First and foremost, I stand with the Black Lives Matter movement. In fact, my foot is planted so solidly on the ground, it won’t be lifted regardless of how forcefully others may try to condemn me due to their own beliefs. 

However, this column isn’t about the protests, although I do believe in such. This is another topic important to me.

As human beings, we all have a soul, heart, family, hopes and dreams for our lives. What right do we have to disregard human lives based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or religion? I believe in conquering the racial, sexist and bigoted injustices so many individuals have faced.

Whatever your opinion on Malcolm X is, he stated, “The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman.”

I see much truth in this statement, but in my opinion, there’s much more prejudice against ALL women who are suffering. Women took to the streets in the early 1900s to beg for women’s suffrage through protests and rebellion until finally gaining the right to vote in 1920.

Many historians say to never forget the past, or it’ll repeat itself. Now, I ask myself how many women have been and are currently treated as lesser than, including unequal pay compared to their male counterparts.

The unwanted catcalls while walking down the street, the need to carry mace while heading to the car, looking over the shoulder to be sure no one is following, the fear of being attacked or raped while running and asking a friend to watch your drink while stepping away fearful of being drugged.

A young woman taking a job with the hopes of furthering her career while the boss or manager preys on her youthful looks, interests, passions, beliefs and her naivety, making her believe with hope and trust whatever’s being said by him is truth, only to result in manipulation and a false sense of security. 

In the workplace, the prey are often younger, vulnerable, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed believers of if they do what their boss tells them to, they’ll move to a higher, greater position.

Harvey Weinstein, Fox anchor Ed Harvey, NBC anchor Matt Lauer, celebrity photographer Terry Richardson and a sickening number of nameless individuals who’ve yet to be identified are part of this list.

This is the fear causing others to not speak out, and the reason for the #MeToo movement. This is why #MeToo is of the utmost importance during this time of change because all individuals deserve equality, safety and to be heard while speaking their truth. 

“I want to know when it will be fixed.

Women do work and get treated like slaves since 1776.”

-- Margo Price, “Pay Gap”

Standard reporter Atlanta Northcutt can be reached at 473-2191.