We Are Black Women, We Are Invisible

One of the things that has become abundantly clear during this high profile presidential primary campaign is the fact that black women are virtually invisible. Oh yes, we are getting plenty of attention because of the South Carolina primary, but that back-handed type of focus only serves to prove my point. Beyond beauty shops and Essence magazine, the average person in America seems to be completely clueless about African American women. White feminists overlook our race and Black men overlook our gender. In the mainstream media we seem to have no discernible identity that they can locate or measure.

There are plenty of high profile, successful, intelligent, passionate, and hardworking black women of all social classes across the United States, yet there has been a mind-boggling inability to find a core group of black women to express any collective thought about our issues or concerns. I am beyond wondering if this is pure ignorance, but more of by design. What I do wonder is are black women that easy to ignore? Are black women that silent? What is going to be the impact on lives of black women if we continue in our current state of invisibility?

Maybe since CNN got embarrassed by its readers, the station's producers, editors, and reporters will work just a little harder to find black women who can truly address black women's beliefs, issues, concerns, and values. I have provided a short list of black women whose opinions I would love to hear regarding the upcoming election and have yet to see or hear them in any capacity. Please feel free to share any other names.

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie - first female bishop in the AME church.

Angela Davis - professor, activist, author

Bell Hooks - professor, feminist, author

Marian Wright Edelman - founder and President of the Children's Defense Fund.

Historically Black Sororities - 4 different organizations, thousands of black women

Kristal Brent Zook - professor, journalist, author

Sister Souljah - activist, author

Black Churches - How did the media bypass all those black women in church?

Black Female Bloggers - if NPR can find us, why can't the mainstream media?