“Stanley… needs to answer if he/she has a problem with shows that feature “a powerful, intimidating black woman” and if so, why?”
I can see why you’re so angry. You didn’t actually read the column. To wit:
"In that multicultural world, there are many African-Americans at the top of every profession. But even when her heroine is the only nonwhite person in the room, it is the last thing she or anyone around her notices or cares about.
And what is most admirable about Ms. Rhimes’s achievement is that in a business that is still run by note-giving, nit-picking, compromise-seeking network executives, her work is mercifully free of uplifting role models, parables and moral teachings."
Oh noes! She’s worse’n the Klan!
Try not to be so Pavlovian in your responses to headlines next time.
This is why I read the Times. Anyone who read Stanley’s column first, rather than Twitter, would understand that it was pretty much wholly admiring of Rhimes’s work. The point (for those who refuse to read) is that Rhimes has been more and more bravely uncompromising in putting forward black women characters who violate safe stereotypes, who are strong, fallible, complex, and (yes) often angry. And Rhimes’s reaction does nothing but validate the putative title of her non-existent autobiography.
Actually, I did read the original times article, and it was totally racist. The title, “How to Get Away With Being an Angry Black Woman.” is basically the perpetuation of a racist trope.
"But let’s talk about the Angry Black Woman. The Angry Black Woman is a racist trope used to deny black women their humanity. Black women aren’t allowed to be complicated — they’re just angry. Black women aren’t allowed to be upset or vulnerable — they’re just angry. Black women are not allowed justifiable reactions to the myriad of bullshit — racist, sexist and otherwise — that they face. Oh, you know those black ladies are just so angry all the time. – Kara Brown, Jezebel
She clearly calls Ms. Rhimes an angry black woman. “Ms. Rhimes has embraced the trite but persistent caricature of the Angry Black Woman, recast it in her own image and made it enviable. She has almost single-handedly trampled a taboo even Michelle Obama couldn’t break.” – Stanley
Additionally, she totally throws shade on Viola Davis -
"Ms. Davis, 49, is sexual and even sexy (like black women shouldn’t or aren’t ever sexy) , in a slightly menacing way, but the actress doesn’t look at all like the typical star of a network drama. Ignoring the narrow beauty standards some African-American women are held to, Ms. Rhimes chose a performer who is older, darker-skinned and less classically beautiful than Ms. Washington, or for that matter Halle Berry . . . (as if darker skin makes a black woman less beautiful. And what is she defining as “Classically” beautiful? A woman whose physical features are more closely defined as the white standard of beauty than not.)
Perhaps you should ask a black woman friend to read this with you so that she can help you see why Stanley’s piece is racist. If you are not a black woman, you’re probably missing the many racist nuances and assumptions. If you don’t have a black woman friend, you should read this - http://jezebel.com/the-new-york-times-shonda-rhimes-how-to-get-away-wit-1636868442
This is all about the inane piffle and opportunistic dudgeon that present with increasing frequency in what’s left of our national discourse.
Once upon a time, not so ling ago, the response to the lede in this essentially frivolous piece would have been along the lines of “what did she say?” Then the reader would have actually finished the piece and concluded that, while grounds for scathing criticism were plain–the offending defects were merely matters of stylistic ham-handedness, and not part of some deranged, intentional assault on all that is good and decent in the world.
It was a lame effort and a dumb idea.
But it was not an intentional insult. Nor did it merit the sputtering, twittery “how dare you” outrage that such things generate in this age of a priori conclusions and variable & arbitrary speech codes.
'Tis a piffle…and, ironically, in this context, she is an angry black woman.
