When I studied victimology, they didn’t tell us how victimization changes for Black victims – namely, for Black women. They also did not tell us just how difficult it was to not only be believed as a Black woman, but also that there was a higher likelihood of victimization as a Black woman. It is almost as if there are not enough statistics, not enough research, not enough attention paid to Black women.

Claudia Owusu – a Ghanaian American filmmaker, journalist, content producer and editor – directed the film Ampe: Leap into the Sky, Black Girl. Co-directed alongside Ife Oluwamuyide, the documentary film tells the story of one of Ghana's women-only games called ampe.

Black pop culture has always had its inner secrets, invisible writings on the walls and hushed truths. But 2023 brought forth a true crack in the dam that left the Black community drowning in discourse, dissolution and, dare I say, desolation.

In a society that both rewards and punishes conforming, those who veer outside the norm have the potential to be trendsetters ahead of their time. One such artist is hemlocke springs, a young artist from North Carolina.

The recognition month invites us to embrace achievements, build understanding and awareness, and celebrate the rich history of the past, present and future generations of Black Women and all women across the African/Black Diaspora.

"[I]t is not lost on me how only Black women have been called out for the usage of ableist slurs in their songs while non-Black celebrities continue to use ableist language daily...while sp*z is indeed a slur, it has also very much been a part of AAVE – African American Vernacular English – for years and until recently was not seen as a slur by the able-bodied and neurotypical Black community. Even some disabled and neurodivergent Black people were not aware.

That said, it's important to understand that no matter who the term is being used by, it should still be considered a slur, but in order for the intersection of ableism and racism to be discussed in depth, the platform to speak on it needs to be given to a Black disabled person. This is the only way there can be true education."