Trigger warning: This article contains references to shootings and violence.
In October 2020, then-vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris praised rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s bravery for speaking out against the mistreatment of Black women.
Megan Thee Stallion wrote a powerful essay for the New York Times on October 13 titled, ‘Why I Speak Up for Black Women.’ Megan’s essay highlights the disrespect and neglect that black women face in various aspects of life.
Harris, the first black woman to run for president in the US, showed her support by sharing Megan’s article on Twitter. “Thank you @theestallion for using your voice to speak out. Black women deserve better,” Harris wrote. She assured readers that if she and Joe Biden are elected, they will do more than just pay lip service to the cause.
Megan Thee Stallion wrote an essay detailing a disturbing personal experience. She alleged that Tory Lanez, a fellow rapper, shot her in the leg at a house party earlier that summer. Megan’s essay was published shortly after Lanez was accused of assaulting her with a gun. Lanez repeatedly denied all allegations.
“I recently became a victim of violence from a man,” Megan wrote. “After a party, as I was walking away from him, I was shot twice. We were not in a relationship. To be honest, I was surprised I got to that place.”
The rapper spoke about the suspicion and judgement she experienced as a victim. She wrote that even as a victim, she has faced suspicion and judgement. The way people have publicly questioned and debated whether she played any role in her own violent attack shows that her concerns about discussing what happened were, unfortunately, justified.
Tory Lanez made his first court appearance since Megan’s essay was published. Lanez was ordered by the court not to contact Megan Thee Stallion and to surrender all firearms he owns. Lanez could face up to 23 years in prison.
Lanez’s court appearance and the charges against her have attracted much attention, with many people closely following the legal proceedings. The case has also sparked a wider debate about violence against women and the portrayal of black women in the media and legal systems.
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