outcomes in the juvenile justice, education and child welfare systems. However, unlike Pittsburgh, most municipalities across the country do not collect such data about youth involved in multiple systems and across multiple identities. We must set up similar collaborations across the country. The White House Gender Policy Council should serve as the convener for research, programs and policies that support Black girls’ ability to thrive.
They must keep Black girls in school. The administration should openly support the Ending PUSHOUT Act and demand Congress pass the bill this legislative session. Reps. Ayanna Pressley, DMass, Ilhan Ohmar, D-Minn., and Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J., introduced the Ending PUSHOUT Act in 2019 to stop the harmful practices that push girls of color out of schools. The bill aims to dismantle the school-to-juvenile-justice pipeline by delivering trauma-informed practices in schools. Too often, Black girls are targeted and disproportionately punished for merely being themselves. Between structural racism, misogynoir and adultification bias, their childhood misbehaviors can carry grievous consequences, unlike their white counterparts.
They must treat Black girls fairly. In Pittsburgh, Black girls are 10 times more likely to be arrested than white girls, often for disorderly conduct charges in schools. These charges are subjective at best and biased at worst since they type-punish misbehaviors like cursing. Most system-involved girls have experienced some form of abuse, and many girls get in trouble for defending themselves. The Biden-Harris administration must fully integrate evidence-based trauma-informed approaches into the juvenile justice system through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention guidance and leadership. OJJDP should support local
jurisdictions in understanding the role that trauma plays in youth behaviors and implementing evidence-trauma-informed approaches in their work. The agency should also prioritize funding that assists municipalities in expanding culturally responsive diversion programs and community partnerships.
They must protect Black girls. Far too many of our girls are trapped in a cycle of human trafficking, sexual exploitation and abuse. Unfortunately, our child welfare and juvenile justice systems continue to blame them instead of helping them. This administration should address the pervasiveness of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and implement approaches that help shift the narrative from “what’s wrong with you” to “what happened to you.”
The Biden-Harris administration should also address sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools through evidence-based prevention and intervention programs. Schools should receive federal guidance on best practice standards regarding sexuality education and gender-based violence prevention. This guidance should be established not only from public health experts, but also by intentionally integrating Black women and girls to voice their needs, concerns and perspectives. Too often they are left out of discussions about their bodies.
They must promote healing for Black girls. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, we know that students are experiencing increased stress and trauma. Black girls need to have access to culturally appropriate healing-centered trauma-informed mental health services. States and local jurisdictions need guidance and resources to implement trauma-informed care training that provides a socio-historical trauma experienced by Black women and girls.
They must prioritize Black girls. Gwen’s Girls and the Black Girls Equity Alliance call on the Biden-Harris administration to elevate gender and racial equity in its first 100 days. We developed a 2021 Black Girls Policy agenda to help ensure that the outlined priorities are realized for Black girls, allowing them to survive and thrive.