Nia Wilson was the youngest child of eight; six sisters and two brothers. At only eighteen, she was brutally murdered in a stabbing attack in Oakland, California, after stepping off the train by a man she didn’t know.
Her killer is white, while Nia was black. There has been controversy because many feel that this should be categorized as a hate crime.
While police are saying they currently have no evidence the attack was racially motivated, they are not completely ruling out the possibility.
A few days after the murder, Anne Hathaway posted this stirring message to her Instagram. Hathaway implored white people to reckon with their privilege…
The post reads:
“The murder of Nia Wilson- may she rest in the power and peace she was denied here- is unspeakable AND MUST NOT be met with silence. She is not a hash tag; she was a black woman and she was murdered in cold blood by a white man.”
“White people- including me, including you- must take into the marrow of our privileged bones the truth that ALL black people fear for their lives DAILY in America and have done so for GENERATIONS. White people DO NOT have equivalence for this fear of violence.
Given those givens, we must ask our (white)selves- how ‘decent’ are we really? Not in our intent, but in our actions? In our lack of action?
Peace and prayers and JUSTICE for Nia and the Wilson family xx”
“Note: the comments for this post are closed.”
“#blacklivesmatter #antiracist #noexcuse
#sayhername #earntherighttosayhername“
People were here for Anne Hathaway after writer and civil rights activist Shaun King shared it on Twitter.
This is why I stan for Anne Hathaway
— KeyKey do you love me? (@KeylaRosa_) July 26, 2018
stanne hathaway
— stef c (@StefCphoto) July 26, 2018
Considering how few white celebrities make strong & clear allyship statements like this, Anne Hathaway deserves a lot of props.
— Richard B. (@katmore9) July 26, 2018
I love Anne, she recognizes her immense privilege in this world and uses it to advocate for others. And doesn’t pull any
punches about it, no pandering to the “not all” crowd.— Faith (@Fainora) July 26, 2018
Much respect for Anne Hathaway! Always loved her and she has just reassured me! pic.twitter.com/4acjN90Pxk
— Skyleigh #Glovesoff?✊?? (@Sky_Lee_1) July 26, 2018
Thank you for posting this. I have mad respect for Miss Hathaway.
— David Stewart (@NattyBumpo74) July 26, 2018
And ?? this ?? is ?? why ?? we ?? fuq ?? with ?? the ?? princess ?? of ?? Genovia ???????????? pic.twitter.com/Ff7d2b4bYU
— Teddy Noxid (@Thunda_munk) July 26, 2018
In conversations about white privilege though, it bears notice that the media amplification of Hathaway’s statement is also a sign of her own privilege.
Hathaway’s statement is admirable, but it is being covered much wider in mainstream media than the statements that were made by celebrities of color.
Statements were also shared and made by actress Tracee Ellis Ross…
NIA WILSON//SAY HER NAME
Our bodies and our humanity deserve safety and joy.
video by @oranicuhh via @fatbellybella#SayHerName #NiaWilson #JusticeforNia pic.twitter.com/3S9EIzh5ej— Tracee Ellis Ross (@TraceeEllisRoss) July 25, 2018
…rapper and actor Common…
#SayHerName: Nia Wilson. May GOD Bless her Soul. Sending love and light to her family and friends today. pic.twitter.com/IIlRa62DWs
— COMMON (@common) July 28, 2018
…writer and activist Shaun King himself…
The murder of #NiaWilson took something out of me. I can't quite explain it. My oldest daughter is her exact age – 18 – and also just finished high school. Maybe that's it.
Violence and trauma are so commonplace in this country, but I'm not able to simply pivot & move on here.
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) July 25, 2018
…California’s United States Representative Barbara Lee…
My prayers remain with the Wilson family. Thank you to the talented artists who are commemorating Nia’s beautiful life. Rest in Power, Nia Wilson. #SayHerName #BlackLivesMatterhttps://t.co/A1RHDnVljk
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) July 27, 2018
…and actress Susan Kelechi Watson.
Nia Wilson. #SayHerName https://t.co/T8BQBMPQve
— Susan Kelechi Watson (@skelechiwatson) July 28, 2018
Regardless of the message or the messenger, what must not get lost is Nia Wilson.
#sayhername