Mental Health Mondays--The Angry Black Woman

So with the Black Women's History Month ending and Mental Health Awareness Month beginning, there is something really important that I want to talk about....the angry black woman. We all know that woman. Unfortunately, this stereotype has plagued Black women for what seems like forever, and to be completely honest, it's not fair. 

Malcolm X once said:

“The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman.”

And it's absolutely true. Name one time in history that a Black woman has ever  been treated fairly the first time. By the first time, I mean without being forced to or without being provoked. The funny thing is (well it's not funny but y'all know what I mean), the minute a Black woman stands up for herself, she's labeled as crazy or angry. Let a woman of any other race do the exact same thing, they're seen as feisty or spicy. It's never as bad.

I'm not sure if y'all have seen Acrimony. It's a pretty good movie, and it definitely proves my point. 

Acrimony is a little bit of an extreme case. *SPOILER ALERT* She gave that man over $1 million, and he cheated on her and continued to take advantage of her. He is partially the reason why she never had children. He sold her a dream, and then gave it to someone else. She has every reason to be angry. Granted she was a little psycho, but it's understandable why she is so angry. She was fed up. 

The issue is that she did not know how to cope. Because mental health is such a taboo topic in the Black community, her even going to therapy was immediately labeling her as crazy. Black women are taught to just deal. "Life happens. Get over it. " It's all too familiar. That's why Black people in general, not just women, have issues expressing their emotions. Real life happens to people, and people don't know how to handle it. That's how things like addiction happen.

Now as far as the Black woman goes, it's a lot to deal with. Yes, there are women who play into the stereotype. We all probably play into the stereotype at one time or another. I know I have. People catch me on the right day, and I just might rip through them like the Tasmanian devil. That doesn't make it right. 

What needs to happen is society needs to embrace us more. Stop taking things that Black women create and calling it something else and discrediting them. Stop ripping them apart for their appearance. It's all got to stop. That stuff plays a major part in mental stability.