02/02/2026
Happy Black History Month! Throughout this month, we’re honoring some of the Black advocates and survivors who have shaped the anti–sexual violence movement by spotlighting readings and materials created by Black and BIPOC women. Today, we are recommending Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Ann Jacobs and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. Swipe to learn more about these amazing works!
We invite you to explore these texts and other works we’ll be featuring this month. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is available for free from many online sources, such as Project Gutenberg. Black women have long been at the forefront of social justice efforts for marginalized communities, and their works continue to offer fresh insight and instruction for how to build a world free from oppressive systems that harm people based on their race, gender, and other identities.
Have you read either of these? How did they help you understand the connection between racism and sexual violence? Let us know in the comments below!
Content warning: These materials have themes and explicit depictions of gender-based and racial violence. No details are depicted in this post.