Cough…stretch…continue…
I don’t give a hot shit what Isaiah Thomas says about the use of the word “bitch”.
Blink.
Years ago I took notice of the kind of black woman being called an angry black bitch. They were often independent, powerful, incapable of bullshit, proud, defiant, militant and without a submissive bone in their body women of color who were being called angry black bitches in an attempt to regulate their behavior and teach them how The Man likes his black women to behave.
“You’re acting like an angry black bitch” was code for…
Talk softly even when a normal person would raise their voice.
Keep your eyes downcast and your posture submissive because no one wants an uppity sister in the office.
Ingratiate yourself and put others at ease because “difficult” or “intimidating” black women don’t move up that corporate ladder.
The goal is for black women to be invisible…kind of like we are on the runways during Fashion Week.
Blink.
If we are silent, submissive and genderless we become “unthreatening” and “safe” in the eyes of The Man.
But I began to realize that listening to the oppressor tell me what appropriate behavior should be is crazy as hell.
So no, I don’t feel that the title of my blog is inappropriate.
I look at the world today and know that this black bitch’s anger is appropriate as a motherfucker.
And I stopped fretting over whether my empowerment made other people uncomfortable years ago.
I don’t walk with my eyes cast downward.
I don’t talk softly.
I don’t care if I intimidate people.
I will not be invisible.
And this revolution will not be censored.
Viva la bitchitude...
19 comments:
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I just found your blog this week and I'm already addicted. I'm the only Sistah in my office and I recently realized that trying to outrun that "angry black bitch" stereotype was just too much fucking work. Here I was, smiling and being all cooperative while every other person in the office had free reign to act a damn fool any time they got good and ready. But let me walk in without my friendly, disarming smile and suddenly everyone is tip-toeing around my cubicle, scared that the Sistah is going to lose it! A couple of weeks ago I decided that if they want to react to a stereotype instead of a real person, that's truly not my problem. And you just validated my decision to not give a fuck about it anymore. Viva la bitchitude indeed!!!
chuuuuuuuuch!!!
--delux
AMEN
Thank you for your wonderful way of telling the truth. Whew.
I don't remember who said it first, but well-behaved women rarely make history. (Although thanks to the Internet, I can now say that it was Laurel Thatcher Ulrich.) I applaud your bitchitude!
Oh my my AfroLady. I'm sitting here with shivers running up and down my spine and goose bumps all over my body.
Stop talking dirty like that!
But come to think of it, perhaps you could give seminars to large groups of American proles on how to grow a backbone.
"Viva la bitchitude..."
You bet your ass!
With a little luck, I will raise my daughter to be a bitch just like you.
Keep up the good work!
You are awesome.
That is all.
You're SUCH a bitch...
High School--voted worst temper in my class. (Because I was constantly saying WTF when people did or said dumb shit.)
In college I got--" You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar" (Why the hell do I want to catch flies?)
In my thirties I gave up and just concentrated on my career--freelance work I could do at home.
I was sick of the clueless wanting me to SMILE like a mindless idiot, shut up and whisper--when by the way-- I was quite content to do the opposite.
Three weeks after my fortieth birthday and five days after losing a dear friend in a tragic accident I was boarding a plane when the young woman taking my boarding pass looked at me and said "SMILE!--why so angry?"
Sadly I wanted to smack her; but wisely-- didn't.
I quietly mouthed Fuck You--then hesitated, backed up and gave her a glowing smile. She of course, was speechless.
From one Angry Black Bitch to another --you made my week.
AMEN!!!
IN your quest to bring attention to the views of society on powerful black women you have also addressed the plight of any female regardless of color.
Its a gender struggle as well as a gender-color struggle.
Yeah it sucks....but winning is SO SWEET.
I agree with AOB. This is as much a gender issue as a race one. The man definately wants all women to just shut the fuck up, be invisible unless he needs something and stay out of his rise to power.
When I say the man I don't just mean white men.
It's gender-based AND race-based, true, true, true!
I hope my three beautiful brown daughters are just like you when they grow up: brave, strong, smart, bold.
oh snap! ...and a healthy helping of "you go, girl!"
AMEN.
I loved this!
You speak such truth. I have found that being a bitch means that I can take care of myself and protect the helpless. I claim the title with pride.
Hot damn ABB! You are awesome indeed lady!
I salute you for your elegant and..lol.. quite down-home at the same time language.
Shark-Fu,
You are more than just the voice of black women.. your intelligence and style speaks volumes to women of all colors, regardless of your blog's title.. Its about the sisterhood of ALL women in this gender-biased world.. Keep up the fantabulous work! This white sistah is ADDICTED!
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