‘Scandal’ Creator Shonda Rhimes Responds To “Angry Black Woman” Assertion

Photo Courtesy of www.ecelebrityfacts.com
Photo Courtesy of www.ecelebrityfacts.com

 

Alessandra Stanley, a critic?with the New York Times, has written an article saying that Shonda Rhimes’ autobiography should be called “How To Get Away With Being An Angry Black Woman.”?

Shonda Rhimes is the brilliant writer, executive producer, and creator of such amazing shows as?Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice,?and Scandal. She will also produce the new fall series How To Get Away With Murder.

In the piece, Stanley seems to praise Shonda for doing:

? ? ? ? ? ?more to reset the image of African-American women on television than ?anyone since Oprah Winfrey.??

She also notes that these television shows often have?main characters who are black, yet the audience does not even notice or care about their race.

Stanley seemingly?says?Shonda ?perpetuates the ideal reality?of a post-racial world because her characters are so stirring and developed that we look past race. However,?Stanley says that Shonda is an “angry black woman” therefore I?am left?quite confused.

Stanley even said that Shonda has remade the “angry black woman” image and actually made it “enviable.”?

Shonda Rhimes took to twitter to respond. She writes in a stunningly witty fashion, how the actual?creator?of?How To Get Away With Murder?is Peter Nowalk. She says?[to Peter]:

? ? “did you know you were an angry black woman”?

Stanley seemed so eager to label Ms. Rhimes that she didn’t even do her full research on the shows for which she was critiquing.

Rhimes also proclaims that she did not even know she was an “angry black woman.”

While the intentions of Alessandra Stanley were probably nothing malicious, this story is important to note. The “angry black woman” stereotype has constantly been ascribed to women of color and often unwarranted. First, what evidence does Stanley have that Shondra is angry? Because she writes interesting shows that portray black women as complex yet strong-willed? Are any of the white male megastars in the movie and television industry angry solely because of what they write and produce? In fact, many stars in front of and behind the camera actually do lead angry lives; ones ravaged by domestic violence, drunk driving, and continuous destruction to themselves and others. Yet, even they aren’t labeled so easily as “angry white men” or “angry white women” etc.

Also, who cares if black women are angry? The centuries of pure humiliation and degradation that women of color have endured might arouse a few feelings of anger, no? We all have a right to be angry sometimes, but it doesn’t mean we are “angry people.” To call out Shonda as an angry person in general seems ridiculous. The interplay of race and sex here is telling and a little troubling.

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I was born on January 13, 1990. I was born and raised in Charlotte, NC. I moved up north and attended the University of CT from 2008 to 2012. I currently also work at a law firm in Uptown Charlotte and have been helping with this organization entitled the National Independent Voter Coalition. My interests include: Politics (obviously), Basketball (playing and watching) and watching almost any sport, movies, reading, the law, human rights, entertainment, mostly Angelina Jolie and Beyonce. I am fun, caring, passionate, intelligent, and unique!