Black Mothers have been unfairly treated in the court of law, with judges handing down sentences for charges that normally wouldn’t garner prison time. Homeless Ohio Mother Kelley Williams-Bolar was made an example of after being sentenced for 10 days in jail and three years’ probation, when she was caught sending her kids to a different school district outside her zoning area. Additionally, first-time drug offenders, such as Mother of four Tonya Drake, who was given 10 years of prison time for her role in attempting to mail 232 grams of crack cocaine.
These cases are just a smattering of the incidents involving Black women and the extreme punishment levied upon them.
Black women in prison not only suffer under the weight of discrimination, but like all women, the threat of sexual assault and rape at the hands of male prison guards is an ongoing issue. Although many editorials have been crafted about the abject torture and mistreatment of women in prison, little is being done about it in the higher courts.
However, groups such as WPA and Amnesty International have taken huge steps to increase the awareness of the horrors and injustices incarcerated women are facing. Still, the numbers show little signs of slowing, and Black mothers — already at risk abroad — face even greater challenges ahead incarcerated or not.
Watch the Kelley Williams-Bolar case here:
Black Mothers have been unfairly treated in the court of law, with judges handing down sentences for charges that normally wouldn’t garner prison time. Homeless Ohio Mother Kelley Williams-Bolar was made an example of after being sentenced for 10 days in jail and three years’ probation, when she was caught sending her kids to a different school district outside her zoning area. Additionally, first-time drug offenders, such as Mother of four Tonya Drake, who was given 10 years of prison time for her role in attempting to mail 232 grams of crack cocaine.
These cases are just a smattering of the incidents involving Black women and the extreme punishment levied upon them.
Black women in prison not only suffer under the weight of discrimination, but like all women, the threat of sexual assault and rape at the hands of male prison guards is an ongoing issue. Although many editorials have been crafted about the abject torture and mistreatment of women in prison, little is being done about it in the higher courts.
However, groups such as WPA and Amnesty International have taken huge steps to increase the awareness of the horrors and injustices incarcerated women are facing. Still, the numbers show little signs of slowing, and Black mothers — already at risk abroad — face even greater challenges ahead incarcerated or not.
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