Unreachable, untrained and someone that cannot be calm in certain situations are some of the opinions white women have of black women. But how true is this and why is it that women have stereotyped black women to such? Over the years a woman's place has been in the closed doors. Women have significantly gained momentum in executive job positions, political careers and even being among the most influential leaders in the world. Women have risen on the ranks but it seems like the stereotype on black women have not risen with it.
Untrained in all aspects pertaining life and society, white women have stamped the
Black women as a demographic of people that their edges cannot be sharpened so to speak. "Ass whooping" is a common phrase among the black household, these are words that a black child will never want to hear her mama speak. Black communities believe in a well disciplined child, someone who can be influential in the future. But why do these attributes still linger around black women as uneducated? The environment that an individual grows in has a bigger influence in their behavior. A bigger percentage of black women grow in harsh households and thus they tend to form a protective layer to avoid being disappointed and hurt thus they are seen as untrained.
Black women don't know their place in the household and they don't accept the positions they hold. White women are seen as warm, caring and nurturing and they can take care of a home unlike the black woman. This is evident by the number of "brothers" marrying the white women especially the athletes. White women see black women are people who cannot bring up a happy and loving home; women empowerment has given a voice for the black women, they know what they want and will settle for nothing less considering their background. This in return depict them as not being "homey."
White women also have positive thinking towards the Black women ; some see them as strong, goddesses and people who have strong characters. These are sentiments expressed by women in the book Black Women White Women by Jane Critchlow and Nishell Preston. Although some of these attributes are arrived at after their interactions, it shows that all is not lost in black woman-white woman relations.
Black women and women at large are changing history case example, the first ever black woman president Ellen Johnson of Liberia, Hillary Clinton vied for the presidential seat in 2017 as a democratic candidate. Times are changing and people's thinking have to change with it.
Women need to uplift one another and encourage empowerment to all irrespective of race, culture and background.
Women have to interact to understand one another. Respect, appreciation and love will come only when we accept that our backgrounds, homes are different. Each individual is unique, no two people are alike thus diversity should be embraced and appreciated. The discussion on race, black women and white women perception and notion of one another will never be fully settled but we can all agree that we all bring unique opinions and light in this world.
