A Poem for Oluwatoyin Salau and Black Women Everywhere

Poet Aja Monet pays tribute to our slain sister

aja monet
ZORA
Published in
Dec 9, 2020

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In June, we lost 19-year-old activist and community organizer Oluwatoyin Salau. During her brief time with us, she delivered impassioned speeches while working to unite and mobilize the people of Florida against police brutality. Days after Salau was reported missing, she was found murdered in Tallahassee. Her death underscores why we must address gender violence within our community and protect Black girls and Black women as we fight for liberation.

As this year comes to a close, poet and organizer Aja Monet pays homage to Salau with a tender poem named after the translation of Salau’s first name. This piece also honors and holds space for Black women everywhere.

You can listen to Monet read the poem, with piano by Donald Johnson, here.

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