by
Chinwe
Ajak Deng has modeled for Valentino, Marc Jacobs, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Jean Paul Gaultier, and most recently, Maison Margiela. (Though she left the industry in February due to severe colorism, she recanted her retirement a week later feeling it more purposeful to “fight the war” for dark-skin models.)
Being an international model did not matter when she was stopped by police, two years ago, in what she describes as a nearly fatal experience.  Had a neighbor not filmed what the officers were doing to her, Deng says, she believes she would have been another black life lost.  In an emotional series of videos posted to Instagram the high fashion model shared about the encounter — and the loneliness of battling anti-black American racism — with her followers:
Part I: “Two years ago I was almost killed by two white officers”.
After the incident, Deng calls her agent, who tells her:
“White people love black people. It is all in your head. Relax. Breathe. Let it go.”Â
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHiLgwOh03h/
Part II: Â Deng says she is still heartbroken today.
… I can never really speak to the same people IÂ thought loved me.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHiMLpUBZFr/
Part III: Â Deng says her Sudanese parents don’t understand because they’ve never been to America.
I had to go through this alone. I have to be the strongest black woman I can be by myself…
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHiN6vthMDO/
Part IV: “I had to learn to defend myself”
Will you [protect me] as a white friend? Â No. Will you protect me as a black friend? No….
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHiOwgoBgLI/
Can you relate to the model’s experience? Share your thoughts below.
9 Responses
WE AS BLACK WOMEN HAVE NO PROTECTION AND NEVER WILL
Black women have no protection and brotha Malcolm said it best that the most disrespected, neglected, and unprotected woman in America is the BLACK WOMAN Nobody will save us we have 2 save ourselves. SO SAD B/C IM TIRED ASF
Is it possible to have a space over the net for all black women and men to tells their stories about police behaviour towards us. As a black artist women with good principle, good values, I have almost 8 or more stories, it is not only in the States, it is all over the world, France, Canada etc., In 3 occasions I could lost my life. Nasty behaviour, unbelievable. I started to think that those guys are on drugs, I have a feeling the drugs they seized from bad guys, they sniffed it between themselves, even though they stopped doing it while they’re getting older, their brains are already damage. They became aggressive just like an addict. Namaste!
She’s really pretty. Yes, black women have to be really strong here.
She’s soo beautiful and strong, I wish she hadn’t left the fashion industry. I have experienced and know many of my black female friends have experienced working for ‘white dominated’ companies where you are labelled as ‘extreme’, ‘angry’ or ‘aggressive’ when we speak out on injustice or stand up for ourselves. Its so frustrating being overly nice just so white people don’t see you as a problem… when you are a problem they take your pride, they take your career or the take your life. #blacklivesmatterUK
So sorry to hear about your experience. The struggle is real and unless and until black people learn to organise themselves and stand together, this will not stop.
I work.for a “specialty” driving company. Yes, I do feel alone. A lot of my white clients are upset or DON’T fully understand. I explain but because THEY rarely go through being stopped and harnessed, THEY are either quiet, blow it off or angry…. Driving while black.is real…I get slightly nervous now when they–the police roll up on me but quickly recompose myself for rhe customer sake..We ALL must work TOGETHER to come up with a win,win solution.
You’re not alone in this.
This is heartbreaking. These tragedies, these stories of abuse, all of it.