TV & Film
TV One’s “Fatal Attraction” focuses on highlighting real-life stories that “gives you a glimpse into the dark heart of a dangerous romance”. The series utilizes interviews, footage and other materials to paint these tantalizing and often dangerous stories. Season 15, Episode 40 – "Impulse to Kill", steps away from the usual format of romance based stories to highlight the tragic story of Muhlaysia Booker.
Black transgender women face disproportionately higher risks of violence within our LGBTQ+ community versus that of other queer individuals. Muhlaysia Booker’s tragic story is just one of many that exemplifies the violence faced by Black trans women in the United States. If you are unaware of Booker’s story, here’s a quick review.
In April 2019, Muhlaysia Booker was brutally beaten in a Dallas parking lot after a minor traffic incident. The attack itself was captured on video and was widely circulated until it became viral on social media. It became suspected of a hate crime. Despite surviving the assault, just one month later on May 18, 2019, Booker was found shot to death.
Gaye Magazine’s very own Nekeith Mitchell stars in this episode, portraying Muhlaysia Booker.
Nekeith had the following to say about her time in this role:
“It was truly an honor to portray Muhlaysia Booker. She was such a brave and beautiful woman who used her voice to stand up for justice and equality for the transgender community."
She continued, "I vividly remember when the video clip of the brutal beating went viral, and I was deeply heartbroken and devastated by the incident. When I got the call that I was cast for the role, my heart was filled with happiness because I felt it was a second chance for Muhlaysia to share her story with the world."
"I hope that anyone who watches this episode feels empowered to live in their truth, to recognize the importance of loving themselves authentically, and to support and uplift each other in our communities. Muhlaysia's legacy lives on through the strength of her story, and I am grateful to have been a part of bringing that to light.”
Booker’s story is not an isolated case. According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Black trans women make up the majority of transgender homicide victims annually (2023). These individuals are targeted mostly due to the fact that they stand at intersecting points of oppression including racism, transphobia and misogyny.
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), reports that trans individuals are seven times more likely to experience physical violence when interacting with law enforcement in comparison to cisgender individuals (2021). This particular metric highlights the heightened vulnerability of Black trans women not only in interpersonal violence but also with institutional mistreatment.
Additionally, data shows that 73% of transgender homicide victims were killed with a gun and that Black trans women are five times more likely to be killed in gun related incidents in comparison to the general population. Despite these trends, many of these murders remain unresolved, often due to misgendering by law enforcement and a general lack of urgency from an investigative standpoint.
Hate crimes that target members of the LGBTQ+ community have been on the rise for some years now, with Black trans women at the center of this particular brand of violence. In 2022, according to the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics report, there was a significant increase in anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes.
There is also the factor of economic marginalization that further puts this minority at risk.
Approximately 38% of black Trans people live in poverty in comparison to 12% of the general population. This particular factor is crucial as it limits access to gender affirming healthcare, safe housing, and increases their exposure to possible homelessness, workplace discrimination among other risks.
Muhlaysia Booker’s life and death should continue to serve as a call to action. She was more than just a statistic and a viral video. She was a woman full of resilience and perseverance. It is up to all of us to continue to fight for communities, spaces and a world where Black trans women are not just reduced to a violent statistic.
Remembering Muhlaysia Booker means saying her name still, telling her story and demanding a different ending for other beautiful Black trans women.
You can stream Fatal Attraction: Impulse to Kill now, exclusively on the TV One app.
To read our previous coverage on Muhlaysia Booker, click here.