It’s not “just jokes, bonnets and preferences.” It truly is “that deep,” black women.
I wish black women would wise up to how representation online works as a global scale.
In May 2021, comedian Mo' Nique made headlines for calling out black women wearing bonnets in the airport and not looking presentable. She faced heavy backlash from the black community for trying to impose "respectability politics." But Mo' Nique is right. Seeing black women defend a negative portrayal of their image is alarming. Imagine fighting tooth and nail to have your image as the unkept and lazy stereotype while at the sometime yelling about not being represented as beauty in the media.
Black women have to take accountability of helping to promote and spread a negative image of themselves. From the participating and promoting the music that calls us "bitches and hoes," to supporting colorist men that tell the world how undesirable you are while you are supporting their music/movies/art. From reposting, laughing and giving exposure to the "jokes," that low budget comedians post online snatching your wig off. Black women have now started doing videos of themselves snatching their own wigs off, going swimming and riding roller coasters with their wigs coming off for shock value and some chuckles that will only lead to more disrespect in the real world. It's not just jokes. It's your image that affects how you are treated in the workplace. It's your image that affects how the world outside of America sees you. Stop participating and promoting the negative images of yourself. The men are already doing it, no need to join in with them and double up on the negative imagery. Do other groups allow themselves to be disrespected publicly? No. They take a stand against it and hit's these artists where it hurts the worst...their pockets. Example: Dababy and his performance at Rolling Loud. Those "jokes," have negative consequence not just on your desirability but how you are respected as well. Stop supporting and defending the negative portrayal of your image.
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