Revolving Mirror of the Mad Black Female

Revolving Mirror of the Mad Black Female

Why is it that the black female even if she may advance is held back by her strong will and the constraints success provides?

Argument: Black females who have been able to attain levels of success and break racial stereotypes are subverting this progress through their actions portrayed on television.

“You don’t have to think about relationships, friendships, and families” is one of the conditions of being a working female because they will stick by you as long as you provide. Well that may be a depiction of the black workingwoman now, but the progress to get to this point took an unparalleled amount of perseverance. The history of the black female and how her suppressed voice became a resounding force of will and strength is highlighted in depictions of black women on television.

There has been a resurgence of black women on television especially as the protagonist of the show. Shonda Rhimes’ show Scandal is dichotomy between attaining a high level of success and using that power for the ‘greater good’. Olivia Pope, the main character, emulates the confidence and intelligence that most women strive for and women of color have a more difficult time obtaining. Yet, her flaws are her Achilles heal and casts and overwhelming shadow on the character depth that could have been created.  Her assertion as a businesswoman hardens her façade. The progress that has been made by creating this Olivia Pope is wasted by the flaws she attains and how she deals with them.

The purpose of this paper is to define and explore the representations of black females on television and why their success can’t be taken for what it is. There has been an increased amount of black female representations that seem to inhibit the progress that has happened thus far. The protagonist of the show should be able to create a successful business without committing adulterous acts that don’t make her the ideal role model. Yet, the shows  that have found the greatest success in creating commendable black women are those that you see struggle and succeed, i.e Orange is The New Black.

Overall, the depictions of black females on television discredit the success that their characters have made by creating sub plots that insinuate that this is their true character. It is difficult to understand why when black women on television assert themselves they have to heighten their voice levels and tone. This paper will delve into the cultural aspects of black female’s “madness” and multiple representations of how success cannot be defined based upon the white female feminist perspective.