Last week The New York Times called media mogul
Shonda Rimes an “angry black woman”
and just three weeks ago The NY Times also called me “angry” and “aggressive”, simply because I, as a journalist and advocate, asked
a question during a Q&A following Outfest's screening of Transparent (re: ‘trans face’ - where a
male actor once again plays a trans* woman character).
When Black women own their power, are
assertive and question the patriarchy they are often called "angry black
women", de-feminized (“aggressive”), demeaned and stigmatized (stigmatizing
is a new clever form of censorship, as well as vilifying dissent).
Of course,
both journalists that mischaracterized both Shonda and I are white women, and
of a particular class. A couple of privileged white female journalists that
apparently have no clue what Black women in the United States go through (and
even more challenging, what Black and Latina trans* women go through) can
attempt to vilify us simply for sharing real life experiences, asking tough
questions and working to help other women of color, yet we will continue to
advocate for change - because our work is not about crafting sensational
articles so the NY Times can garner more hits and ad revenue, or writing
disingenuous, one-sided PR fluff pieces for an Amazon online TV show, our work
is to try to make the world a better place.
I'm happy,
I'm free spirited, and I’m inspired, but if calling me an "angry black woman" makes you feel
less uncomfortable with the truth I speak, then chances are you may be a "shallow, blind, fearful and classist non-Black
woman". - Jus’ sayin’…
#UnapologeticBlackQueen #HappyBlackWoman
