Justice for Her: A Digital Chronicle of Strength and Struggle

Abstract:
This Justice for Her: A Digital Chronicle of Strength and Struggle project is an important, interactive exhibit that explores the history of the #SayHerName Campaign, Breonna Taylor’s tragic murder, and the impact her murder has had on the movement. Using an in-depth timeline, dynamic interactive photos, and a compelling oral history, I will highlight the systemic structures that led to her murder on March 13, 2020 and the global movement that was amplified in her name.

The audience will examine the events revolving around Breonna’s death, giving them a deeper understanding of the #SayHerName movement which will subsequently center Black women’s voices in the call for police reform. The goal of my exhibit is to inform and inspire people to fight for accountability and justice. This exhibit emphasizes Breonna’s story while also paying respect to the women whose stories have gone unheard.

Introduction:
The #SayHerName campaign was created in 2014 by the African American Policy Forum and the Center for Intersectionality and Social Policy Studies. This was done to bring attention to the Black women and girls who are impacted by police violence but being their stories often go unheard. The campaign’s goal was to emphasize these cases and to make sure they were not overlooked in the broader discourse about police brutality, and Breonna Taylor’s death became the biggest and most visible moment since the conception of the movement. ^[1]

Historiography:

The origins: In 2014 the campaign was created in response to the lack of visibility of Black women in national discourse about police brutality. The conversations typically revolved around Black men who have been victims, such as Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, and Eric Garner. Kimberle Crenshaw and Andrea Ritchie aimed to bring light the stories of women who were victims; Rekia Boyd, Sandra Bland, and more who were excluded from the conversations.

Development: In the years following its conception, the #SayHerName campaign gained momentum through community organizing, art exhibits, and the publication of reports like Say Her Name: Resisting Police Brutality Against Black Women. This report detailed the growing number of deaths of Black men and women, but focused on delving deeper into the deaths of women. The campaign connected with Black Lives Matter to guarantee there is an intersectional approach to hold police accountable. “including Black women and girls in the narrative broadens the scope of the debate, enhancing our overall understanding of the structural relationship between Black communities and law enforcement agencies” (Crenshaw 2015, 6). ^[2]

Protect Breonna, protect myself this first-person account from Kenneth Walker on the night Breonna Taylor was murdered provides insight on the way the event unfolded. This also provides the human perspective of the events that led to her death and after, which shows the humanity in a person who lost their life due to excessive police force. You get to see the emotional and psychological impact this event had on her boyfriend, which provides insight on the trauma and pain experienced by families and loved who are victims of it. ^[3]

Breonna Taylor Investigation report provides direct and immediate evidence regarding Breonna Taylor’s death. They provide video, pictures, and preliminary reports of the incident from first person point of view. The initial reports were found to be inaccurate or misleading, however, it still provided important insight to how the night went and the policies and procedures that were broken which ultimately led to her death. This information will help emphasize the transparency needed as well as reform regarding the way Black women are treated by the police. ^[4]

#SayHerName: Resisting police brutality against Black women this report done by Kimberle Crenshaw, who is regarded as an integral person in the study and reach regarding intersectionality. The report gives a look into the #SayHerName campaign, its origins, and the deep history of police brutality in America. It will provide understanding of the history and foundation of the campaign. It also helps deepen the understanding of race and gender violence and how they coexist to create the issues discussed and how Breonna Taylor’s case sparked higher interest in Black women’s experiences with the police. ^[5]

How Breonna Taylor’s death became a flashpoint for the “Say Her Name” movement. This article discussed the way Breonna Taylor’s death helped the #SayHerName campaign pick up steam again, after losing traction prior to. It breaks down the way that her case became extremely important and how it prompted activists and the public to reexamine how police violence against Black women is discussed and publicized. Gonzalez’s article is relevant because it focused on the immediate impact of Breonna’s death and the resurgence of the #SayHerName campaign. ^[6]

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Analysis:
Breonna Taylor’s death gives direct insight to the patterns of police violence against Black girls and women, positioning her story within larger discourse on intersectionality and the way that institutional violence impacts marginalized groups at a higher rate. By connecting her story to historical and present-day analyses of police brutality, the lens uncovers the layers of oppression Black women face.

Although discourse regarding police brutality have mostly centered Black men, past and present scholarship has examined the specific issues that Black women face. Black women experiencing violence dates back all the way to slavery, and it reveals that their bodies have been places of both racial and gendered violence and control. Women, Race, and Class by Angela Davis and Malini Bhattachrya shows how Black women’s marginalization comes from systems that intersect, these systems include racism, sexism, and economic exploitation. ^[11]

The term intersectionality was created by Kimberle Crenshaw, a scholar whose work in gender studies has made a significant impact on the way these issues are examined and discussed. Intersectionality is defined as a lens through which you can see where power comes and collides, where it interlocks and intersects (Crenshaw, 2017).^[12] Kimberle emphasizes that understanding police violence requires looking at the ways race and gender connect to form experiences of oppression.

Contemporary Scholarship:

Police Violence and Invisibility: The death of Breonna Taylor is symbolic of the exclusion of Black women and girls in conversations about police brutality. Andrea Ritchie, who is a scholar argues that Black women are impacted by unique forms of violence which often goes unnoticed by the public and people academia. This violence can be physical, such a police violence, but it can also be the criminalization of their means to survival that leads to an increase of surveillance over their lives.

Victimhood: Research has provided insight on how Black women such as Breonna Taylor may not have the perception of innocent victims, which is the opposite experience compared to white women. Historically, the “strong Black woman” trope has desensitized people to the suffering that they face. Breonna’s case being ignored initially is evidence of that pattern. In an article written by Kalli Moss, this is discussed at length; Breonna was portrayed as a drug dealer along with her boyfriend which made the public and law enforcement less empathetic when discussing the case. This dehumanizes Black women and leads to them being looked at as someone who deserved what happened to them. To receive justice, society needs them to be a perfect victim. “Black women who do not conform to the “good victim” stereotype run the risk of having their victimization undermined” (Harrison & Esqueda 1999, 129). ^[13]

Intersectionality: The #SayHerName campaign challenges racial justice and feminist movements to acknowledge and account for the stories of Black women and girls. Crenshaw makes a point to emphasize that the erasure of Black women’s stories reinforces the invisibility of them within campaigns that should advocate for them. The recognition of Breonna Taylor’s death globally within the context of the #SayHerName movement shows how intersectionality as a foundation has influenced social justice campaigns.

Breonna Taylor’s Impact:

Nationally: Breonna’s murder occurred while police were executing an illegal no-knock warrant, and it became a pivotal moment in the #SayHerName movement. Her story was told through social media, community organizing, and increased visibility due to the advocacy of public figures. These sources coupled together brought unparalleled attention to the institutional issues Black women endure during their interactions with police. The slogan #SayHerName became a rallying cry at protests in America.

Internationally: In other countries, Breonna’s case has been an integral part of bringing awareness to Black women who have experienced police violence globally. Brazil, for example, Black people are disproportionately impacted by police brutality, specifically women like Claudia Ferreira and Marielle Franco. They have been important symbols of protest against institutional violence. Breonna’s name has also been used by activists in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Latin America to shed light on the cases of gendered violence happening in their countries. Black women are not only oppressed through overt violence, but also subtle forms of institutional oppression. Similarly to Crenshaw, Patricia Hill Collins, a scholar, argues that intersectionality is extremely important to understand how these systems move together to marginalize Black women. ^[14]

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Conclusion:

Breonna Taylor’s case was an important moment for the #SayHerName Campaign. It not only emphasized the need of addressing police brutality against Black women, but it uncovered how institutional injustice constantly minimizes and even erase their experiences. Centering Breonna’s case within its larger goal showed the relevance and resilience of the women who have been victims of police violence. It stresses the importance of having Black women’s story apart of the narrative when fighting for racial justice. Breonna’s legacy continues to inspire policy reform, activism, and discourse, stamping the #SayHerName campaign as an integral part of the ongoing battle for equality and recognition.

Advocacy Hub: