Blogpost By Niya Allen

What does it mean to be a Black woman? Black women are multifaceted beings whose existence is intricately woven with the overlapping views of the outside world and the views they hold for themselves. Black women have always been a vital piece to political movements, yet often finds herself marginalized and unprotected. She has consistently made room for those who would never make room for her or been subjected to harsh scrutiny by those she values most. Black women can sometimes be harshest to her sisters, reflecting the struggle to accept the person she sees in them—a mirror of herself. Generational trauma is a familiar battleground, one she actively fights to break or sometimes tragically succumbs to. Often, her body is seen as a trophy or object for men's pleasure. A body she often does not see as sacred– for her experiences has warped her perception.

The existence of Black women cannot be fully captured through the lenses of the Black movement or the Women's movement alone. Their experiences are uniquely defined by the intersecting struggles and triumphs within their own dual identities. They are "Black Bodies of Desire, Displacement, and Discontent," navigating a complex interplay of longing for recognition and respect, the continuous search for belonging in the face of historical and contemporary uprootedness, and a profound discontent with the world she has been forced to endure. Despite these areas of oppression, Black women still dares to conquer them. 

Desire is one of the driving forces of Black womanhood, a profound and multifaceted force that fuels their resilience, creativity, and aspirations. Serena Williams described it best, “I really think a champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall." While Black women yearn to be celebrated and acknowledged for their talents, they have learned to survive without. Their relentless desire to take control of their own narratives propels them to achieve regardless of those who refuse to recognize or respect what they bring to the table. This sentiment is explored through the narrative of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson in Hidden Figures. 

Displacement of Black bodies can be perfectly summed up through the words of Malcolm X: “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.” This sentiment can be traced back to slavery, where Black women's bodies were uprooted from their homelands to become a commodity for white America. In slavery, their bodies were no longer theirs, but the property of their master to play with. These horrors are described by Harriet Jacobs in her fictionalized slave narrative, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. And even after slavery, Black women’s bodies have been used, abused and discarded by their own men- examples of which are depicted in Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls and The Color Purple by Alice Walker. 

Discontentment is a feeling Black women know all too well.

Issa Rae said it best, “Black women ain’t bitter. They are just tired of being expected to settle for less.” And it is true, this sentiment encapsulates the years of exhaustion and frustration Black women have had to endure to be recognized as human. They are often placed under the scrutiny of societal expectations that demand their resilience while simultaneously undermining their worth. This relentless pressure to excel and endure is compounded by the absence of equitable recognition and support.

The 2024 Election is a prime example of this. Kamala Harris, a college graduate, a successful Attorney General, a United States Senator, and the elected Vice President of the United States, lost the Presidential Election to a convicted felon. This starkly illustrates that  Black women can be overly qualified for a position and still be denied what she has rightfully earned. So no, Black women are not bitter– we are simply demanding the respect and opportunities we have worked tirelessly to achieve.

In conclusion, despite the conditions of Black women in America, they always find a way to rise above- radiating strength, resistance, and grace. Their journey is a testament to their unbreakable spirit. However, do not be fooled by their strong will, Black women still desire to be loved, to belong, and to find someone willing to help carry the weight.