Black Women are Human Too

Being a black woman comes with a lot of expectations. You are expected to be thick, have a big booty, dance or sing on cue, be ratchet or woke, and always stand your ground. All things that people expect, good or bad, categorize black women as some predictable being that is always defiant. However, what people often ignore from black women is emotion.
Throughout history black women have been strong beings. Whether they support fellow brown people in times of adversity, tell someone off for outrageous behavior, our still strive despite daily struggles black women are often looked at as a defiant creature. However, at the end of the day they are human. They feel just as much as the next person. They have break downs, they cry, they have fear, they have pain. They feel.
Often the only emotion recognized of black women is anger. The "angry black woman" stereotype is nothing new and nearly any black woman can be given that label as soon as they say something the masses don't want to hear. "I am tired of men defying my trust," angry black woman. "I shouldn't be denied a chance just because of my skin color," angry black woman. "I asked for ketchup with my fries but I didn't get any," angry black woman. This stereotype is so extreme some black women even keep quiet about unfair and sometimes outrageous things that happen to them just to avoid being put in this box. If a white woman speaks out about injustice she is a hero. If a Latina calls you out for your bs its fiery and sexy. But if a black woman speaks out about the tiniest thing she is annoying or a b*tch.
Nevertheless, despite pulling through most of the negativity. Some things are harder to shake. Along with the "angry black woman" complex there is the "strong black woman" stereotype. While this could be looked at as a positive thing, it can sometimes be problematic. The "strong black woman" expectation views black women as undefinable people who cannot be broken. But the sad truth is some black women are the most broken of them all. Mental illness is a taboo subject for the black community as a whole but it is something very real. Depression, anxiety, or just plain sadness can happen because at the end of the day we are human. Constantly dealing with negative energies such as racism, sexism, financial issues, fear of change, family drama or whatever the case may be can take a toll on someone. Sometimes it may even lead to suicidal thoughts or even actions. Yet, often black women get little compassion but rather a "get over it" or "You are stronger then this." Let. Black. Women. Be. Vulnerable.
All in all, black women are resilient. They are strong but at the end of the day they are humans and should be treated as such unconditionally. So give us a break, let us breathe. Let black women simply just be.

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