Let’s talk about the Angry Black Woman trope. As Dionne Grayman explains, the “angry black woman” trope is a powerful tool that’s been used to dehumanize and silence black women for decades.

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The dangerous stereotype of the black female as an angry, finger-snapping, emasculating, neck-moving, “oh no you didn’t”-spewing being has done deep harm.

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Our anger has never been viewed as legitimate or warranted due to unfair treatment; instead, it’s been twisted into a pathology.

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White women’s rage is given prominent position as a healthy exercise of power acquisition. It is their right to be angry in the face of their oppression. Given the same consideration, though, black women’s anger has to be tempered and detached from the fire and fury of white women to make other people feel comfortable. White women get to be mad and are not asked to explain why. Our anger has to pass the smile test.

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As a result, black women have been limited in how we can forcefully and convincingly advocate for the issues that matter to us. Our female fury is seen as threatening, not radical ― as disconnected from reason, devoid of any intellectual underpinnings. The weight of being viewed as angry, often by white women, has prevented us from demanding an equal seat at the policymaking table.

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Trust me: Black women have been in a legitimate rage for decades ― and invisible and silenced for just as long.

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The story being told and sold about us as angry women is so pervasive it’s accepted as a cultural norm. Part of the problem and the reason why this trope persists is a lack of understanding regarding black women’s experiences. That is why this week in our Antiracist Everyday community on Patreon, we’ll be discussing how to respond when you see this trope being used.

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Comment “We got each other” below if you believe in being antiracist everyday.

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Artist Credit: Ricardo Chucky

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#Dothework #domore #saysomething #speakup #antiracism #antiracist #diversity #allyship #whiteally #coconspirators #whitetears #inclusion #togetherwecan #7dayantiracismchallenge #whitefragility #blackintheivory

Early this week our "let's talk" on instagram (@UnitedStreetTours) educated you on the dehumanizing power of the angry Black woman troupe.

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If you missed it, review our posts from this week to get educated. Now, it’s time to take a step in putting your antiracism learning in action to avoid being hungry consumers of knowledge from black women that you never apply to your life.

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Take a step towards implementing what you are learning from us by participating in our #AntiracismTrainingDrills, a tool for you to practice responding to racism. Antiracism Training Drills are an opportunity for you to try, get it wrong, and try again. Don’t let your nervousness of getting it wrong keep you from using your voice to #dismantleracism.

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How would you respond to this statement coming from someone a black woman has just CALLED OUT for saying something racist? Click the link in bio to ‘Become a Patreon’ to practice your response. Our patreon community is a self-priced, self-paced learning space that helps antiracist learners like you become more equipped at responding to everyday racism.

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#Dothework #domore #saysomething #speakup #antiracism #antiracist #diversity #allyship #whiteally #coconspirators #whitetears #inclusion #togetherwecan #7dayantiracismchallenge #whitefragility #blackintheivory

I am a black woman.

As stated by Desiree Adaway...

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Being a black woman can get me killed.

My identity can get me killed.

Can we just sit with that reality for a moment?

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My identity can get me killed.

But, I have known this my entire life.

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If you had any doubt about that I hope that has changed in light of what we saw happen in Charlottesville, Virginia earlier this month.

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Many Americans will tell you they know that racism exists, but they don’t know any racists personally.

I am here to tell you, that you do because racism is a system backed by violence.

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You know the systems:

-Housing

-Education

-Policing

-Health Care

-Criminal Justice System

-Economic System

This system is historic, normalized, taken for granted, deeply embedded, and works to the benefit of whites and to the disadvantage of people of color (Hilliard, 1992).

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These systems, just like white nationalists, are killing me and other black and brown folks every day.

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No permit to rally is needed.

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These systems kill us whether it is the face of a militia member carrying automatic weapons or politicians using pens as they draft legislation.

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Me and mine are in danger.

If I am in danger, then so are you.

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Let's go get free together. Antiracist Everyday, join us for topics on how to respond to everyday racism, happening on Patreon, a self-priced and self-paced platform for learners like you.

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#Dothework #domore #saysomething #speakup #antiracism #antiracist #diversity #allyship #whiteally #coconspirators #whitetears #inclusion #togetherwecan #7dayantiracismchallenge #whitefragility #blackintheivory

#Repost @Rachel_Cargle I am making a public declaration, here and now in front of all of you beating hearts, that I, am giving myself permission

to not always get it right,

to not always be okay,

to not always be inspired,

to not always be full.

I give myself permission to honor the ebbs and flows of

soft and callous

ease and tension

light-filled and shadowed

my whole self and just enough

I am opening the gate to myself.

I am welcoming myself into this garden where the soil has been tilled by my ancestors.

this garden where I planted seeds day by day, season by season with grand expectation.

this garden where brave women and men watered diligently, knowing what would break through the ground once ready.

I am being birthed and blossomed again and again. Growing pains are inevitable.

I am giving myself permission to feel the sun on my skin, to let the rain soak my hair, to be weathered by the storms that are inevitable.

But it’s my garden, it’s where I’m supposed to be. I’m giving myself permission to BE here.

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#Dothework #domore #saysomething #speakup #antiracism #antiracist #diversity #allyship #whiteally #coconspirators #whitetears #inclusion #togetherwecan #7dayantiracismchallenge #whitefragility #blackintheivory

So what’s the plan? Are you taking antiracist actions this week? Let me know by answering the following prompt.

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Prompt: "This week I am working to take #AntiracistAction by (insert actions). I will keep myself accountable to this practice this week by choosing (tag name) as my #conconspired action partner."

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Comment below to respond to the prompt.

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Prompt originally inspired by @ckyourprivilege and @austinchanning. #Dothework #domore #saysomething #speakup #antiracism #antiracist #diversity #allyship #whiteally #coconspirators #whitetears #inclusion #togetherwecan #7dayantiracismchallenge #whitefragility #blackintheivory #antiracisteveryday #everydayracism