The belief that children should be nurtured and protected doesn’t always extend to all children. A report published by the Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality showed that adults were more likely to assume that black girls were older, more independent, more responsible for their offenses, and more knowledgeable about sex — basically, more adult-like — than white girls of the same age. From a young age many black girls are told not to wear certain clothes, not to be in front of men and are often oversexualzed and called “fast” or other derogatory terms. Black girls who are sexually abused are often led to believe it’s their fault because they’re “too grown”. This is an attitude which is unfortunately believed by many people not only in the Black community but in the larger society.
As early as age 5, many adults perceive Black girls as knowing more about sex and not needing as much nurturing as White girls of the same age. Black women of all ages are generally oversexualized and in the past it was believed that Black women couldn’t be raped. This extends to black girls being told they’re somehow at fault if they are molested. It’s very important to nurture and love Black girls so they don’t grow up thinking they’re not worthy of being loved and cherished. Black girls are just as entitled and deserving of equal treatment and protection as white children. They deserve to just be children.
Transforming Lives 