SB

In Memoriam:
1. Ashly Jenae Robinson
2. Dr. Cerina Wanzer Fairfax
3. Nancy Métayer Bowen
4. Qualeisha Barnes
5. Victoria Alexander
6. Denisha Delancy
7. Ashanti Allen
8. Kristi Payne (2020)

"Are We Real Cool?!!!" Is inspired by the book "We Real Cool - Black Men & Masculinity" authored by the late great bell hooks. I've been reading this lately and while some of the truths are familiar/known its opening my heart in new ways, changing the way I view maleness, masculinity and of course self within this current patriarchal paradigm. I'll leave you with the following facts and stats:

The Statistics of Black Femicide & IPV (2026 Brief)

1. The Reality of Intraracial Violence
The Stat: Between 90% and 93% of Black female victims are killed by Black men. Source: The Violence Policy Center (VPC), When Men Murder Women (2025/2026 Analysis).

2. The Danger of Proximity
The Stat: In 9 out of 10 cases, the victim knew her killer. Over 57% were wives, common-law wives, or intimate acquaintances. Source: The FBI, Supplementary Homicide Reports and the 2026 Domestic Relationships and Violent Crimes Special Report.

3. The Disproportionate Lethality
The Stat: Black women are 2.5 times more likely to be murdered by an intimate partner than white women. Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), Special Report on Intimate Partner Violence.

4. The Impact of Fi****ms
The Stat: Nearly 75% of Black femicides involve a firearm. Having a gun in the house during a domestic dispute increases the risk of death by 500%. Source: Violence Policy Center (VPC) and VALOR US 2026 Research Briefs.

5. The Lifetime Prevalence
The Stat: Over 40% of Black women experience physical violence, stalking, or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Source: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey.