An ‘Angry’ Black Girl Manifesto

Black women are allowed to have emotions, including anger

Alexis Oatman
ZORA

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Photo: DjelicS/Getty Images

“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…

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Alexis Oatman
ZORA
Writer for

Freelance writer and journalist. Follow me on Twitter @itslexdawriter.