After Vice President Kamala Harris recently completed an interview with a combative Fox News host, pundits agreed she “gave a master class on what it means to be a Black woman in politics” by demonstrating cool, calm, effective leadership. The Grio’s Gerren Keith Gaynor noted she avoided the “angry Black woman” trope—a stereotype that not only permeates politics but has deep roots in the entertainment industry.
In recent years, a more diverse and empowering portrayal of Black women on the big screen has celebrated complexity and identity. For nearly all of its existence, though, Hollywood has been anything but inclusive, often illustrating one-dimensional perspectives of Black women. The history of inadequate representation—and certainly positive representation—helped form the “angry Black woman” stereotype, among other false narratives.
Like most teens, I grew up watching television. I would notice the restrictive and repetitive roles reserved for the girls and women who looked like me. Popular childhood shows like Good Luck Charlie and Jessie featured one Black girl while using comedy to mask a constantly exaggerated portrayal of their behaviors in comparison to those around them. At an early age, I found that I internalized these messages when I unknowingly developed habits of self-policing and emotional moderation.
The societal danger, of course, is that the industry’s massive audience base similarly absorbs these messages—whether that translates to how Black girls process what they see, or how others view Black girls and women. Every which way, we are all shaped by these portrayals of fictional characters in movies and shows, which gradually spread. As seen by the past belittlement of Michelle Obama and now presidential candidate Kamala Harris, our culture’s persistent and blatant demonization of Black women defines and confines even the most distinguished figures.
For me as a young Black girl, it calls to mind the phrase coined over generations: “We must work twice as hard for half as much.” This phrase captures the reality of navigating a world where we’ve already been labeled—and where harmful narratives reduce our complex voices and emotions to a single negative characteristic.
For the better part of the past century, from the silent black-and-white classics to today’s modern hits, screen entertainment is the very fabric of our social consciousness. Despite reaching millions of viewers, though, society is prone to trivialize what we all see—perhaps due to the subtlety of its influence or since the harmful narratives are projected through roles and acting, rather than real life.
When looking at the origin and evolution of the “angry Black woman,” in particular, data shows the messages projected by the film industry have indeed extended far beyond the screen. Among the ways portrayals bleed into real-life harm: In the medical field alone, anger is typically associated with Black women rather than with situational factors. Black women are found to be at a serious disadvantage in the workplace, often regarded by male colleagues as less competent and aggressive when being assertive. It is even the case that Black women may be prone to associate anger with other Black women, as well, showing that screen portrayals affect how Black women perceive themselves.
How can we call upon Hollywood to counteract the “angry Black woman” stereotype? While increasing nuance in roles played by Black women is essential, we must also diversify roles behind the scenes. Black women need to be making more calls as executives from the get-go. Though not enough, we have seen this before. Redefining the film industry, executive producers Shonda Rhimes and Ava DuVernay have set unparalleled standards for Black women by proving that nuanced, diverse leads can attract large audiences.
Hollywood has long settled for entertainment at the cost of Black women, but it is time we demand more. Black women’s leadership is rich and brilliant and nuanced, and reflections of it on screen matter now more than ever.
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