#FundraiserFriday: This Doc is ‘Redefining HERstory’ to Resist the Silencing of Black Women

By Sameer Rao Mar 11, 2016

Look around and it’s plain to see: from the news to reality TV, media is too-often culpable in dehumanizing and erasing Black women. And the dominant narratives have real-world effects for how Black women are treated. The Crowdrise page for "Redefining HERstory" asks the following three questions: 

To what extent does the Angry Black Woman trope contribute towards justification of police brutality against Black women and girls?  How does the cunning, hypersexual Jezebel stereotype facilitate the rationalization of the sexual exploitation of Black girls? Why does the media continue to ignore stories about Black female victims of violence and how does this erasure contribute to a legal environment that makes it nearly impossible for survivors to achieve justice?

Director and producer Sil Lai Abrams, a journalist and the CEO of media justice organization Truth in Reality, aims to fight those racist and sexist narratives with "Redefining HERstory." The documentary and campaign’s promo video features commentary from the likes of culture critic Jamilah Lemieux and director Stacey Muhammad; disquieting interviews with youth affected by destructive media bias; and clips of reality TV and police interactions that appear almost identical in their violence.

Abrams has raised $12,000+ via Crowdrise, with the ultimate goal of $50,000. That will cover the cost of pre-production—hiring a crew and licensing for music and locations, among other costs—while any additional amount raised will go towards travel for filming and hiring a grant writer to seek additional foundational support.

Click here to support "Redefining HERstory."