“Love as ‘the will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.’ Love is as love does. Love is an act of will–namely, both an intention and an action. There can be no love without justice…” – bell hooks
This Valentine’s Day, we send a love letter to Black women. Today and everyday, we fight fiercely because we love deeply, because we believe in a world where women living with HIV are respected, protected, supported, and thriving. Today we’re loving on our people by celebrating and honoring 20 Black women who are true mothers of the HIV movement.
All through history, Black women have been caretakers of our communities, families, and other people’s families. We have had to find our own beauty and value in our hair, bodies, gender, race, and lived experience in a society that has not valued us. Through it all, Black women continue to demand justice, equity and liberation for all.
Black women have always been the backbone of the HIV movement, fighting battles on multiple fronts despite being underpaid, systemically undervalued, and invisibilized. It is long past time for Black women to be given their flowers for all they’ve done. This year, as part of our Celebrate and Honor Black Women in the HIV Movement campaign, we’re honoring 20 Movement Mothers whose shoulders we stand on, who paved the way for us to do what we do today. These 20 Black Movement Mothers struggled, kicked through doors, and showed us the way. All the while they created spaces of radical love, refuge, and healing to uplift other Black women – especially women living with HIV.
When Black women are uplifted — we are all uplifted. When Black women do better – we all do better!
Please join us in celebrating and honoring these 20 HIV Movement Mothers:
| Dee Dee Chamblee | Barbara Joseph |
| Dazon Dixon Diallo | Congresswoman Barbara Lee |
| Deloris Dockery | Prudence Mabele |
| Frances Ashe Goins | LaTrischa Miles |
| Katrina Haslip | Patricia Nalls |
| Deon Haywood | Sharmus Outlaw |
| Janetta Johnson | Linda Scruggs |
| Vanessa Johnson | Waheedah Shabazz-El |
| Marsha Jones | Congresswoman Maxine Waters |
| Loren Jones | Juanita Williams |
| Read more about our 2022 Movement Mothers |
For every Black woman recognized, we know there are dozens more whose labor goes unacknowledged. Honoring these Movement Mothers is only the first step, not the final destination in celebrating Black women’s contributions. We ask our accomplices, partners, and supporters to show their love, respect, and honor for Black women by committing to take meaningful action for the Black women in their organizations and in our movement.
What will you do for Black women in your organization and in our movement this March 12th, Celebrate and Honor Black Women (CHBW) in the HIV Movement Day?
Join us on March 15 for our featured 2022 CHBW event: a Black Joy & Resiliency town hall Black women are more than our pain and HIV burden. Black women deserve joy and love simply because we do. Let’s celebrate that joy and resilience together.
We invite PWN members to share your stories, blogs, and visual art that embody the theme of Black joy and resiliency. Between now and Feb 21 we are seeking art submissions from members, and your work will be featured on PWN’s social media, email, and website throughout our Celebrate and Honor Black Women activities. We can’t wait to see what you share with us!
#ListenToBlackWomen
#PayBlackWomen
#RespectBlackWomen
#ProtectBlackWomen
#HonorBlackWomen
With Love,
Positive Women’s Network-USA Team
