The stereotype of the “angry black woman” is now a normalized way of how black women are seen by people of other races. This is evident in the results that come up if you do a basic Google search for the term “black attitude.”
The first search result is a page that asks, “WHY do black people have so much attitude?” on Yahoo Answers.
Google’s autocomplete feature has even more to add. Some of the most popular searches, according to the feature, include: “Why do black women have a [an] attitude all the time?” “Why do black women have more attitude problems?” “Why do black people have attitude problems?” and “Black people have attitude to white people?”
Who knew that such curiosity about black attitude has been circulating since 2008, as the last question is dated?
Even First Lady Michelle Obama couldn’t escape being called an “angry black woman” in YouTube videos.
Even though we casually discuss and joke about the sassy black woman, it’s still shocking to discover that people are seriously asking these questions.
But what’s even more troubling than the people asking these questions are the answers they are receiving—largely unsupported, offensive, and groundless.
In these easily accessible online interactions, it is particularly difficult to combat and avoid such thoughtless dialogue, which perpetuates the idea that every black woman has an attitude problem.
We are accepting that the stereotypes disseminated in the media are the correct representations of the attitudes of black women, especially when some of the people asking these questions are young black girls.
For example, one commentator on an IGN forum writes, “I’m mixed myself. Why do most black girls always seem so aggressive? If you’re a black girl, please explain this to me. I don’t get it at all. I try not to stereotype, but I go to a mainly all-white school, and I have never had a problem with any other race but the black females.”
The comments are filled with sweeping generalizations as people take a singular experience and use it to define their perception of an entire race, like this woman:
“The black lady next door refuses to talk to me, but rather talks to my boyfriend. She is rude when I try to tell her, “hi” or “how is your day?” I’ve had a lot of bad experiences with those black females, but it COULD just be my luck.”[sic]
These types of remarks further not only racial, but also gendered stereotypes, with the woman being seen as constantly hysterical, irrational, and overly emotional.
At the same time, by doing this, we take away from the black woman’s right to be upset, angry, or whatever they want to be, and shame them for feeling any emotion at all. This is where racism and sexism intersect.
Some of the most disturbing comments are left by black men, evidenced on the Topix African-American subforum.
One contributor writes, “I don’t date outside my race, but I feel you. Not all [black women] are like [that], not even most, but far too many that it’s hard to weed out.”
Instead of creating an environment for an intelligent, racially sensitive discussion about why some black women might be angry, acknowledging that they may not be angry at all, and recognizing their personal reasons for their emotions, blame is cast over all black women, reduced to a racialized and gendered demographic.
These gross generalizations are racist and unjust, and erase the individuality of other people. Any signs of outrage, strength, independence, resistance, or passion are often represented as “angry.”
But as much as the internet is part of this problem, it may also be the solution.
Just as distorted ideas of racial representation can be widely spread, so too can positive representations of black women and black attitudes in general.
Eventually, with shows like The Wendy Williams Show, Upright Citizens Brigade, and TheStream.tv creating parodies and discussing these issues of black stereotypes, the internet can play an important role is de-familiarizing racist ideas of black attitudes and instead promote individual understanding outside of colour.
Nirina Ngartola and Rama Kaba
Contributor and Supplement Coordinator
