Unbreakable or The Problem with Praising Blackgirl Strength

[JustAnotherGen]

5. It's buzzfeeed - yeah I know - but this is what Ism is getting at here

SBW ='s Strong Black Woman

The SBW is an attempt to subvert negative stereotypes of black women: the Mammy, the Jezebel, and the Sapphire, as outlined in Patricia Hill Collins’ seminal work Black Feminist Thought (PDF). In basic terms, the Mammy, Jezebel, and Sapphire achieve satisfaction by serving white people, indulging her own sexual appetites, and emasculating men, respectively. In contrast, Strong Black Women have no needs. It’s dangerous — and dehumanizing — to have such a narrow view of the black woman as a source of support while expecting her not to need any herself.

Giving black women superhero qualities is an overcorrection that’s simply limiting in a different way.

We do have needs.

It's okay to cry.

The hypersexualization of black woman - as well as rapes during the Jim Crow era - and having to 'take it' - i.e. no day in court, it was expected, go forth and 'sow your wild oats young white man' -

This is an over correction. And it kind of makes it seem like that treatment is okay -because we are strong and can get by.