Many black girls and women have lost their lives to law enforcement. To honor them, Janelle Monet, along with other black artists and activists, joined forces to create a protest anthem.
“Say Her Name” is a 17-minute single featuring Monáe and 15 other black women and activists. Through a partnership with the African-American Political Forum, the song sheds light on the untold stories of the fatally traumatic experiences experienced by these women. A total of 61 women who lost their lives to police brutality in the United States chanted their names throughout the song, including Sandra Bland and Breona Taylor.
The song, originally released in 2015 as “Hell You Talmbout,” now features powerful black women as Beyonce,, Chlöe x Halle,, Tierra Walk,, Isis W.,, Zoe Kravitz, Brittany Howard, Asian, Mj Rodriguez, Jovian Zane, Angela Ray, Nicole Hannah-Jones, Brittany Packnett Cunningham and Alicia Garcia.
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“We are honored that Ms. Monáe and so many artists have voted to reverse what we call ‘loss of loss,'” said Dr. Kimberle Crenshaw, co-founder of the African-American Political Forum. “We saw firsthand the long-term consequences of this unimaginable loss of life at the hands of the police.”
Monet said PEOPLE that she wants to “raise awareness of what is not covered, and also enable their families to hear people who share their stories of their daughters as human beings who have been and as daughters who have been were ”.
Proceeds from the single and video will go to support AAPF’s #SayHerName campaign. Emergency resources are provided by the organization to support the families of those who have lost their lives. The proceeds will also support the development of art, which helps families share their stories.
Listen to the song below: