Fight for You | Stephanie Webb

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December 1, 2018December 12, 2018

Havana Chapman-Edwards is the Student Activist We Need Right Now

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November 4, 2018December 12, 2018

‘Justice Parade For Youth’ Organized by Youth

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October 21, 2018December 12, 2018

Review: ‘The Hate U Give’ Teaches Young Black Girls to Find Their Voice

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October 6, 2018October 27, 2018

Lift Us Up, Don’t Push Us Out | Art 180 Opens Exhibition About School Push-Out

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September 22, 2018December 12, 2018

Richmond Stands United on the International Day of Peace

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September 1, 2018November 29, 2018

An Interview With the Sister of Marcus-David Peters

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August 16, 2018December 12, 2018

Patrisse Khan-Cullors on Intersectionality, Art and Memoir

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Are you a Black youth age 14 and up interested in writing and intersectional racial justice? Before you submit, make sure your submission aligns with the mission and content on Black Feminist Collective and is at least 500 words. When the Google Form is completely filled out, and your submission is reviewed, you will have your article published within a week.

The Editor-in-Chief

ACLU of Virginia

I’m Stephanie, a 16 year old Black student activist/organizer who advocates for STEAM diversity, womanism, youth prison abolition and community nonviolence. In 2017, I decided to create this website after creating a project called “Black HerStory Month” which went viral. I help other young people apply nonviolent conflict resolution at the Richmond Peace Education Center (RPEC), where I was given a platform to write spoken-word poetry in response to police brutality, the policing of mixed-race identity and White feminism. After seeing one of my performances, I was invited by the Afrikana Independent Film Festival to volunteer as a youth ambassador at a screening of Free Angela and All Political Prisoners, where I met Angela Y. Davis, which poised me to create Angela Davis’ Black Girl Coalition. After about six years of participating and mentoring in life-changing STEM programs for underrepresented communities, I started attending Girls Who Code clubs, where I was soon selected to travel to Atlanta for a coding immersion program at G.E which not only changed my life, but also helped me give back to Black girls by launching Girls Who Code RVA. Delivering a speech at a March For Our Lives demonstration gave me the opportunities to co-create Youth Coalition for Justice to encourage youth activism among youth of color, and to write articles for the ACLU of Virginia. I was then invited to attend the ACLU’s National Membership Conference where I met and interviewed Patrisse Khan-Cullors, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter. Creating the Black Girl Coalition has poised me to write for Black Youth Project, speak at the Virginia Prison Reform Rally, campaign, lobby and eventually organized a march with RISE For Youth for alternatives to youth incarceration.

Havana Chapman-Edwards is the Student Activist We Need Right Now - The Melanin Diary

Black Girls and the Shootings That Don’t Make Major Mainstream News - Sesi Magazine

"You can find inspiration from other Black girls in the movement. A few of our faves: Stephanie is a student activist from Richmond, Virginia, who uses her blog and her connects with the Richmond Peace Education Center and the ACLU of Virginia to advocate for diversity in S.T.E.A.M., for the abolition of youth imprisonment, for the use of nonviolence as conflict resolution, and against gun violence."
- Sesi Magazine

Schools Need to Guide Black Girls, not Criminalize Us - The Melanin Diary

Activism at 16: RVA Youth Lead the Way - RVA Mag

"Most 16-year-olds aren’t writing articles for the ACLU of Virginia, planning to help lead a parade centered around juvenile justice, or interviewing Black Lives Matter (BLM) co-founder Patrisse Khan-Cullors."

The Power in the Simplest of Actions - RVA Mag

"At the beginning and end we heard speeches (one by my friend Stephanie), songs, raps, poetry, and freestyle dances, all of which went to support a bigger cause."

Movie Review - The Hate U Give

Interview with Chelsea Higgs Wise of Women and Politics WRIR 97.3 FM Richmond Independent Radio

NextGen America

"These young women may be too young to vote, but that didn't stop them from fighting in their own way to strengthen our democracy. Thank you to all of these young people out there trying to make a difference! You are the change."
- ACLU of Virginia

The Crisis Magazine

Marcus David Peters Needed Help, Not Death. - ACLU of Virginia

"Young advocate and our guest blogger @blaquefeminist attended yesterday's march to demand justice for Marcus-David Peters, who was fatally shot by Richmond police. Seeking to hold the RPD accountable, she shared these thoughts in a recent blog post"
- ACLU of Virginia

Youth Gather to Discuss Gun Violence

"As a member of RPEC, I think it’s important to regard how black communities are disproportionately affected by gun violence, and how important it is to uplift their voices. We have a racist history of gun violence, and it’s our responsibility as Virginian’s to put this to an end."

I spent my 16th birthday at the ACLU National Membership Conference. It didn't disappoint. - ACLU of Virginia

"Stephanie has been a wonderful contributor to our blog and an ardent advocate for racial justice. To thank her, we asked if she'd be interested in joining us at the ACLU National Membership Conference in D.C. last month. Here's her reflection on the experience."
- ACLU Of Virginia

What More Cops in School Means For Black Students - ACLU of Virginia

"I got to work with the city's coolest, most brilliant teens and young folks! We spent the day working with lawyers and advocates, using art to radically reimagine public safety in our schools. This awesome poster was made by Stephanie who is a member of Youth for Rise!"
- Mark Strandquist

Youth Coalition For Justice

"RYPP Leaders Stephanie Younger and India Williams have created this Instagram group to encourage youth activism--especially among youth of color--by giving them a platform to fight for justice."
- Richmond Peace Education Center

Community forum on gun safety and violence set for May 5 - Richmond Free Press

Students organize 'Town Hall for our Lives" - NBC12

"I thought it would be a movement for keeping our schools safe, but it's not just that. It's helping our black communities and those disproportionately affected by gun violence. It continues to happen to marginalized groups, and I want to uplift the voices of the black community who has been fighting for gun reform for generations."

It's Important to Listen to Black Girls in the Fight Against Gun Violence - ACLU of Virginia

"Read @blaquefeminist's blog post on why it's important to uplift the voices of black girls in the fight against gun violence."
- ACLU of Virginia

The Youth Voice from March For Our Lives RVA - Church Hill People's News

‘Our ballots will stop bullets’ - Thousands take to streets in Richmond, D.C. and across the nation to demand gun control - Richmond Free Press

Richmond students, community rally in the thousands for gun control - ABC 8News, NBC12

“How many more black families will be devastated by gun violence — threatened or killed by the people whose job it is to serve and protect? How many more times do my parents have to give me that talk explaining to me that I’m 10 times more likely to become a victim of gun violence because I am black?”

An Evening With Angela Davis Inspired me to Advocate for Prison Aboltion for Black Girls - Black Youth Project

Angela Davis' Black Girl Coalition

Girls Who Code RVA

“Virginia cannot grow if we are not preparing our girls for the jobs of the future. We appreciate programs, like Girls Who Code RVA, that empower and inspire young women."
- First Lady Governor Pam Northam

Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program Project Gallery

The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas - Book review Richmond Youth Peace Project, HCPL TeenScene, YA x YA

Richmond Youth Peace Project

Twitter

My big sis Stephanie @blaquefeminist interviewed me on the #melanindiary about why we should listen to black girls when they talk about gun violence.
I loved all her questions. 💜✊🏾

📷: @MeganLandmeier/ @TeenVogue https://t.co/gjl08yHqHM
— Havana Chapman-Edwards (@TheTinyDiplomat) December 4, 2018

Amazing interview on my blog featuring @TheTinyDiplomat by @blaquefeminist! Havana is a 7-year-old who’s changing the world 💫 https://t.co/yuv0bNk8cP
— Chanice Lee (@ChaniceALee) December 1, 2018

Black Girls and the Shootings That Don’t Make Major Mainstream News >> https://t.co/79NPJ2NX06 pic.twitter.com/2XerySrzNQ
— Sesi Magazine (@Sesimag) November 26, 2018

“When Black girls are criminalized by their schools, excluded by their peers, and profiled by their teachers, they are robbed of their self-worth and their desire to thrive.” - Stephanie Younger (@blaquefeminist), 16 https://t.co/iARJW89rnT
— Chanice Lee (@ChaniceALee) November 22, 2018

Go @blaquefeminist!! You are awesome Stephanie!! 🙌🏾⭐️✊🏾 https://t.co/fE3cJ28L8w
— Havana Chapman-Edwards (@TheTinyDiplomat) November 9, 2018

"I internalized the idea that my Blackness wasn’t desirable. I lost my desire to thrive and excel in school which made me more susceptible to school push out." @blaquefeminist #prisonsdontwork #riseforyouth https://t.co/IvXdhxEvsT
— Seema Sked (@SeemaSked) November 4, 2018

So proud of you my dear. I get scared for Havana when she speaks out... but I know girls need to know you are not alone. Sending you love and light.
Keep going. You got this!
— Bethany M. Edwards (@biracialbookwrm) September 17, 2018

"Just because racism is as nuanced and camouflaged as these mannequins doesn't mean it isn't real."

to @blaquefeminist for speaking truth to power. pic.twitter.com/5TERJYHJA9
— ACLU of Virginia (@ACLUVA) August 11, 2018

To @blaquefeminist, who has been outspoken about police violence, the death of Marcus-David Peters hit close to home & prompted her to reflect on the injustices done to marginalized communities by those whose job is to serve and protect. #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/du3eqbHxtO pic.twitter.com/nbFTsebzuj
— ACLU of Virginia (@ACLUVA) July 28, 2018

Your video is phenomenal! Friends, you can learn more about Stephanie’s work at: https://t.co/ikaOTaTYAM Keep leading! #afamwomenlead #BlackGirlMagic https://t.co/oCl5dEbcrS
— Lauren Mims (@dreamwdeadline) July 28, 2018

One of our young people writes about her encounters with racism and bullying online and how she channeled those experiences into her art https://t.co/PyDreoJW7R
— ART 180 (@ART180) July 25, 2018

Here's who we're feeling this #FollowFriday, folks and orgs putting in that work to make #RVA a better place: @blaquefeminist @BMMPRVA @girlsforachange @TheKatinaMoss @SRossBrowne
— Afrikana Film Fest (@afrikanafilmrva) July 13, 2018

I spent my 16th birthday at the @ACLU National Membership Conference. It didn't disappoint, by @blaquefeminist : https://t.co/Boe6AxBber #ACLUCon18 pic.twitter.com/YvS2OsPY0a
— ACLU of Virginia (@ACLUVA) July 8, 2018

Yesterday at VCU's ICA, we got to work with the city's coolest, most brilliant teens and young folks! We spent the day working with lawyers and advocates, using art to radically reimagine public safety in our schools. This is the first workshop in a larger campaign #stayposted https://t.co/Io0SbbI0vG
— ART 180 (@ART180) June 15, 2018

Got my first great birthday president today: At the ACLU conference session on People Power, a young black girl from Richmond said that when young black girls speak on gun violence (which they have for a long time)... https://t.co/LIRBKQemZO
— joeynovick (@joeynovick) June 11, 2018

In the wake of Parkland one proposed solution to securing our schools is increasing police presence. @blaquefeminist, a black student activist in Richmond, believes that this may disproportionally affect black students and voices her concerns. https://t.co/DEdwEqMP4i pic.twitter.com/POnTxL3Zxe
— ACLU of Virginia (@ACLUVA) June 6, 2018

"People attempt to justify our inhumanity by saying “they didn’t comply” and downplaying the violence and racism Black people experience every day to a figment of our imagination.... https://t.co/ILtKuykrlB
— Leaders Of the New South (@RVANewSouth) June 4, 2018

.@blaquefeminist is one of the student organizers behind the #MarchForOurLives in RVA. She wrote this powerful blog post on why we must lift up the voices of Black girls in the fight against gun violence: https://t.co/4L07usyrf9

: Kailey Brianne Photography pic.twitter.com/1bF4oqFiwR
— ACLU of Virginia (@ACLUVA) April 5, 2018

"Black women are often left out of the conversation surrounding prison abolition, despite the fact that we live in a culture where many young Black women like Bresha Meadows and Cyntoia Brown are unfairly targeted by the justice system." — @BlackYouthProj https://t.co/FechSuf5Wh
— AFROPUNK (@afropunk) January 10, 2018

I want WOC to always speak on social media, so no boycott. I want to shout out @KimyaNDennisPhD and @blaquefeminist #WOCAffirmation
— Ella Vincent (@codegirlchicago) October 13, 2017

Thank you so much for reading, and sharing your thoughts and feelings about the book. I wrote it for all of us. xoxo
— Shannon Gibney (@GibneyShannon) October 6, 2017

One thing we love about teaching girls to code? Seeing how they change the world. Read about Stephanie's experience! https://t.co/xyuvykj9Gp
— Girls Who Code (@GirlsWhoCode) September 11, 2017

14 black women every intersectional feminist should know about ✊🏾🙌🏿💪🏽 https://t.co/ehfpjcM4ry pic.twitter.com/5HwMpyx1nQ
— Travis Foundation (@travis_fnd) August 16, 2017

One of our own @iammarleydias and some of our favs. What a great honor! https://t.co/5CMwzIo4bo
— GrassROOTS (GCF) (@GrassRootsFound) July 25, 2017