The Look of Love

Adultification Bias in American Society

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

"This incident underscores the 'adultification bias' that young Black girls like Bobbi face in American society... It’s a very pervasive form of bias that does not know boundaries... In emergency rooms, we’re seeing it affect the treatment and diagnosis of Black girls. In schools, we’re seeing it come up in the form of harsher and more frequent discipline against Black girls... While the police handled the situation with Bobbi extremely well, it is also noted of the times where they didn’t – like last year when a Rochester police officer handcuffed a 9-year-old Black girl, put her in the back of a police car, and remarked 'you’re acting like a child' before pepper-spraying her as she cried out for her father." - Rebecca Epstein, Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality

With all of the progress that we have made as a society and as human beings, it's truly unfortunate that Black children still aren't held in the same esteem and compassion as all the other children of our nation and the world. It's unfortunate that they aren't looked out for equally and that their tears don't matter. From child welfare to law enforcement, to healthcare, education, and beyond, the experiences of Black children are discounted, discarded and of no concern to far too many.

Read the full CNN article here: https://bit.ly/BlackChildrenShouldMatter

Photo by CNN

Anti-Racism Resources

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

"Deepen your understanding of the pervasive discrimination and violence African Americans face with these anti-racism books, TV shows, films, and more. For young people, especially, reading and viewing stories about social injustice can be a powerful way to gain insight into what it really means to be Black in the US."

Books to read: https://binged.it/3GD1TyJ

TV and movies: https://binged.it/3V45ZUH

Books for kids & teens: https://binged.it/3Xqnn7U

Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3tVNara

TED Talks: http://bit.ly/3AHx3ku

By: Bing Anti-Racism Resources

Photo by Getty Images

The Hair Tales by Tracee Ellis Ross

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

Be sure to watch Hulu's "The Hair Tales," a new docuseries hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross!

"The Hair Tales is an intimate and intentional docuseries focused on the parallel journeys Black women have with their hair and with themselves... By centering the stories on Black hair and what it means to be a Black woman in this country, Tracee Ellis Ross will take viewers on a dynamic journey that documents not only how hair has been part of every Black woman’s identity and personal expression throughout history, but also the radical impact that Black women have had on culture and humanity. Through cultural, societal, and historical context, The Hair Tales acts as living documentation of the wholeness of Black women, and ultimately, the wholeness of culture. The Hair Tales will not only demonstrate that Black women are a runway to humanity but also how Black women liberate us all."

Watch the official trailer here:

SB 1085, authored by Senator Sydney Kamlager and signed by Governor Newsom of California

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

#ICYMI, SB 1085, authored by Senator Sydney Kamlager and signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, prevents child welfare removals based on poverty alone, and paves the way for further combatting unjust and often discriminatory family separation practices.

"We want to make it super clear that poverty should never be the sole reason why these children are coming into the jurisdiction of the child welfare system,” said Stephanie Jeffcoat, a community organizer with A New Way of Life Reentry Project, based in Los Angeles. “There have to be more reasons aside from ‘Oh, their refrigerator isn’t filled with food, their cabinets are bare, or their phone is broken.’ That should never be a reason for family separation.”

Follow along here:

https://bit.ly/SB1085-Kamlager

https://bit.ly/CA-CWBIlls

Activists Seek to Halt Poverty Based Family Separations

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

"The Reimagine Child Safety Coalition calls for legal counsel to be provided for low-income parents at the onset of a social worker investigation, instead of later...

Activists also want agencies to implement reforms that have been introduced in New York City and state that would guarantee parents Miranda-style rights at the onset of a child maltreatment investigation."

Read more here: https://bit.ly/ItsTimeToReimagine

"Motion Picture Academy Apologizes Formally to Sacheen Littlefeather at Celebration of Native American Culture"

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

"In 1973, Sacheen Littlefeather, a member of the Screen Actors Guild, became the first Native woman to stand onstage at the Academy Awards ceremony, on behalf of Marlon Brando. At his request, Littlefeather did not accept Brando’s Best Actor award for The Godfather and gave a passionate 60-second speech regarding the stereotypes of Native Americans in the entertainment industry. She also brought attention to the 1973 Wounded Knee protest in South Dakota. This moment resulted in her being professionally boycotted, personally attacked and harassed, and discriminated against for the last 50 years."

Read More: https://bit.ly/-LittleFeather

Live event on September 17, 2022: https://youtu.be/wNHtImiC90o

Updated October 3, 2022 by the Academy Museum

"Sacheen Littlefeather, who famously stepped onto the stage at the 45th Academy Awards and declined Marlon Brando's Best Actor Oscar on his behalf, died on Oct. 2 at her home in Novato, California. She was 75." https://aframe.oscars.org/news/post/sacheen-littlefeather-actress-and-civil-rights-activist-dies-at-75

The Trauma of Being Black in Foster Care by Dr. Kizzy Lopez

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

In this TEDxTalk, Dr. Kizzy Lopez shares her experiences as a Black child in foster care and "the reality of both the trauma and racism Black foster youth suffer." Today, she uses those experiences to advocate for more just child welfare policies, and reminds us that "our action or inaction creates a society that all if our children live in." She also exhorts us to be honest and "acknowledge that racism exists, get educated about the injustices that happen in communities of color, challenge our own unconscious bias, be engaged in policies and practices that dismantle structural racism, and do better because the lives of African American foster youth depend on it!"

#PassTheCROWN

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

NEWS ALERT🚨 Massachusetts is the 18th state to make hair discrimination unlawful!! Thank you, Governor Baker, for signing this important legislation!

"Our groundbreaking CROWN research study revealed that Black women are 80% more likely to change their hair from its natural state to fit in at the office. Now, this new body of research illuminates the pervasive nature and deep impact hair discrimination has on Black girls highlighting the horrific multi-generational impact of narrow beauty standards in America... These biases continue to perpetuate unfair scrutiny and discrimination against Black women and girls for wearing hairstyles inherent to our culture. This is unacceptable and why it is imperative that everyone join the movement to make hair discrimination illegal nationwide through the passage of The CROWN Act." - Esi Eggleston Bracey

Email your U.S. Legislator today to end race-based hair discrimination! https://bit.ly/PassTheCrown

A Celebration of Good

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

For the month of July, we've determined to continue our celebration of courage and the uplifting of those things that add light to our world. Oftentimes, we are so overwhelmed by the hour we live in that we are consumed and focus solely on these things. But let us rejoice in the Good that happens and may our collective prayers and hopes for humanity propel many more good things forward!

And so, we start our month honoring the wisdom and stand of State Trooper Jaret Doty and all those like him. As he teaches us in his incredible display of humanity, let your mark on the world be one of Light, servant leadership, empathy, compassion, and Justice. True power and honor is not found in crushing other human beings under the soles of one's feet. True power, honor, and wisdom is in upholding, lifting, empowering, helping and serving. May the courageous actions of Officer Doty be ones that we all aspire to follow!

Read more here: https://cnn.it/3nR1QVr

Linked article and images are from CNN

A Celebration of Courage

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

"Do Good Anyway!" - Mother Teresa

"You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right." - Rosa Parks

"The arc of history does not bend towards justice on its own. We push it there." - Ben Jealous

"And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular – but one must take it because it is right." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

"Get in trouble. Good trouble. Necessary trouble!" - Senator John Lewis

"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. BUT EVEN IF HE DOES NOT, we want you to know, let us be very clear, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'” - Daniel 3

On Celebrating Courage

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

We celebrate and honor the courage of NFL Superstar and Social Justice Activist Colin Kaepernick.

During the month of June, we determined to celebrate courage and those who despite all odds and opposition, held their positions firm on the side of justice, good, and light.

As we considered words that might capture the complete essence of our deep appreciation for Colin Kaepernick's courageous position against injustice and institutional racism, our words failed us, and even our most holy and sincere tokens of appreciation were not enough. And so we say "Thank You, Colin Kaepernick" for your courage, conviction, and your many sacrifices for Good!

May all of heaven honor your prayers 🙏🏾🕊️

An Inspiring Story of Resilience

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

“Follow one family’s journey to reunite with relatives of their ancestor, Hawkins Wilson, who was born into slavery and torn from his family as a young boy. As a grown, newly-freedman nearly 25 years later, Hawkins Wilson sent letters to the Freedmen’s Bureau desperately seeking assistance locating his siblings, but unfortunately, the letters were never delivered and his story, like many others, was suspended in time–until now.

This inspiring story of resilience and hope showcases the impact one family history discovery can have on an entire community that has faced many roadblocks when it comes to understanding their past.” - Ancestry.com

On Celebrating Courage

The Look of Love Niya ParksComment

In our ongoing trajectory of honoring courage, we celebrate the life of William Lewis Moore.

“Known for standing up for his beliefs,” Moore, as a Postman, walked to protest segregation, and along with Black student protestors, was jailed for opposing the injustices that were inflicted upon Black Americans because of the color of our skin. On April 23, 1963, Moore was killed for the righteous stand he took against societal and institutional racism.

To learn more about William Lewis Moore, please visit: https://www.splcenter.org/william-lewis-moore