The Black Lives Matter movement that has the world on its feet. 2020 has been full of misfortune with COVID-19 lurking around every corner of the world. The Coronavirus was the tip of the iceberg because once again, African- Americans are killed for the color of their skin. Since the beginning, racism has always been an issue that divided this nation. It has killed more people in this world than the Coronavirus ever can. The men in blue are supposed to protect us.Â
Who do we turn to now? Random people are walking up to African-Americans and killing us on the street. As an African-American woman, I am afraid for my people. Will this type of behavior continue forever? Will my children’s children endure this hatred? Recently, two young women were killed, one for just being black and the other for being an outspoken activist. Here is an update on their stories.Â
In Akron, Ohio, a young woman running errands with her grandmother was shot and killed at a red light. Na’Kia Crawford was an 18-year-old high school graduate with the intention of attending Central State University. Crawford’s murderer has not been found, and it is still unknown if the person who killed her is black or white. Her murder is looking more and more like a hate crime every single day. Who walks up to an 18-year-old black girl’s car and shoots them with no warning or reason? Crawford’s family has hired civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump. Crump has represented the families of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Tamir Rice. A $50,0000 reward is given to anyone who has any information on the person who killed her.
A Black Lives Matter activist, Oluwatoyin Salau, was kidnapped after tweeting about being sexually assaulted by a black man on June 6, 2020. Salau’s body was found on June 13, 2020. She was killed by a black man who offered her a place to stay. Aaron Glee Jr. is the man who murdered Salau and has been arrested. Glee confessed to kidnapping and murdering her while in an Orlando hospital. It is known that the man who killed the prominent Black Lives Matter figure is not the man who sexually assaulted her at the times of her tweets.Â
When things like this happen, all you can think is why. All types of questions pop in a person’s head. Why kill two young black women? Why was Crawford killed and not the grandmother? Where was Oluwatoyin’s family when she needed a place to stay? Salau was first sexually assaulted by a black man, then was murdered and raped by one. She was a light in the black lives matter movement, why would one of our own hurt her? Crawford was an excited graduate ready for the next chapter of her life. Why kill such a young and promising woman? Questions we will ask ourselves daily and may never have answers to. Remember the women and men who have suffered because they weren’t afraid to be outspoken and bold. Remember the women and men who perished at the hands of racial violence.
Christina Woodard, Magazine Manager at SwagHer
Instagram: @cstina.nicole
