The Daniel Holtzclaw sexual assault trial in Oklahoma was a litmus test of sorts for those participating in and aware of Black Lives Matter and Say Her Name. Both movements have made efforts to center African-American women in the conversation around police conduct and public safety. The work of OKC Artists for Justice and organizers of the aforementioned movements have helped, particularly as watchdogs in the Holtzclaw trial, where the former cop was found guilty of many counts of sexually assaulting African-American women he thought too marginalized to ever speak up. The New York Times (2/7/2016) took on the undercurrent of “erasure” as a result of this case, my coverage at Ebony.com and the public conversation.
