Black women find themselves at the intersection of race and gender, making their reality more challenging. If we observe different areas of society, we will quickly notice that black women come out on the losing end in most areas.
What do Breonna Taylor and Sha-aisia Washington have in common? They both were black women failed by the system.
Black women find themselves at the intersection of race and gender, making their reality more challenging. If we observe different areas of society, we will quickly notice that black women come out on the losing end in most areas.
First off, in terms of education, it is said that black women are the most educated group in America according to a study done in 2014. They are the most likely to earn post-secondary degrees, yet, none of that matters because of the negative representation that keeps persisting. In 2013, Essence magazine reported that negative imagery of Black women appears twice as often as positive depictions.
This negative representation paired with bias and stereotypes also leads to difficulties in the corporate world. On average, A study reveals that the annual pay gap between a black woman and a white man is 38%. Nikki Katz gives us the following explanation : “for one, Black women are more likely than other groups of women nationally to work in the lowest-paying occupations—sectors such as the service industry, health care, and education—and are less likely to work in the higher-paying fields such as engineering or to hold managerial positions”. Yet, even those in the medical field make only 54 cents for every dollar their white male colleagues make, which means that the issue goes beyond the industry type.
Speaking of the medical field, black women are at a higher risk to die during childbirth, 12 times more likely to be precise. In the article Is bias keeping female, minority patients from getting proper care for their pain?, it states that “In 2012, an analysis of 20 years of published research in the United States found that African American patients reporting pain were 22% less likely than white patients to get pain medication from their doctors. It is said that often times, their suffering is dismissed which leads to complications and death because of the idea of strong black women”, which is completely ludicrous.
Last but not least, the media. We are exposed to it everyday. Although I believe we’ve come a long way, we still have a long way to go. Nikki Katz explains that “images of the “welfare queen,” “baby mama,” and “angry Black woman,” among other images, shame Black women’s struggles and reduce Black women’s complex humanity. These depictions are not just hurtful; they have an impact on Black women’s lives and opportunities.”
These are just a few examples of the daily struggles thousands of black women encounter, whether they are professionals, mothers, entertainers, politicians etc.
Black women are not safe.
Is it not revolting?
If my desire for change and justice makes me an angry black woman, so be it !
My anger is fuelled by the injustice we constantly face and the passion I have to see change.
Our anger pushes us to excel in everything we do. Our anger is making room for us in places we were denied access to. Our anger is giving us a voice to be the change we want to see.
Our anger will change the world and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.
You too, should join the movement.