USA TODAY International Edition
BLACK WOMEN DEMAND THEIR DUE RESPECT
Rep. Maxine Waters and journalist April Ryan were just trying to do their jobs. Instead, they were belittled by white men.
Today it’s Maxine and April. But for black women in America, many days they can insert their own name into a tale about being disrespected, or discriminated against, while they’re just trying to do their jobs.
Consider Maxine, as in Rep. Maxine Waters who is serving her 13th term representing California’s 43rd district. Fox News host Bill O’Reilly said Tuesday he was distracted by the African- American congresswoman’s hair, comparing it to a “James Brown wig” in response to comments she made on the House floor saying that criticism of the president was patriotic.
“I didn’t hear a word she said. I was looking at the James Brown wig,” he said, referencing the late soul singer.
Then there was April. White House press secretary Sean Spicer, during a press briefing, told journalist April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks to “please stop shaking your head” as he responded to her question about the perception of connections between the administration and Russia.
The incidents struck a chord, and the hashtag # BlackWomenAtWork became a virtual water cooler where women shared their stories of being marginalized, paid less and passed over.
The hashtag is not new, but Teach for America executive director and Ferguson Commission member Brittany Packnett helped it resurface Tuesday with the tweet: “This happens to black women everyday at work. Share your Maxine and April moments, so people don’t think this is rare.”
And share they did. Petite black women being told by white colleagues they were intimidating. People assuming the white male was the decision maker, when it was really a black woman in charge. One woman reported that a supervisor said she was “mean” to not allow a white colleague to touch her hair.
“I like that it’s drawing attention to it in a very public way — because everybody is chiming in at once with their stories; nobody can gaslight us and say we overreacted or made up what happens to us,” said Tiffani Ashley Bell, executive director of the non- profit The Human Utility.
“You can’t deny the sheer numbers of black women who are in different locales in different industries who don’t know each other who are sharing similar experiences.”
O’Reilly’s comments about Waters and Spicer’s treatment of Ryan amounted to disrespect, says Jocelyn Frye, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a non- partisan policy institute in Washington, D. C.
“What came across yesterday was definitely the sense there were a couple of instances where prominent black women were being treated inappropriately,” said Frye, who previously served as deputy assistant to President Obama and director of policy and special projects for first lady Michelle Obama.
Spicer gave Ryan the first question at a Wednesday briefing — and O’Reilly has apologized for his comments about Waters’ hair.
“You have to conduct yourself as a professional even if you are confronted with crazy all around you.” Jocelyn Frye, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, on April Ryan’s incident with Sean Spicer