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An ‘Angry’ Black Girl Manifesto
Black women are allowed to have emotions, including anger
“Bitter Black bitch!”
In a heated discussion about something I can’t even remember now, the three words pierced through my ears as they slipped from my Uncle Ron’s lips.
I realized this wasn’t the first time someone tried to silence me while I was simply trying to express myself. It was a gut punch that many women, especially Black women, have felt. It’s almost like the word bitch is a package deal with womanhood.
But this time was different; it was more personal.
Bitterness is often attributed to anger or resentment — an emotion not usually extended to women — particularly Black women.
For us, it’s a definite “no-no.”
It’s a way to not only silence us but also downplay our perspective, all the while gaslighting us into thinking we’re in the wrong. Stepping out of line can literally lead to a laundry list of phrases being hurled at you.
The big three:
“You’re so aggressive!”
“You’re bitter!”
“Why are you so angry?”
Misogynoir is where the intersection of race and gender meet for Black women. The term was coined by…
