Busting the Stereotype of the Angry Black Woman | Angela Shaw | TEDxBartonSpringsWomen

Summary

Angela Shaw, a black woman and human resources leader, addresses the harmful stereotype of the 'angry black woman' through her personal experiences. She discusses how black women, including herself, are often unfairly labeled when expressing emotions like anger, which are seen as unacceptable compared to the behaviors of others. Shaw highlights how society misinterprets the emotional expressions of black women in the workplace and elsewhere. She calls for empathy and understanding, emphasizing that black women, like all people, are entitled to express the full range of human emotions without judgment or discrimination.

Takeaways

• 😀 The stereotype of the 'angry black woman' is harmful and does not reflect the true emotional range of black women.
• 😀 Black women, like all humans, express a wide range of emotions, including joy, sadness, and anger, but these emotions are often misinterpreted.
• 😀 The speaker, Angela Shaw, is a successful black woman in HR who leads by example and challenges the 'angry black woman' label.
• 😀 Growing up, the speaker faced early experiences of racism and stereotyping, particularly regarding her hair and her academic achievements.
• 😀 In high school, the speaker felt isolated as one of the few people of color in her classes and was labeled by her peers.
• 😀 As an adult in the workplace, the speaker experienced being labeled as 'angry' for being direct and holding others to high standards.
• 😀 Anger is often misunderstood; it's not inherently linked to aggression, and most instances of aggression are not connected to anger.
• 😀 Society tends to grant more grace to angry male leaders, whereas female leaders, especially women of color, face backlash when they express anger.
• 😀 Serena Williams is cited as an example of a successful black woman who faced societal backlash for expressing anger at injustice in sports.
• 😀 Research shows that emotions are complex and can include a range of feelings. For black women, expressing any emotion is often seen as a challenge to societal norms.
• 😀 Angela Shaw calls for equal emotional rights for black women, encouraging society to grant them the same emotional grace given to others.

Q & A

What is the primary topic addressed in this script?

The primary topic is the stereotype of the 'angry black woman' and how it affects Black women in the workplace and society. The speaker, Angela Shaw, challenges this stereotype and emphasizes the broad range of emotions that Black women, like all humans, experience.

How does the speaker address the stereotype of 'angry black women'?

Angela Shaw explains that while she has been labeled as an 'angry black woman,' she clarifies that Black women, like all humans, have a wide range of emotions, and the 'angry' label often stems from misunderstanding their directness or emotional expression in professional settings.

How does Angela Shaw describe her childhood experience with race and identity?

Shaw recalls her childhood memories where she was introduced to the concept of race, including an experience where a white woman touched her hair and remarked about its softness. This moment helped her realize that differences are not just about skin color but also involve shared traits, such as the softness of hair.

What challenges did Shaw face in high school related to race?

In high school, Shaw was often the only person of color in many classes, which led to feelings of exclusion and invisibility. She was labeled by others for her academic success and intellectual abilities, which she felt isolated her further.

How does Shaw describe the creation of the 'angry black woman' label in her professional life?

The 'angry black woman' label emerged in Shaw's career as she was often criticized for being direct or holding others to high standards. Despite maintaining professionalism, her colleagues and managers reacted negatively to her communication style, associating it with anger.

What is Shaw's perspective on anger and its impact in the workplace?

Shaw references research by Dr. Kasanov, explaining that anger is rarely followed by aggression and does not necessarily lead to violence. She emphasizes that expressing anger is not inherently negative, but Black women are often penalized for showing anger, unlike their white male counterparts.

How does Shaw compare the reactions to anger expressed by Black women versus white men?

Shaw contrasts how society reacts to anger expressed by white men, such as leaders who yell or scream, with how Black women are treated when they express anger. White male anger is often excused or seen as a sign of passion, while Black women's anger is stigmatized.

What example does Shaw give to illustrate racial and gender discrimination in response to anger?

Shaw mentions the backlash Serena Williams faced during the 2018 US Open, where her display of anger was harshly criticized, demonstrating the societal double standard in how anger is perceived based on race and gender.

What study did Shaw refer to in her discussion about emotions, and what was its significance?

Shaw references a 2017 UC Berkeley study that identified 27 categories of emotions, challenging the traditional six. This research emphasizes that emotions are complex and multifaceted, allowing for a broader understanding of emotional expression across different cultures.

What is Shaw's message regarding the emotional rights of Black women?

Shaw asserts that as a Black woman, she has the right to express all emotions, including anger, without being judged or diminished. She calls for equal emotional rights for Black women, stating that this does not diminish the emotional rights of others.