The Kansas City Defender
@KCDefender
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Black News, Politics, Arts & Culture
Kansas City, MO
Joined November 2020
The Kansas City Defender’s Annual Christmas Eve Grocery Buyout for Black Families Returns.
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A massive crowd has amassed in front of the white man's home who attempted to murder 16 year old Black boy Ralph Yarl in Kansas City Missouri
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A Missouri Family Called 911 for a Domestic Dispute. Police Arrived and shot a 2-month old baby in the head, then shot and killed her mother.
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In a shocking hate crime at a Kansas HS, a white boy viciously attacked a Black girl student while yelling the N Word. The assault resulted in the Black girl's nose being broken and her hospitalization. The school suspended the Black girl for 5 days.
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“They shot my baby,” Holder said, his voice shaking. “It looked like her head exploded. Her blood splattered across my glasses and all over me. All I could do was scream. I just kept saying three words—the same three words—‘YOU KILLED HER!’ I was screaming it. Over and over.”.
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“I was out there protesting in 2020, I know what the police do. I saw what they did to George Floyd and many others. Obviously my family’s not Black but I see the violence they inflict on everyone. I’ve protested at the jails, we can’t keep letting them get away with this.”.
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The family has vowed to keep fighting for justice. “We can’t keep having these cops kill our loved ones and our community members” Mitchell’s sister Felisha Holder told The Defender in an interview.
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Standing before the cameras, Dustman asserted without question that Maria Pike was “armed”—a claim directly contradicted by eyewitnesses and unsubstantiated by any evidence thus far. He claimed his officers did “exactly what they are trained to do.”.
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“This Is A Hate Crime”: Kansas City Black Family Demanding Justice After A White Man Shoots Black Boy, Ralph Yarl, In The Head Twice For Ringing Doorbell Of The Wrong Home, White Man Released By Police Hours Later.
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Kansas City Police Department shot an unarmed Black woman 5 times. Eyewitnesses say the woman had her hands up. The police handcuffed her while she was bleeding out on the pavement. The woman has been identified as 26-year-old Leonna Hale.
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In the immediate aftermath, Independence Police Chief Adam Dustman convened a hasty press conference that can only be described as a state-sanctioned disinformation campaign.
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BREAKING: Missouri Governor Pardons Eric DeValkenaere, the First White Cop in KC History Convicted for Lynching a Black Person.
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“Immediately Maria jumped up. And as soon as she did, I don’t know if the cop got scared or something, but then he fired another shot that hit Maria. I think it hit her in the hip. And the cop didn’t stop her bleeding the right way, he didn’t know what he was doing. I believe she.
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While we typically focus on issues directly impacting Black communities, this case makes clear the broader violence inherent in policing, especially in poor and working-class cities like Independence.
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choked on her blood and bled out. That’s my understanding of how she died.”.
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The horror didn’t end there. Holder described how Maria, Destiny’s mother, reacted in the moments after her baby was shot.
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As The Defender continues to investigate this horrifying tragedy, we are reminded that the vicious brutality of policing transcends race.
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A GoFundMe has been created to cover funeral expenses for Destiny, with relatives determined to give the infant “a beautiful funeral.”.
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KCPD Claimed Missing Black Women Reports In KC Were “Completely Unfounded.” Less Than A Month Later, A Black Woman Escapes After Being Kidnapped From KC & Tortured in a Basement For A Month. Police are now actively investigating for additional victims.
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“Yes, I was in the room when it all happened,” he began. “From what I could see, I never once saw Maria armed with anything. I honestly don’t even know where that came from. I never saw her holding anything—and I was right there in the room.”.
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Holder described how he tried to reason with police through the door before the violence erupted. “Before they came in, I asked if we could talk through the door. I didn’t want my baby to be around the cops with their weapons out like that. But ultimately, they entered.".
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Their target? A 100-pound petite woman (Maria Pike) holding her infant daughter while in the throes of a domestic altercation.
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The tragic chain of events was set into motion in the afternoon of November 7th, when Talisa Coombs, baby Destiny’s grandmother, called the police to report a domestic dispute at the Oval Spring Apartments in Independence.
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Despite the fact the racist attacker was also suspended, students and the broader community describe Bre's suspension as a grave injustice that must be "rectified immediately".
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"This is war being waged broad day. You think we about to let you tear our brother from his mother covered in blood?" Kansas City Poet 'Unique' says in an impassioned poem amidst the protest
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This is a developing story. Read the full story here;.
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“This was a serious attack… a textbook hate crime,” a Black student told The Defender. "I don’t feel safe going to school anymore. I don’t wear my headphones in the hallway anymore I have to be on watch.".
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Maria’s boyfriend and Destiny’s father, Mitchell Holder, spoke to The Kansas City Defender in his first interview since the horrific killings. His voice trembled as he recounted the events that unfolded that day;.
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Exclusive footage obtained by The Kansas City Defender shows officers storming the building with pistols drawn and at least one cop sprinting up the stairs wielding a military-grade assault rifle.
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Talisa described what happened in the moments leading up to the raid; . “They asked me what happened? I said I was assaulted by my son’s girlfriend. And they asked if there was any weapons upstairs in the apartment. I said, no, but there’s a baby up there, my granddaughter.”.
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According to Talisa, she had been assaulted by Maria during a heated altercation. She wanted Maria arrested for assault—but what unfolded far exceeded anything she could have imagined.
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The incident unfolded last week when the Black student nonviolently confronted a white female student for using racial slurs and calling Black students “slaves.” After their argument, they peacefully parted ways.
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The students’ demands are clear: stricter policies against racism, the expulsion of the attacker, justice for Bre, and potentially firing of numerous administrators.
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The response from Shawnee Mission East’s administrators has been met with widespread criticism from the student body. Many accuse the school officials of failing to address the vicious racism within their halls, and also for not directly addressing the recent hate crime.
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In response to blatant negligence by the administration, students have taken matters into their own hands. A walkout was organized yesterday to protest the school’s handling of white supremacy & racism.
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School Hate Crime: Racist Kid Yells “N Word” While Attacking Black Girl, Breaks Her Nose And Hospitalizes Her. Black Girl Gets Suspended for 5 Days
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The incident at Shawnee Mission East is not an isolated one. Students report a history of racism at the school, often overlooked, swept under the rug and downplayed by the administration.
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As they walk away, a male student, previously uninvolved, aggressively shouts for the Black student to “Shut the F*ck up!” The male student then charges towards Bre while repeatedly hurling the N word.
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Many community members are already placing the event in contrast to the Buffalo Massacre, asking how police can safely apprehend a white man who committed mass murder, but brazenly shoot a Black woman 5 times who posed no threat and had her hands up.
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Thus far, Shawnee Mission East has not directly addressed the hate crime, or explicitly denounced it. The following is an excerpt of an email sent out to parents;
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Violent White Supremacy on the Rise: White Kansas HS Students Threaten to Hang Black Players, Taunt w/ Blackface Babydoll & Attempt to Raid Black Player’s Locker Room After Game.
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They recount experiences of being racially profiled and dismissed by school officials, with one student recalling Principal Pear’s racist remarks about Black students appearing intimidating or “looking like you are going to jump somebody” when they are in groups.
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Black KC Chiefs Fan in Viral Pictures Had Nothing To Do With Mass Shooting, But Now His Life’s Been Ruined.
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“Do You Want to See a White Man F*ck Up A N*gger?”: White Supremacist Stabs Black Man to Death in Kansas City, 2 Weeks Later Faces No Charges.
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The Kansas City Police Department alleges the incident was in an attempt to arrest a woman and a man in connection with a suspected stolen vehicle. Eyewitnesses say this narrative does not add up given the woman had her hands up and was also shot an astounding five times.
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@freedomrideblog We are working to confirm it as soon as possible. All the information we have shared thus far has been at request of the victim's family.
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CONTENT WARNING ⚠️. Black trauma, violence against women, anti-Black violence. "They still putting her in handcuffs after they shot her" eyewitness recording the video can be heard saying frantically.
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UPDATE:. Leonna Hale remains alive and in severe but stable condition. She suffers from a broken arm, a collapsed lung, and 2 bullets remain lodged inside her body. The family is accepting donations at the below cashapp.
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“She did not pull out a weapon on them,” the eyewitness told the Kansas City Star. “She did not even have a stick in her hand.” The woman ran three steps away from officers, Shédanja said, and police shot five times.
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Missouri State Highway Patrol has been tasked with investigating the unarmed shooting of Leonna Hale. Community members are already decrying this decision as they recall the “botched and corrupt” investigation conducted by the agency last year in the case of Malcolm Johnson.
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BREAKING: Youth Activists Currently Shutting Down All Entrances to Boeing Manufacturing Plant (St. Charles, MO) Responsible for Supplying 1,000 Bombs Fast-Tracked to Israel
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Read the full story on the horrific murder and coverup of Malcolm Johnson, as well as how every white Kansas City media outlet further framed him by legitimating the KCPD story, here;. When KC Cops Murder Black People, Local Media Are Co-Conspirators.
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Video leaked by convenience store employees showed several cops restraining Johnson in a way that would have made it physically impossible for him to fight back. One cop drew her weapon, accidentally shot another cop in the leg, and then fired several shots into Johnson’s back.
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"Do not talk to us about potential for 'violence' from protestors, to do so is to appropriate the language and framing of white supremacy".
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Over 100 students at Park Hill High School have been protesting in the school gym since 9am this morning. They say they do not plan to stop until the teacher who said the N word is fired.
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Lastly, these stories are a stark reminder that none of these horrific acts of racial terror would have come to light if it weren't for Black media. Please give us a follow and/or support a Black media outlet in your local city ✊🏿.
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Malcolm Johnson was an unarmed Black man murdered on March 25th, 2021 by KCPD. Similar to Leonna’s case, local media outlets as well as the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that he had been armed and posed a threat to the police. But what really happened?.
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A representative from The People's Coalition tell's us "yesterday's protest was absolutely unprecedented in this area of KC. We will continue fighting until this racist vigilante is held accountable. Justice for Ralph."
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KCK Police Pulled over 25 year old, unarmed Black doordash driver, wouldn't tell him why, then "gunned him down" & murdered him without any explanation.
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We will continue to provide contextual and historical information as we report on the tragic story of Leonna Hale, as well as the alleged ongoing “investigation” into why she was shot a horrific five times after having her hands up and being unarmed.
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It is easy to see how police are the dominant authority in these murders. Another news story, released by KSHB Kansas City two days after Malcolm Johnson’s murder, worked to legitimate the narrative by exclusively using police and FBI perspectives.
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"Video recorded by the Black family shows the cop speaking inaudibly, unable to stand straight and other highly troubling signs for anyone operating a deadly weapon."
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BREAKING: Andrew Lester, the white man who attempted to kill 16 year old Ralph Yarl, is still not in police custody, according to Clay County Sheriff's Office. An office spokesperson says Lester is not in custody “with any law enforcement agency.”
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A crowd of community members are assembling in front of KCK Police HQ, demanding release of bodycam footage of murder of unarmed Black doordash driver Amaree'ya Henderson
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The Supreme Court has denied Kevin Johnson's application and will be moving forward with his execution. A crowd of supporters is gathered outside the prison singing prayers, hymns, and says "he'll always be a light. We won't let him go without screaming his name"
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🚨HAPPENING NOW: KU Student Encampment ongoing since 4am. Students currently linking arms in preparation of imminent police raid. Police have threatened to arrest anyone who does not leave the encampment.
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A Kansas School district is under major fire after white students at Valley Center HS launched vicious, KKK-era racist attacks against the mostly Black basketball team at Topeka High School.
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Coach Lyons said he wants to see immediate major action taken to hold the school accountable. He has started a petition to remove fans from Valley Center HS sporting events, as a first step to holding the district accountable. Sign here:
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At this point, white news outlets in our city are blatantly disrespecting & misleading the community. The woman who was held captive in Excelsior Springs said herself she was taken from Prospect in KC--whether there was a formal missing persons report was never the point.
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Hundreds of students took to the Shawnee Mission East District Building in solidarity with teenage Black student Brey, following the recent hate crime. Students chant "Justice for Brey!"
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KCPD made a statement addressing the community testimonies and called them “completely unfounded rumors,” dismissing the concerns. Local news outlets followed suit, in essence, silencing any ongoing community voices which maintained concern of the missing Black women.
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Kevin Johnson was murdered by the state of Missouri at 7:40pm. His life has been taken. This is a horrifically violent tragedy. Peace to all his friends, family, and all who believe all life is deserving of dignity.
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White Mizzou Student Who Has Numerous Pictures w/ Guns Says: “If They Would Have Killed 4 More N*ggers We Would Have Had the Whole Week Off.”. The university has admitted awareness of the post, but has yet to take any disciplinary action.
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A bombshell multi-county investigation began last Friday when a 22-year old Black woman escaped bondage after being kidnapped and held captive in a basement torture dungeon of an Excelsior Springs, Missouri man’s home for a month. The man is identified as Timothy Haslett Jr.
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“You Brought A High Cop to My House?”: Black Family to Press Charges Against Kansas Cop Who They Say Appeared “High Out His Mind”.
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“They said they were going to hang our students. They had students out in the parking lot doing donuts in the parking lot saying they would hang our players,”.- Geo Lyons, Topeka HS Coach
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There Are Now Three Major Confirmed Facts Which Clearly Disprove KCPD’s Earlier Statements;. 1. A Black woman was kidnapped from Prospect in early September during the exact time-frame that community members began expressing concerns of missing Black women in this exact area.
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“Nobody from Valley Center has reached out to me. I haven’t heard one word from the principal, the superintendent, the coach, the athletic director, no one. I don’t even want an apology at this point." - Coach Lyon.
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Coach Lyon also told The Defender absolutely no action was taken on behalf of the Valley Center admin to try and stop the viciously racist events throughout the game – and that no one has reached out to him since it happened.
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Topeka High School boys basketball coach Geo Lyons told The Defender he has never witnessed anything remotely close to this before and was absolutely horrified.
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School Cop, Not Black Student, Shot Principal During Olathe East Shooting. Police now saying bodycam was "destroyed by a bullet.".
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"By the time the game ended it got so bad that their student section tried to raid our locker room. They came running at us, it was definitely very scary, they were trying to attack us,".- Jo'Mhara Benning
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“First, their student section called one of our students the N word. Their parents were also calling our students and our parents racial slurs. Their student section was waving around a Black baby doll,” Sophomore girl’s basketball player Jo’Mhara Benning told The Defender.
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KCK Police Chief Announces Investigation & Administrative Leave for Cop Who Black Family Says Appeared “High Out His Mind” While On Duty.
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The woman was discovered around 8 a.m. last Friday, October 7th, when reports of a woman banging on doors and crying for help reportedly reached the police. In court records, the victim told investigators that Haslett "killed two of my friends.".
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“The People Took on the Billionaires, The People Won”: Kansas City voters deliver a powerful blow against billionaire sports franchise owners, rejecting a 40-year stadium tax in a decisive vote.
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2. She said two of her friends “did not make it out” and were killed by Timothy Haslett Jr. 3. Police have confirmed that detectives are taking her claim seriously and are "actively investigating" if Haslett has other victims.
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“The fact that he said what he was going to do. He intentionally wanted to start something with a Black man. And that’s what he did. He stabbed my brother in the chest twice. This is more than just a murder, this is a hate crime.” Rone’s family said.
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We gave out $3000 in Cash to Black People at Walmart 🔥💵
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Bishop Caldwell discusses initial attempts by KCPD to silence community concerns of missing Black women.
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New Victim In KC “Serial Killer” Case Found In Missouri River, Clay County Prosecutor Admits Greater Public Safety Threat Than Initially Stated.
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As a Black-led nonprofit news outlet we continue to be seriously underfunded and only have 1 full-time staff member. We rely on donations to continue our vital news & survival programs. Please consider becoming a monthly contributor today!.
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A white student can be seen holding and waving a Blackface baby doll
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In mid-to-late September, The Kansas City Defender published a video of Bishop Tony Caldwell, a local Kansas City community leader who was one of many in the Black Kansas City community who made reports of numerous murdered and missing Black women.
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