History: Black Women and Rape

[Wind Song]

Once upon a time, it wasn't a crime to rape a black woman.
"The movement to end sexual violence in the lives of Black women in the U.S. is inextricably connected to the Civil Rights movement. We cannot effectively discuss the issue of sexual assault in Black communities without acknowledging the direct war that was waged against Black women through rape during slavery and the Jim Crow era."

"The Department of Justice estimates that for every white woman that reports her rape, at least 5 white women do not report theirs; and yet, for every African-American woman that reports her rape, at least 15 African-American women do not report theirs."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/shenegot...of-resistance/

[Dilloduck]

Once upon a time, it wasn't a crime to rape a black woman.
"The movement to end sexual violence in the lives of Black women in the U.S. is inextricably connected to the Civil Rights movement. We cannot effectively discuss the issue of sexual assault in Black communities without acknowledging the direct war that was waged against Black women through rape during slavery and the Jim Crow era."

"The Department of Justice estimates that for every white woman that reports her rape, at least 5 white women do not report theirs; and yet, for every African-American woman that reports her rape, at least 15 African-American women do not report theirs."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/shenegot...of-resistance/

Who is responsible for getting black rape victims to report it?

[jimnyc]

Great, another thread where blacks are victims more so than whites.

They are responsible for reporting it themselves. Unless you think poor whitey needs to visit them daily for reports.

[Dilloduck]

Great, another thread where blacks are victims more so than whites.

They are responsible for reporting it themselves. Unless you think poor whitey needs to visit them daily for reports.

Well our mistreatment of them destroyed them and the evidence is apparently all around us today.

[Wind Song]

What's impressive is the role that black women have had in the rape crisis movement.

[gabosaurus]

Jeez Wind Song, the Civil Rights movement ended 50 years ago. Black people can take of themselves. You do not need to speak for them.
That being said, there is ZERO reason for this thread.

[jimnyc]

What's impressive is the role that black women have had in the rape crisis movement.

I'd say that white women that have been abused, or raped, and their commitment to the movement has been pretty impressive as well.

[Wind Song]

I'd say that white women that have been abused, or raped, and their commitment to the movement has been pretty impressive as well.

Sure. Give black women credit for being at the forefront of the movement. US Law once made it legal for black women to be raped.

[jimnyc]

Sure. Give black women credit for being at the forefront of the movement. US Law once made it legal for black women to be raped.

When did this change from being legal, to being illegal? And what does it have to do with black women not reporting crimes TODAY? I'm betting it's because the percentage of black men who beat their women is astronomically higher than whites. They place them in fear and probably keep them from "doing the right thing".

[Dilloduck]

Sure. Give black women credit for being at the forefront of the movement. US Law once made it legal for black women to be raped.

Which law said it was legal to rape black women?

[jimnyc]

Which law said it was legal to rape black women?

This is a good question, WS - can you please cite the prior law for us that legalized rape against black women?

[Wind Song]

Which law said it was legal to rape black women?

Let me check that for you. It's related to slavery.

As early as 1660 in Colonial America laws encouraged the "sexual tyranny" of African American slaves by slave owners to enhance owners' economic and social gain. Slave owners especially victimized African American women; offspring from the rape of African American women slaves by slave owners increased slave populations and owners' holdings. Moral justification for the sexual oppression and exploitation of African American slaves stemmed from 15th century Christian missionary attitudes that vilified the "sexual appetite" of Africans. Stereotypes about male African American sexual prowess and the sexual promiscuity of female African Americans linger to this day. Until slavery was abolished, African American slaves had no legal recourse for rape. After slavery, the American legal system treated the rape of African American and White women differently; African American women's sexual assaults were not taken as seriously.
http://www.musc.edu/vawprevention/re...cultural.shtml

[Dilloduck]

Let me check that for you. It's related to slavery.

When slavery was legal you could basically kill a slave without being convicted. Do you think you are educating us on something here?

[jimnyc]

Let me check that for you. It's related to slavery.

As early as 1660 in Colonial America laws encouraged the "sexual tyranny" of African American slaves by slave owners to enhance owners' economic and social gain. Slave owners especially victimized African American women; offspring from the rape of African American women slaves by slave owners increased slave populations and owners' holdings. Moral justification for the sexual oppression and exploitation of African American slaves stemmed from 15th century Christian missionary attitudes that vilified the "sexual appetite" of Africans. Stereotypes about male African American sexual prowess and the sexual promiscuity of female African Americans linger to this day. Until slavery was abolished, African American slaves had no legal recourse for rape. After slavery, the American legal system treated the rape of African American and White women differently; African American women's sexual assaults were not taken as seriously.
http://www.musc.edu/vawprevention/re...cultural.shtml

I don't see anything in there about laws...

And how long ago was this? And you're still whining about it now? What does this have to do with TODAY and black women not reporting rapes?

[Wind Song]

The effect of race on patterns of disclosure of sexual assault

1. African American subjects were significantly less likely than their White counterparts to have disclosed incidents of sexual assault prior to the present study.
2. Few African American (23%) and similarly few White victims (31%) had reported their sexual assaults to police or rape centers. African American women were slightly more likely to have withheld reports of attempted rape from authorities.
3. African American women victims reported slightly less support when they disclosed their assaults to a confidant than White victims reported receiving.
   Race and the impact of sexual assault on victims

1. African American subjects were significantly more likely than White subjects to blame their living circumstances for placing them at risk for victimization.
2. African American subjects tended to be the victims of repeated sexual assaults slightly more often than White subjects. This has implications for recovery from rape.
3. White victims of sexual assault were significantly more likely than African American victims to engage in a broad range of sexual behaviors including oral and anal sex, extramarital affairs, many sex partners and short-term sexual relationships.
4. African American subjects were significantly more likely than White subjects to have heard sexual and racial stereotypes regarding what kinds of women are likely to be raped. This may indicate that society conveys stereotypes about rape to African Americans more than to Whites.
5. http://www.musc.edu/vawprevention/re...cultural.shtml