There is much to be said about the representations of black women in the media, particularly the representations by those who aren’t black women. One example that I see far too often is the struggle narrative. When it comes to representing black women in film and TV, in Hollywood and beyond, there is a fascination with presenting our struggle. Not only in film and television, but in music and sometimes even in our own culture, black women are pushed into this narrative that revels in and upholds the trials and tribulations of black womanhood. I call this the “struggle trap”.
I try and think back to when I first noticed this, but this narrative has always been there. It's presence is everywhere, from traditional media, to aspects of my every day life. I see it in overheard conversations, in Nollywood scenes showing the family matriarch juggling her business while looking after her sick husband and children (which is more common than you think). It’s such a common, if not tiring and one-sided depiction of a black woman; to suggest that her worth is tied to her ability to be strong, keep it together and care for herself but also for those around.