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Misha B and the "angry black woman" trope..

35 replies

SunsetBeetch · 15/06/2020 13:52

I think this is important even if you've never watched X Factor in your life.

Misha B was a contestant on X Factor in 2011. She was (falsely, it now transpires) accused of bullying and 'being mean' to.other contestants.

Some of the judges seemed to have a problem with Misha being a confident performer, an it seems to me that there is racism and sexism involved. Women aren't allowed to be too confident. And if you're a confident black.woman, well that's just the worst.

Misha has posted a video on her Instagram account speaking of her experiences on X Factor, and a clip of the bullying allegations being made.

Gary Barlow, who was a judge that series, has confirmed Misha's account of what happened in his autobiography. Also there is evidence of Misha and Little Mix (who.were pitted against each other by these allegations) supporting each other.

Misha has had mental health issues because of what happened to her. I hope she is feeling much better now. Her message is one of lifting other women and girls us.

This made me really sad and angry.

www.instagram.com/iammisha_b/?hl=en

Misha B and the "angry black woman" trope..
Misha B and the "angry black woman" trope..
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Original poster
SunsetBeetch · 14/05/2021 13:24

@cometogetheroverme

Black women experience both sexism and racism hence the term misogynoir.
I can't imagine how tough it must be in an industry that is already notorious for chewing people up and spitting them out

Leigh-Anne's documentary was great and really moving. She seems determined to change things and wouldn't be fobbed off by her record company when she asked for a meeting.

She's great! I thought her speech at the Brit Awards was great too (and Jade's).

So many jaw-dropping moments:

They tried to make Leigh Anne the Rihanna of the group by shaving her hair and dyeing it red
Her skin was lightened in some photos
Both Leigh Anne and Jade wanted nose jobs after they saw their photoshopped photos which made them look more 'white'
Alexandria Burke was told to lighten her skin to have more chance of success. And an agency told her they couldn't sign her as they already had a black girl on their books.

An interview with her about the documentary:

www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/51baf91b-c41f-496a-8c76-d3bdc345b1e4

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cometogetheroverme · 13/05/2021 22:38

Black women experience both sexism and racism hence the term misogynoir.

Original poster
SunsetBeetch · 13/05/2021 22:32

This looks really good. I'm too tired now but an on watching it very soon.

"There are a lot of people that are out there that don’t understand how racism affects people. I want people to watch it and learn something."

@LittleMix
's Leigh-Anne Pinnock opens up about why she made this documentary on her experiences with racism in the pop industry.

Leigh-Anne: Race, Pop & Power, streaming Thursday 13th May on
@BBCiPlayer

twitter.com/bbcthree/status/1392540210580307976?s=20
.

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Siameasy · 16/06/2020 18:47

I’d forgotten they’d made a film but I’m sad to say this is not surprising.

Sabrina Washington has said she was told her look wasn’t desirable and Kellé Bryan (Eternal) has said she was told similar.

Look who has done the best out of Misteeq🤔 Alesha seems nice no offence to her but Sabrina was the lead singer and really beautiful too.

Teapot200000 · 16/06/2020 18:23

Actually this interview from the guardian in 2000 does say Shaznay was excluded from the film.

Whether she’d have wanted to do it or not, this must have hurt.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2000/sep/30/weekend.lindsaybaker

Misha B and the "angry black woman" trope..
Misha B and the "angry black woman" trope..
redskittleorangeskittle · 16/06/2020 18:20

I remember those comments towards Misha and I thought at the time that it was very unfair. A young woman - not a professional artist at the time- bullied live on TV by some of the presenters. Awful. Didn’t the show have a duty of care for the performers?

Teapot200000 · 16/06/2020 18:12

Sorry, my mistake 🤷‍♀️

LightStars · 16/06/2020 18:03

The Appleton’s and Mel blatt were all cast in a film written for them by Dave Stewart. Shaznay was just left out. And this was never called out in the media IIRC. No way they’d get away with that shit today, thankfully.

Except that’s not what happened. Shaznay declined to be in the film after reading the script because she was worried about her credibility - she didn’t want to do a shit film just for the sake of it. In an interview after the band split, Shaznay said that Dave Stewart was a “dirty old man” & it was obvious (considering the film’s subject matter) why he cast Nic, Nat & Mel but they couldn’t see it for themselves at the time & were misled. Having seen the film, Shaznay was completely right.

endchauvinism · 16/06/2020 17:49

My ex-husband and best friend were talking about how they'd never date a black woman. I asked why and they started spitting out all kinds of stereotypes. My husband also said he didn't find them physically attractive.
I said, "Not a single of them are attractive?'
He relented and said some of them are.
I asked if they would date an attractive black woman who had all the qualities they were looking for in a woman, and both men still responded with a resounding,"No!"
Both men were abusive and actually doing black women a favor, but I've heard similar things from other men. No reason, they just won't date black women. It's 100% prejudice and nothing more.

Teapot200000 · 16/06/2020 17:46

Do you think? I’m sure there would be a Twitter storm and cancellations. Much as I loathe twitter etc, social media has made it so much easier to call out racism.

Al1Langdownthecleghole · 16/06/2020 17:17

No way they’d get away with that shit today, thankfully

I'm afraid they probably would.

Teapot200000 · 16/06/2020 17:06

So what must’ve been hard is that say everyone’s saying how “hot” the Appletons/Mel Blatt and if you were Shaznay in that environment you would’ve felt ignored I think?
As a 40 something now she probably wouldn’t care about male approval but they would’ve been quite young in their hey day and it would’ve hurt?

The Appleton’s and Mel blatt were all cast in a film written for them by Dave Stewart. Shaznay was just left out. And this was never called out in the media IIRC. No way they’d get away with that shit today, thankfully.

Siameasy · 16/06/2020 16:57

Yes the patriarchy plus racism puts black women in a no-win situation. Even if they are excellent (which they have to be) they aren’t allowed to enjoy it. They are expected be strong but then that is used against them too.

And then as some on Twitter have pointed out you have Tulisa sharing a panel with Kelly Rowland like Tulisa was worthy of that company and entitled to critique Misha

mobile.twitter.com/ChantayyJayy/status/1272307435110387716?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Original poster
SunsetBeetch · 16/06/2020 15:13

That's a really good article, Siameasy. I particularly like this:

"Misha B’s experiences show us that for Black women there is a paradox that exists as a result of being both black and a woman. Black people have to go above and beyond to be recognised - mediocrity is not a privilege we can enjoy. Often there are gatekeepers waiting for the first opportunity to discredit you because white supremacy, which upholds anti-blackness, is ingrained in the very fabric of society and predicated on the superiority of white people and the inferiority of black people. Simultaneously, the patriarchy pushes women to subservience and submission, meaning that women who express confidence or self-assuredness are often painted in a horrible light. Black women cannot satisfy the expectations of both white supremacy and the patriarchy at the same time, because the necessity to disprove the presumed inferiority of black people directly challenges patriarchal archetypes of the submissive and subservient woman. A confident black woman who is excellent at her craft is a threat to both white supremacy and the patriarchy because she disproves the core premises of both constructs. The soldiers of these constructs seek to disarm us through their lies and half-truths. They seek to disarm us through attacking our self-esteem and our confidence - the very things that hold us up."

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Siameasy · 16/06/2020 11:14

I was thinking the same about Mel B-of course she would never be posh or baby. I wonder if she felt she had to play up to the name? And wasn’t she blamed for issues with Geri?

VickyEadieofThigh · 16/06/2020 10:40

Makes me wonder why Mel B was designated Scary Spice as well. These attitudes are deeply embedded.

Indeed - she wasn't "scary" at all. Mind, Posh wasn't remotely "posh", either.

Original poster
SunsetBeetch · 16/06/2020 10:27

Yes, Mel wasn't the only unopologetically confident and 'feisty' member of The Spice Girls, by any means.

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GingerBeverage · 16/06/2020 10:14

Makes me wonder why Mel B was designated Scary Spice as well. These attitudes are deeply embedded.

MoltenLasagne · 16/06/2020 09:56

How has this taken 9 years to come out? That poor woman was absolutely castigated. I cannot imagine the absolute injustice of being falsely accused of bullying on national TV and knowing you can't stand up for yourself.

The angry black woman trope is an intentional catch-22 to force talented women into compliance. Get angry at the lies and prove them right, or meekly keep quiet in an attempt to prove them wrong and let them get away with it.

GingerBeverage · 16/06/2020 09:40

Just as reality show contestants taking their lives changed the rule book for producers, this will have to change it again - and so it should.

Contestants aren't cannon fodder.

Original poster
SunsetBeetch · 16/06/2020 06:16

Another thing Misha said was that her looks always being compared to other black female singers', and 'Why can't I just look like me?'. So she wasn't seen as an individual Sad

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TBHno · 15/06/2020 21:49

This is so sad to read. I am so angry at how that poor girl was treated. I hope she's in a better place now. Sad

areyoubeingserviced · 15/06/2020 18:46

Ender- I agree

I think that Leigh -Ann is more reserved than the others because she doesn’t want to be regarded as the aggressive diva. Then because she is quieter, she is called moody.
She can’t win
Definitely thought that Misha B was stitched up by The X Factor. Absolutely disgraceful

Original poster
SunsetBeetch · 15/06/2020 17:21

Agreed, Siameasy

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