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Angry Black Woman? Myth or reality: You should be so happy when we smile.
There seems to be myths abound that Black women are angry, depressed, not lovable, unloved, bitter, lascivious, asexual, mannish, and unintelligent. All of these myths are constructed around historical folk myths embedded in the psyche of U.S. American culture that were used to justify and rationalize Black slavery, rape, and the maiming of Black women's and girl's bodies.
The social and scientific construction of Black women as jezebel, sapphire, and mammy are a part of America's past and present. In the past, these images sustained Black women's roles as domestics, workhorses, and baby making machines for the White elite in the North and South. In present day, we see these images proliferated in mainstream media (e.g. Rap/R&B music, videos, and talk shows), politics (e.g. the welfare debate and the so-called War Against Poverty), prison industrial complex (i.e. Black women's prison's rates have more than doubled since the so-called War on Drugs), the economic structure (i.e. Black women on average, with the same amount of education, earn less than White men, White women, Asians, and Black men), and in educational systems (i.e. Black female students are suspended and expelled at greater rates than White boys).
Not to mention, that no matter how hard a Black woman works, how committed she is to Black children, men, and the elderly; or, how dedicated she has been to the upliftment of her community and nation, she will never be seen as worthy or as pious as her White female counterpart. In this nation (and abroad) Black women have always been compared to White women and depicted as less pure, less virtuous, and less beautiful. So, when you hear someone say Black women are so angry, you may want to think twice and instead ask, "Why are so many Black women so freakin' happy?" And, to quote (or paraphrase in this case) Celie from Alice Walker's the Color Purple, "I may be Black, and I may be ugly, but I'm alive." If this quote does Black women's experiences in this world any justice, check out the video below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPBH57BWhpE
In peace,
Venus
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Angry Black Women
Iam a black woman and can relate to your blog. I feel that black women have every right to be angry and the question is what are we smiling for? Somedays I am happy and that is because I have a relationship with God and inspite of my circumstances He gives me reasons to be grateful. In all honesty if I didn't have a relationship with God some people would know just how angry I am. I am single and I desire a man that I can respect, honor, and love, however where are they? Yes I'm angry. White women no matter what seem to be able to get married, most black women have to settle for being alone or settling for whomever. Yes I'm angry. In 2009 my blackness is still a problem in the United States of America. If you don't look white and where your hair relaxed you are ugly, yes I'm angry. Racial prejudice still exist, I guess Obama found that out. I am tired of struggling, working, going to school, raising my child by myself, yes I'm angry. Black women have many reasons to be angry and depressed, however women the bitterness will only cause your bones to ache and suffer from emotional trama-drama. Drop the bitterness and love yourself. What makes ignorant people think that black women do not desire to be loved and that we are not lovable. Our whole existence is foundated on love. I believe that we give more love than any other race. What race can be stripped of their will and still exude love other than a black woman. We are beaten down by our men, not accepted by each other, and beaten down by a white racist society, yet we still try our best to love everyone that we encounter. Yes I am angry. I am tired of the jezebel stigma, we were forced in slavery to be "strong" and not women of "strength", we were forced into role reversal. Where there is an absence there must be a presence. Men were stripped out of our arms into the arms of the white woman and they call us angry and bitter. During slavery men were trained to drop there seed and keep it moving and up until this day this practice is still going on, leaving the woman to take on the responsibility of the man and still remaining a woman. Yes I am angry. Jezebel by force is far different than Jezebel by choice. A white woman would probably commit sideways if she had to put up with what black women have by society and our men. We love you brothers, we love our children and most of us love each other. I am black, and to some I may be ugly, but I am a proud black woman and despite the odds I am an overcomer and I shall rise like Maya Angelou said.
Angry Black Woman...And, I rise
Marsha,
First of all, thanks for responding to my above blog entry. I do believe we need more Black women engaged in cultural and social commentary in public forums that serve a purpose beyond commericialism. Your comments just educated the world.
Second, I am moved by your comments because it speaks volumes to the spectrum of resilience that Black women exhibit everyday as women, mothers, daughters, partners, workers and caregivers. Your words speak to our ability to internalize our anger, own it, and release it to move on...and rise.
Thank You for sharing,
Venus
Am I angry?
I think black women are being misrepresented due to encounters of a few "angry black women". Like I tell my children, it takes more muscles to frown than to smile!! Not all black women are angry. Not all black women are happy. I think that the impression that is put out in the media that all black women are bitter, angry, unloved and depressed is over exaggerated. All women are emotional. Different races show their emotions differently than others. We have some White, Hispanic and Black women that don't show their emotions, but wear them on their sleeves. And then you have some of the same races that are loud, belligerent and "evil". I think that since we as black women have been look at differently in a negative sense every since we were ship over here from Africa, there has been a stigma placed on the attitudes, appearance and overall representation of a black woman.
One thing that I would say is that black women have endured so much pain over the years, we are stronger in mind and in soul.
Strong in soul
Hello JoanTiffany,
Thank you much for leaving a comment on this post. Again, it so important that Black women be a part of larger societal discourse on the state of Black women in America and abroad. Your comment speaks directly to a need to have such open conversations. An important point you made above is that women of all races, ethnicities, and cultures express a wide variety of emotions; however, Black women are depicted as angry. Often racism and sexism doesn't allow women, especially women of color, to express a variety of emtions. But, women like you continue to thrive and grow stronger in mind and soul.
Thank You for sharing,
Venus