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Dear White Women: Now That We Have Your Attention, May I Have a Word?
Five Thoughts from the Heart of a Black Woman
First, let me just say I’m so happy to be here. And by “here” I mean in this moment where my words are less likely to fall on deaf ears, blank stares, awkward pauses, or a genuine lack of interest.
Yes, this is how White women have received me in the past whenever I brought up issues of racial inequity in this country. But that was then and surely with the dawn of all this “wokeness” we’ve turned a corner, right?
(You don’t have to answer that — it’s totally rhetorical)
Thank you for taking the time out of your day to sit down and listen to the thoughts of a Black woman. It’s tough to find an attentive audience as a member of a group that is often rendered invisible in this society unless your name is Beyonce, Michelle, or Oprah.
(You guys think the fight for women’s rights is a job? Try adding the word “Black” in front of that and see what happens)
WARNING: Some of my thoughts may be slightly triggering, but you have my word as a woman they are not meant to be harmful. I’m here to enlighten, not offend.
Okay, are we ready? Good! Let’s get into it!
Thought #1: Black Women are not inherently ANGRY. (And when we DO get angry, please believe it’s for a VALID reason)
I want to retire that “Angry Black Woman” mess forever. Do you know how tired Black women are of always having to watch what we say, what we do, how we say something, our body language, and everything in between? We can say the exact same thing as our White counterparts and it will take on an entirely different meaning.
Ex #1 — A White woman says: “I don’t like the service in this restaurant. I think I’m going to speak to the manager.”
Outcome: The manager arrives, apologies for the bad service, offers to pick up the tab, and assures the woman this will not happen again.
Ex #2 — A Black woman says: “I don’t like the service in this restaurant. I think I’m going to speak to the manager.”
Outcome: The manager arrives, asks about the problem, barely listens to the woman’s…
