Why are Black women’s hardships not taken seriously by the public?
(@theestallion / Instagram)
[Trigger warning: The following article includes details of gun violence]
After the internet turned Megan Thee Stallion’s shooting into a meme, the rapper and songwriter updated fans in an emotional Instagram live session on Monday.
“I just want y’all to know a bitch is alive and well and strong as fuck,” she said.
You’d think the internet would be proud of her strength considering how she broke down and called the incident the worst experience of her life. Which begs the question: Why do y’all continue to joke and make memes when a Black woman is in pain?
Earlier this month, the rapper was shot in both feet by an unknown suspect. Meg received surgery to remove two gunshot wounds and is currently in recovery.
In the Instagram post in which she first shared publicly explained the incident, she said she had “suffered gunshot wounds as a result of a crime that was committed against me and done with the intention to physically harm me.”
So, it’s easy to say that her shocking experience is no laughing matter. But the internet just had to get its brainless giggles out.
Twitter users and even celebrities including Chrissy Teigan and 50 Cent wasted no time to pointlessly ridicule Meg and the incident, churning out meme after meme and refusing to take her seriously. Some pasted her face onto distasteful memes while others made transphobic posts on Twitter.
Clearly, getting shot is a traumatizing and painful experience. But people ACTUALLY took the time out of their day to type out a hurtful message about Meg and hit send, thinking it was okay.
When it comes to the pain that Black women endure, it seems as if the public would rather throw stones than stick up for them. The stereotype is that they’re tougher and more aggressive. Surely, they can surely handle anything that’s been shoved into their hands, especially Black women perceived to be as fearless and powerful as Meg, who exudes strength on and off the stage.
But she is still a human with emotions, who just endured a traumatic experience. Her strength does not mean people can attack her.
All too often, Black women and their issues have been memed and/or downplayed for a quick chuckle and couple of likes. Just take a look at what happened following Breonna Taylor’s murder.
In a feeble attempt to raise awareness about the injustice Breonna Taylor had to experience, social media users would use her name as the butt of the joke.
As a result, the urgency of the situation is disregarded and Breonna Taylor’s memory is disrespected. Likewise, turning Meg’s situation into a meme only adds insult to injury and further traumatizes the woman behind the screen.
Meg’s life is not a joke.
Celebrities are living real lives outside of the pretty picture you paint of them. The memes you think are harmless have an actual impact on those you target.
Although she’s been harassed, injured and not taken seriously, we know that Meg is going to bounce back like the stallion she is.
Christelle Pierre is an Online Writer at Rowdy Magazine. When not writing, one can find Christelle holding a YA novel in one hand and an iced coffee in the other. She can be reached on Instagram @x.hristelle.