Jump to Main ContentJump to Primary Navigation

Editor's Letter: Black Women Shouldn't Have To Feel Like They Have To Be Polite

What a week it has been for black women. 

It has been exhausting to see how we are treated when we speak our minds, say our truth and defend our characters and our careers. It has been draining to see how we can be depicted and characterised for being willing to fight for what we believe is right when it is contrary to what those in power believe. 

As the week unfolded and the world continues to discuss, debate and quite frankly disrespect Serena Williams, something was re-affirmed to me. In 2013, Beyonce released her Life Is But a dream documentary and she said a sentence that has forever stuck with me. “Business and being polite doesn’t match. You can be fair, but me being polite was not me being fair to myself.”