Black women have been huge players in movements to fight for their rights but these movements tend to ignore their plights. Feminism tends to focus on the issues white women face while ignoring the racial element involved in regards to black women. The American civil rights movement had many black women who played pivotal roles but their efforts were mainly overshadowed by black men. When black women speak out against the injustices that they face they are usually given negative labels. It is as if black women are not meant to be heard. In society there are many negative stereotypes surrounding black women. We are described as being angry, aggressive, having bad attitudes and being unattractive. The media perpetuates these negative stereotypes (just look at black women in reality TV shows). Even in films and TV shows black women are usually portrayed in subordinate roles where they are loud, ghetto, a baby mama or promiscuous. There is a lack of positive representation of black women in the media.
Black women are constantly being disrespected by others. Back in 2011 a psychologist named Satoshi Kanazawa wrote an article on "Psychology today" stating that black women are the least attractive women compared to other races. There was a huge backlash and the article was removed. However this notion is reflected in wider society where there is a Europeanised standard of beauty. White women are the standard of beauty and femininity whereas black women who do not fit these white standards are not seen a beautiful or feminine. Look at Serena Williams for example who has throughout her career been insulted because of her appearance, she has been called terms such as "manly” and "gorilla". When I see Serena Williams I see a beautiful black woman (plus she has a body to die for!) unfortunately there are many people who do not share these views. Even looking at Michelle Obama she was constantly insulted while she was the 1st Lady and has been called an "ape in heels". Despite their achievements and successes there are people that do not respect them because they are black women.
People have always disrespected our features, for example our natural afro hair has been perceived as unkempt and unprofessional to the extent that many black women have been told to change their hair at their workplace or school. There are men in the media who have used the term "Nappy headed" as an insult to black women with afro textured hair. Even our facial features e.g. having full lips were not seen as attractive in mainstream society until Kylie Jenner started getting lip fillers to increase the size of her lips then all of a sudden everybody wanted bigger lips. Features that were ridiculed on black women are praised on white women. Even having a big butt wasn't desirable in mainstream society but when the likes of J Lo and Kim K were praised for their butts it became acceptable by society.
As much as I wish I did not have to say this, some of the contributors to misogynoir are black men. In music, particularly hip-hop there is a lot of disrespect towards black women who are often referred to by derogatory terms. In music videos there is the hypersexualisation of the black female body. The level of disrespect is increased in relation to dark skinned women. Recently rapper Kodak Black said in an interview that he likes light skinned women and not women his complexion because they are too "gutter" (whatever that means). The sad thing is that I've heard this narrative first hand from black males who say they do not date black girls and if they do they are mixed race/light skinned black girls, because dark skinned black girls are too rude, have attitudes, or are not attractive. When certain black men become very successful they choose to only date white women (I'm not against interracial relationships, just men that put down women of their race in the process). These men have internalised so much self-hatred within themselves that they do not want to see their image in a woman that they date. They have been brainwashed and conditioned by society to believe that lighter/paler skin equates to beauty (That is why I disagree with men who say wanting a lighter skinned female is just a "preference").
This has a domino effect because in turn this affects the self-esteem of dark skinned girls who believe that they are ugly because of their skin color. I have a friend who is a make up artist and she has told me that she has had very young dark skinned females ask her to match their foundation shade on their skin and when she does they are not happy and request a lighter foundation shade to make their skin look lighter. This really hurt me when she told me this. This detrimental narrative has been internalised by many black women and some will go to great lengths to erase their blackness (just look at Lil Kim).
Human life started from the Black Woman (as we all know life started in Africa). However throughout history black women have been marginalised, discriminated against and oppressed but despite these hurdles, black women have remained strong and resilient. As a black woman I will not allow my gender or race to hinder me from achieving my goals. I will not allow society to dictate how I should view myself. We do not need validation from people who have white supremacist ideologies or misogynistic beliefs. I see my skin and gender as a blessing, not a curse, I am a proud black women. Despite the prejudices we may face I am glad that there has been a shift in society and more black women are embracing who they are and achieving great things. Below is my favourite speech by Malcolm X.
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