Let Black Women Be Princesses

jamaicanbulma:

marsincharge:

In an interview after the Oscars, Viola Davis said she felt like a princess when she got her Oscar. She followed up by saying she never feels like a princess. In the notes of the gifset here on Tumblr, you’ll notice people, plenty of non-Black people specifically, saying she’s never felt like a princess because she is a Queen.

Now. There is a certain vulnerability and softness that comes with feeling specifically like a princess. A sweet delicate nature that Black Women are often stripped of. If she says she felt like a princess, she should be allowed the room to say PRINCESS not Queen. Queen is often tied to strength and a larger-than-life image that people LOVE to project onto their favorite Black Women, celebrity or not. Sometimes it’s nice….other times, it’s EXHAUSTING. You mean well, but relax.

Let Viola, and Black Women, be princesses.

Thank you so much for addressing this because I was thinking about it really hard. Growing up I never ever saw dark skinned black women portrayed as delicate, vulnerable, or even soft. There’s always a character or actress specifically conveys to the target audience a spirit of strength, having tough skin, or having a steeled back bone…

Even in The Princess and the Frog, Tiana was hard working, smart, tough, and SHE was the protector. It’s to the point now that I cannot even envision a beautiful, delicate, black princess, who is soft and precious and needs to be cherished and protected. I think that’s really sad.

I’m so happy for Viola and I think her statement is so important.