For the past solid week there have been headlines about Harvey Weinstein and his problematic career as a Hollywood producer. The 65-year-old has been accused of sexually harassing over 40 women for decades —with nearly all of them being White women.
And while the conversation of consent, chauvinism, assault and power in the industry have been huge topics of discussions, the lesser discussed subject is prioritizing pain when it comes to women of color. Gabrielle Union spoke a little bit about this on ESSENCE Yes, Girl! but she’s not the only one. Below, see some of the black women to speak up about Weinstein and all women’s voices are valid.
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Viola Davis Photo
“Our bodies are not the ‘spoils of war’… a trophy to be collected to fuel your ego,” she went on," Davis told Variety. “It’s OURS!!! It doesn’t belong to you!! And when you take it without permission, it DESTROYS... like a virus!!! To the predators.. Weinstein, the stranger, the relative, the boyfriend... I say to you, ‘You can choose your sin but you don’t get to choose the consequences.’ To the victims... I see you. I believe you… and I’m listening,” she concluded.
Gregg DeGuire
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Another Round
"Dear survivors who didn't feel ready to participate in the amazing #MeToo tag: be kind to yourself," the Another Round podcast co-host said on Twitter. "Your story is yours to share when ready."
Robin Marchant/Getty Images
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Ava DuVernay
"Calling white women allies to recognize conflict of #WomenBoycottTwitter for women of color who haven't received support on similar issues," the directed said on Twitter in response to the mini-movement started by Rose McGowan.
Matt Winkelmeyer/
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Roxane Gay
"Some people who dress 'modestly' sure do love to talk about it," the writer said about Mayim Bialik's The New York Times' Op-Ed. "If I had Beyoncé’s body I’d be done with clothes. Period."
Thos Robinson/Getty Images
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Gabrielle Union tears down preconceptions around sexual abuse victims in powerful Twitter thread
"Then there's the difference in how we treat women of color who talk about sexual assault or sexual violence or sexual harassment or violence period," the actress told ESSENCE. "There's not the same rallying cry from feminists across the board... You can easily see whose pain is valued and whose is discarded. You can easily see it."
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
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tamron hall pixie
“It’s a woman’s worst nightmare to be in a situation where you believe someone more powerful has control over your life,” Hall told the The Huffington Post. “I immediately thought about the women who have suffered in silence and were paralyzed by fear; fear that I’ve seen with domestic violence survivors; fear that I’ve seen when I interviewed women who were raped on their college campuses.”
Michael Loccisano
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Michelle Obama
"Michelle and I have been disgusted by the recent reports about Harvey Weinstein," the Obamas said in a statement. Their daughter, Malia interned with The Weinstein Company last summer. "Any man who demeans and degrades women in such fashion needs to be condemned and held accountable, regardless of wealth or status."
Marla Aufmuth/Getty Images
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Lupita Nyong'o
The Academy Award winner wrote an Op-Ed for The New York Times detailing her uncomfortable encounter with Weinstein in his home. "I hope we are in a pivotal moment where a sisterhood — and brotherhood of allies — is being formed in our industry," she said in her piece. "I hope we can form a community where a woman can speak up about abuse and not suffer another abuse by not being believed and instead being ridiculed."
