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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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Siameasy · 15/06/2020 17:16

I think what maybe isn’t said is that white women are fawned over by men (of all races) whereas black women don’t get the exposure or credit.
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 white girl in Eternal Louise Nurding got all the attention too.

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

Quite possibly Ender , which is really sad

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SunsetBeetch · 15/06/2020 17:14

Poor Keisha. Yes, I remember her and Mutya being painted as the 'bitchy ones' and the reason band members kept leaving . And Shaznay being painted as the surly one (she was also the one who wrote all the bloody songs!).

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Enderthedragon · 15/06/2020 17:05

Yeah I remember the Misha B thing and thought at the time it was staged BS?

I watched Leigh-Anne Pinnocks video about it too, and she said she was told that she would have to work harder than the other girls and would be seen as a diva etc. To be fair, I don't think Leigh-Anne has ever been portrayed as a diva, but I wonder if that is why she has often been the quieter one from Little Mix, because she was worried about being too 'loud' Sad

Siameasy · 15/06/2020 16:53

And yes I remember this and agree with Misha. It was racism. They had to take her down as she was so good.

Siameasy · 15/06/2020 16:45

I loved the Sugababes

Siameasy · 15/06/2020 16:43

Have you seen that Keisha Buchanan has made a video about this subject too? I will try to link it.....

Basically Keisha was pitted against every girl in Sugababes and cast as the aggressive black girl. That is the double bind of sexism plus racism in action. Society always pits women against each other and with black girls they use race too.

Leigh-Ann Pinnock has spoken about the topic and so has Shaznay Lewis!

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Lynda07 · 15/06/2020 14:27

I just read that in a newspaper online. It didn't surprise me at all. The producers want 'characters' on the show but it is so unethical and unkind to invent them. I'm glad Little Mix and Gary B spoke out.

DidoLamenting · 15/06/2020 14:16

Can't read any of it. All I get are a series of photographs which are there for a nanosecond before I'm asked to log into Instagram or Facebook; neither of which I have nor want.