Peer review

Ms. Williams

AAS 27100

17 April 2020

#BlackGirlMagic

CaShawn Thompson is the creator of #BlackGirlMagic, one of the most impactful social media movements that has crystallized its place in contemporary culture. #BlackGirlMagic will be referred to as a movement because it is the categorization that CaShawn Thompson uses, though it is worth nothing that it has expanded to also function as a common expression used to simply express empowerment of Black women and girls. #BlackGirlMagic encapsulates essential elements of Black Feminism and allows Black women to contribute their personal stories in a manner that promotes collective action for establishing a more intersectional framework for perceiving Black women.

Black Feminism is a movement that works for recognition of the complex experiences of Black women, with proper regard for the contexts in which they exist. The unique positions and experiences of African American women have prompted Black Feminists throughout history into “looking at questions of justice and equality more deeply and broadly than...many of their counterparts” (Wright 86). This complexity found in the search for equality of Black women comes from both (a) looking outward at racist oppression and (b) looking within the Black community at patriarchal norms that pass asymmetrical power as ‘natural’ (Wright 86). Thus, Black Feminists must operate in a manner that addresses both umbrellas of inequality experienced by Black women.

Black Feminism calling for the proper recognition of these points is essential to the liberation of Black women because, as the Combahee River Collective writes, “...no other ostensibly progressive movement has ever considered our specific oppression a priority or has worked seriously for the ending of that oppression” (31). This is said to note that while the Civil Rights movement worked to address racism, it did not address the sexism experienced by Black women, and while the Women’s Liberation movement worked to address sexism, it did not address the unique sexism and racism experienced by Black women. Concisely put, Black women’s unique positions and struggles for equality have only ever been properly addressed by Black Feminism and the frameworks it has established.

The Combahee River Collective also writes, “We realize that the only people who care enough about us to work consistently for our liberation is us. Our politics evolve from a healthy love for ourselves, our sisters, and our community which allows us to continue our struggle and work” (31). This spirit of Black Feminism is found within CaShawn Thompson’s creation of #BlackGirlMagic.

When discussing the origin story of #BlackGirlMagic, Thompson recalled being sick of the amount of mass media that consistently framed Black women in a negative light in 2013, citing examples such as articles saying that Black women are the least attractive, rumors of Black women having more STIs, and noting the final straw being media negatively framing Serena Williams (during what is regarded as her best year, no less) (Ballin). Expressing her frustrations with media and fundamental love for Black women and their liberation, Thompson put “Black girls are magic” out into the world (Ballin). The phrase was shortened to #BlackGirlMagic due to Twitter character limits at the time (Ballin). From then on, #BlackGirlMagic skyrocketed and made its place in popculture.

Thompson goes on to discuss the influx of people reaching out to her to express gratitude for providing them the language to celebrate themselves (Ballin). The popularity of #BlackGirlMagic spread like wildfire, helping correct frameworks for perceiving Black women along the way. Thompson indicates that #BlackGirlMagic celebrating the everyday power of all Black women is what makes the movement so special. She relays that at one point some Black women felt as if their other identities prevented them from being included in #BlackGirlMagic, identities such as “hood girls,” trans, or disabled, but Thompson reassured everyone that all Black women are included in #BlackGirlMagic, not just the Michelle Obamas and Regina Kings of the world (Ballin). Thompson shows that the movement came from the innate love for all Black women, because it’s the 'everyday’ (re: non-celebrity) Black women who have inspired her throughout her life (Ballin).

There are three main reasons why #BlackGirlMagic is one of the most quintessential Black Feminist movements: (1) it was created by a Black woman to address an issue that is specific to Black women; (2) it celebrates the ‘everyday’ Black woman, not just the famous Black women that occupy traditional white spaces; and (3) it celebrates Black women as multifaceted and complex, rather than one-dimensional. As previously stated, Black Feminists have historically been the only robust actors in the fight for the liberation of Black women, as they are the only ones who directly address the unique, pervasive inequalities that affect Black women specifically. Thompson reflects this by being the first to popularize a movement that deliberately calls for more compassionate framing of Black women. She saw how the media framed Black women and sparked mass agency against it, doing what no one else has done.

#BlackGirlMagic encapsulates Black Feminism because it brings forth celebration of the ‘everyday’ Black woman, a necessary component of inspiring group agency for liberation rather than just individual agency. Maria del Guadalupe Davidson discusses the danger of young girls looking to figures like Michelle Obama and Viola Davis, seeing they occupy traditionally white spaces, and then believing that conditions for all Black women are better (96). Davidson uses this point to stress the value of group agency and its irreplaceability in the liberation of Black women. By Thompson making #BlackGirlMagic an inherently relevant and accessible form of activism for all Black women, she created a movement that utilizes group agency for the liberation of Black women. The group agency that advances the movement is the reason for its success and popularity. #BlackGirlMagic celebrates all Black women while simultaneously bringing attention to and ending the unwarranted negative framing of Black women through collective agency, proving its Black Feminism.

Works Cited