The Savage hitmaker stands up for Black women in a New York Times op-ed.
Megan Thee Stallion has written an opinion piece for the New York Times, in which she addresses some of the prejudices she’s faced in the music industry as a Black woman, and her recent shooting with Tory Lanez.
On the altercation, which took place after a party in the Hollywood Hills, she writes, “My initial silence about what happened was out of fear for myself and my friends. Even as a victim, I have been met with skepticism and judgement.” [sic]
“After a lot of self-reflection on that incident, I’ve realised that violence against women is not always connected to being in a relationship. Instead, it happens because too many men treat all women as objects, which helps them to justify inflicting abuse against us when we choose to exercise our own free will.” She goes on to say that this issue is intensified for Black women, who “struggle against stereotypes and are seen as angry or threatening when we try to stand up for ourselves and our sisters”.
During her Saturday Night Live performance this month, the 25-year-old musician projected the words “Protect Black Women” on stage, and rebuked Daniel Cameron – the Attorney General of Kentucky – for his decision on Breonna Taylor’s case. In her article, she touches upon the performance. “I’m not afraid of criticism,” she writes. “We live in a country where we have the freedom to criticise elected officials. And it’s ridiculous that some people think the simple phrase ‘Protect Black women’ is controversial.” [sic]
The artist also discusses double standards that work against Black women, racial biases in healthcare, and the hip-hop industry’s insistence on creating competition between Nicki Minaj, Cardi B and Megan. On the US election, she says, “My hope is that Kamala Harris’ candidacy for vice president will usher in an era where Black women in 2020 are no longer ‘making history’ for achieving things that should have been accomplished decades ago.”
Read the full piece here.
