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What the F*** is a “Regular Black Woman?”
Black girl magic comes in many flavors, none of which are ‘regular.’
The present movement of American Black women celebrating ourselves is very much a revolution. However, whether you’ve noticed it or not, it has long since been considered a hindrance to be a phenotypic Black woman who was born and raised on American soil. This is not some fluke. Instead, it is a direct result of racism and misogynoir — two concepts that place all things White on a pedestal while intentionally degrading every aspect of Blackness.
At any rate, somewhere along the way, being African American became synonymous with being regular. I, for one, think it’s high time we end this dangerous rhetoric. As a woman thinketh, so is she. So, how do you think such concepts have affected the generations of Black women and girls who have been constantly subjected to them?
What’s So Wrong With Regular?
To be clear, there is nothing wrong with being regular. However, I firmly believe that is a title that should be self-subscribed rather than one bestowed upon you by those who are invested in gatekeeping your oppression.
Moreover, I fully believe that the term ‘regular Black’ is almost akin to certain slurs that have been reclaimed and repurposed by Black women in the past. Maybe you missed it, but for decades, American Black men have been bragging about only dating and marrying ‘exotic’ women, which is a coded term to describe any woman who isn’t African American.
To be clear, no one is trying to hold African American men hostage. On the contrary, I very much want them to be great and go wherever they want. Nevertheless, I also need these dating preferences to stop being at the expense of ‘regular Black women.’
The Rise of Regular
Oddly enough, one of the top reasons being so-called regular became popular was when Cardi B emerged onto the scene via the Love & Hip-Hop franchise. One of her many catchphrases was when she introduced herself as a “regular, degular shmegular girl from the Bronx.” Although she, herself…
