Celebrities, local advocates highlight challenges Black women face

Black women have been marching on the front lines of protests for decades, but a new study from the American Psychological Association found they are still disregarded by social justice movements.

Local advocates said that may be finally changing, with celebrities helping to propel the movement.

During an appearance on Saturday Night Live, rapper Megan Thee Stallion said "the most disrespected, unprotected, neglected person in America is the Black woman."

She used her platform during an SNL appearance in October and later, Lebron James took to Twitter acknowledging the same thing.

James said he'll "do his best to change."

"I think James is right. Historically, I think Black women have been incredibly disrespected and you know, disrespected in some ways is amid word for what we are talking about," said Dr. Adriane Lentz-Smith, an associate professor of history at Duke University.

"Black women historically have been what Zora Neal Hurston called 'the mules of the world' carrying the double burden of racism and sexism," she said.

Several Black women said they carried that burden every day and felt that they have to overcompensate with their talents just to break even.

"Your race matters and your gender matters," said North Carolina State University assistant professor Natalie Bullock-Brown. "If I let that hold me back, I would do anything, so I can't allow that."

Now, with the help of celebrities and thought leaders, things are changing with the same goal in mind.

"We need to protect our Black women and love our Black women and protect our Black women because at the end of the day, we need our Black women," said Megan Thee Stallion.