With all of the police brutality going on the throughout the U.S., the African American community has received the attention they have been longing for. The popular hashtag, trending topic, and campaign today known as “Black Lives Matter,” unleashed when a string of sudden deaths of African Americans - unarmed African Americans - has been so widespread that the African American community has been marching and protesting for justice, for fair trial and for American decency.

Many questions today are still being asked about the deaths of those unarmed individuals. But are answers being provided? Real answers that is.

#BlackLivesMatter began when the significant deaths of Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, and Eric Garner hit U.S. headlines. With so much controversy surrounding the innocent and unarmed individuals who have fallen victim to police brutality, much focus has been directed toward the African American male community specifically. While the world keeps hidden other significant deaths among the same community.

#BlackWomenLivesMatterToo

Sandra Bland, the 38-year-old woman who was pulled over for a “traffic violation” and mysteriously died while in police custody, stirred up chaos within the African American community when the cause and actions leading up to her death were publicized. It created an uproar amongst the community as many wanted to know what REALLY happened to her while in custody.

What the world seems to lack knowledge of is that Sandra Bland’s name is just one out of many women who ended up dead in the midst of police confrontations or while in police custody. According to the Huffington Post, the following names below are of the fallen angels of police confrontations and brutality:

Tanisha Anderson, age 37

Yvette Smith, age 47

Miriam Carey, age 34

Shelly Frey, age 27

Darnisha Harris, age 16 (child)

Malissa Williams, age 30

Shantel Davis, age 23

Rekia Boyd, age 22

Shereese Francis, age 29

Aiyana Stanley-Jones, age 7 (child)

Tarika Wilson, age 26

Alberta Spruill, age 57

Kendra James, age 21

Today, these victims’ families are STILL waiting for justice. Not only are African Americans affected by the issue, but the fact that people, the world and society do not view the issue as an issue itself is heartbreaking. It is a mere reflection of just how unjust the criminal justice system really is. Every day we hear and see something new in the headlines about issues and controversies over in other countries, with one issue overbearing another. However, we have issues and chaos everyday in America that are being overlooked.

In the wake of Sandra Bland’s arrest and murder, angry family, friends and general supporters began a campaign, known as #SayHerName, which received little to no attention. For months and years, these victims' families have simply only wanted justice for their loved ones. Just how #Travyon Martin, #Tamir Rice, #Michael Brown, and #Eric Gardner names are not forgotten by media headlines, these women should not be forgotten as well. The lack of attention of the black women who have fallen victim to police shootings and encounters will only continue if awareness is not brought to the world's attention. The difference between men coverage and women coverage in the media is that there are consistent video recordings of those deaths involving men, whereas for those deaths involving women, no video recordings were known of. The world, the media just shows how gender-specific they can be.

For the sake of civil rights, we must recognize our sisters and mothers just as we do our brothers and fathers who have fallen victim to police killings.