Wellness That Matters: Black Health News & Community Care
July 17, 2025
We’ve taken time to sit with this verdict. We’ve listened, mourned, raged, and reflected. Now, we are ready to speak from the heart.
Earlier this month, Sean “Diddy” Combs was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He was acquitted on the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
We’ve spoken to survivors in our community who’ve told us how triggering and retraumatizing this moment has been. The pain is real and deep. We feel it — not only as advocates for justice — but as Black women who know what it means to have our pain minimized, ignored, or dismissed.
According to reports, over 60 lawsuits remain pending against Combs.
To every survivor impacted by this case, we want you to know: we see you. You are not alone. Your story matters. And your healing matters too.
This trial was public, and it further revealed the extent of Combs’ abuse against women. We first saw disturbing video footage of Combs physically abusing his former partner, Cassie Ventura, in May 2024. And today, we continue to stand with her and all survivors, whether their stories are known to the world or carried quietly in their hearts.
What message does this verdict send to our daughters? What do we say to young Black girls when the world watches a woman’s abuse unfold and the abuser still dodges true accountability?
It tells them violence can be excused if the abuser holds power, and that the line between consent and coercion can be blurred. For many survivors, this verdict is a painful reminder of how often the legal system fails them. It’s yet another blow to the self-esteem, safety, and spirit of Black women and girls everywhere.
This is one of the reasons why Black Women for Wellness (BWW) does the work we do.
Our Rites of Passage (ROP) program supports Black girls ages 14–19, helping them build confidence, leadership, and self-worth in community with Black women mentors. It creates space to process complex topics like those raised during this trial, and teaches what healthy relationships and self-advocacy look like.
Our Get Smart B4U Get Sexy program delivers culturally grounded sex education for Black youth and young adults, especially those in foster care, transitioning to adulthood at higher risk of exploitation. It defines what sexual violence looks like so no young person walks away from a verdict like this thinking what they saw was normal or acceptable. It also equips participants with tools for media analysis and critical thinking to better understand how the images we consume impact our lives, relationships, and self-worth.
Our Grown n’ Sexy program recognizes that mature and senior women still need affirmation and support in navigating relationships. Why? Because the violence Black women face does not disappear with age.
At BWW, we remain unwavering in our commitment to the health and well-being of Black women and girls. We will keep fighting for a world where our bodies, minds, and spirits are respected, protected, and safe. And abuse in any form (physical, emotional, sexual, financial or systemic) will never be normalized or tolerated.
If you or someone you know is facing abuse, please visit our Relationship Violence Resources. You deserve care, support, and safety.
In solidarity,
Black Women for Wellness
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