Episode 5 of Listen To Black Women is here, and it’s titled The Cost of Speaking Up As A Black Woman. In this powerful episode, hosts Lore’l, Danielle Young, Jessie Woo, Torrei Hart, and media personality Claudia Jordan dive deep into the complexities Black women face when sharing their stories of trauma and abuse. From victim-blaming to social media backlash, the discussion sheds light on the harsh realities Black women encounter when they speak out—sometimes risking their careers or losing opportunities in the process. This episode offers a candid look at how society often fails to protect or support Black women when they dare to speak their truth.

As social media has made it easier for many to share their experiences, more Black women are opening up about everything from personal trauma to sexual assault. However, as Lore’l points out, while some are met with support, others face criticism, judgment, and questions like, “Why did she wait so long to speak out?” Jordan highlighted that while empathy and compassion should be the default response, many people quickly shift to a defense mentality, accusing victims of “lying” or seeking attention and “clout.” 

Woo agreed. She expressed encouragement at the growing number of Black women using various platforms—whether Snapchat, TikTok, or Instagram—to share their stories. She stressed that, regardless of the platform’s size or reach, social media has become a powerful tool for spreading awareness about trauma and abuse. When used effectively, it can serve as a means to protect others and prevent further harm by amplifying important voices.

“We don’t know what they went through, how they got to that point. I think a lot of people don’t understand like there is no clout for coming out as a victim of certain crimes,” Woo told the ladies. “Like, you don’t get a payday, you don’t get a television show, you don’t get brand deals, you get hate—and that’s about it. And sometimes you get sued even though you were the victim,” she added.

Woo wondered what women before the dawn of social media faced for sharing their stories of trauma publicly. “You see how hard it is for women to come forward today. Imagine what it was back then?”

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The topic of victim-blaming hits close to home for Danielle Young.

Young joined in on the conversation, expressing deep empathy for the fear and uncertainty that many Black women face before sharing their stories of abuse or sexual trauma. The award-winning journalist opened up about her own experience of speaking out about sexual mistreatment, despite her concerns about backlash. She shared how she was met with harsh criticism after writing about her experience, including cruel body-shaming remarks, highlighting how this kind of judgment often forces women into silence, paralyzed by the fear of retaliation and public scrutiny.

“I knew that people were going to come for me. And you know, it’s low-hanging fruit. How folks come for me. It don’t matter what I do. They always go fat. And of course, with this situation, they went with that insult and was like, ‘Oh, girl, please, you’re big. Don’t nobody want to sexually assault you,’” Young revealed. “People really are afraid of the backlash and the repercussions—and so they stay silent. Having that be the first question…What does my timeline have to do with the fact that I’m sharing my truth?”

Hart noted that in the face of ridicule, Black women must channel their energy into hard work and success as a means of resilience. She suggested that thriving despite adversity serves as a powerful form of “revenge,” turning challenges into triumphs.

Watch the full episode of Listen To Black Women above.

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