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The Monolithic Narrative of Black Female Lives

By Micky ThinksPublished 6 years ago 4 min read
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No matter a person’s race, religion, sexuality, or socioeconomic background, they cannot escape stereotypes. Every person experiences them in some regard. Some face them at much harsher extremes than others. But in essence, we all are stereotyped in some fashion.

As an African-American female, there are a number of stereotypes I have faced in life. I’ve been labeled ‘ghetto’ by people that didn’t know me, I’ve intimidated some that I’ve never met, and I’ve been sexualized in some of the most derogatory ways. All of these experiences have been solely based on my identity as a black woman, aside from my background, faith, or sexuality. Because of the way I look, there is a certain persona people expect when meeting me—a loud, gregarious, and bold persona. Not to imply that these are unsavory characteristics or that there aren’t black women who are this way—but it’s not me. And the same can be said for thousands of other African-American women who are like me. The black female narrative is not monolithic.

I’m an introvert and I get a lot of shit for it. From strangers, friends, and even family members. Other people have a difficult time understanding how a black woman like myself can be reserved and soft-spoken, as if the two don’t mix. When I meet new people and express myself, they seem taken aback. The person I am portraying and the image they’ve subconsciously formed in their heads aren’t aligning and it’s difficult for them to wrap their heads around. I don’t like being the center of attention. I hate dancing, especially in front of other people, and I don’t enjoy being in the company of large groups. There is nothing wrong with these preferences and I wish that others would understand. Black women come in a variety of ‘flavors’ too!

One of my most favorite authors, bell hooks, wrote a book entitled Black Looks in 1992. It explains how influential images in television and media are in developing public opinions of groups of people. As the title suggests, she focuses her lens primarily on blacks in America and uses examples from films and current events of the time to substantiate her case. In regards to black women, there are certain stereotypical images that have been portrayed in media for decades. For example, there is the ‘tragic mulatto,, the ‘jezebel,’ the ‘Sapphire,' and more contemporarily, the ‘welfare queen.’ Each of these are derogatory labels attached to the identities of black females for decades. The ‘tragic mulatto’ is typically the narrative of a biracial woman of black and caucasian ancestry. Her mixed race provides her with an aesthetic that’s pleasing to the eye for most; she has fair skin, long wavy/straight hair, and her facial features are primarily Eurocentric. However, despite her biracial advantage, the mulatto cannot find happiness because she continually straddles the line of race. She is too white to be considered black, and for some, she is too black to be considered white. As a result, her narrative is considered ‘tragic’ because she can never escape her conflict of identity. Even when she possesses an ounce of whiteness—a supposed prized possession amongst blacks—she cannot find peace. This summarizes just one of the stereotypical narratives associated with black women that has been raked through in media and television persistently. These narratives rarely deviate from the norm and leads consumers to believe these are the only stories of black women. It is problematic because these beliefs impact the assumptions made about everyday people, like myself. We encounter these stereotypes and it is hurtful because it’s a painful reminder of the tragic history the lineage of our women have endured.

Let us allow black women to be diverse. Be themselves. Accept them whether they align with the assumptions you have or not because, in most cases, the assumptions are incorrect anyways. There are multiple narratives of black women in the world and they are ALL relevant. It is important for today’s writers and content creators to demonstrate this diversity in their products so that the public image of black women can be transformed. We have held on to and been entertained by the same tropes for far too long. In doing so, we have let slip through the cracks narratives of black women that are empowering, encouraging, and inspiring.

feminism
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About the Creator

Micky Thinks

I claim this space as my corner of the net to express my deepest feelings and most sentimental thoughts. Not all opinions shared will be popular, thus the pseudonym. But it is my hope that others (if only one) can connect to my strife.

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