Janelle Monáe released “Say Her Name (Hell You Talmbout)” a powerful song to honor the lives of Black women that have been slain by police. It was released in conjunction with International Daughter’s Day that was today (September 26th) which encompasses a whole 17 minutes including Beyoncé, Chloe x Halle, Alicia Keys, Zoë Kravitz, MJ Rodriguez, and more.

With an army of fellow female artists they roll call more than 60 Black women who had died at the hands of police brutality around the United States. Also back in July Monáe released “Stronger” which featured on We The People, a Netflix series which starred Barack and Michelle Obama.

To give meaning to the women that lost their lives one of the most powerful things done is to say their names so they are never forgotten for instance “Rekia Boyd, say her name/ Rekia Boyd, say her name/ Rekia Boyd, say her name/ Rekia Boyd, won’t you say her name?” is what Monáe chants, for this 22-year-old Chicago native’s death in 2012. After that they turn the spotlight towards the killings of Latasha Walton and Atatiana Jefferson, who were both murdered in 2019. 

Monáe’s has also raised $4,789 in donation on her most recent YouTube page to this cause. 

Photo credit: Raymond Flotat