Her voice is not silenced by the masculinity sitting on either side of her… Her shoulders do not shrink at the opposition of a brother’s opinion… No wrinkle nor smudge is found in her business professional attire. The woman I describe is “the woke black girl.” Her composure is kept in the courtroom and the greenroom. She can be found on panels at the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference, on CNN Nightly News shading politicians, or on Twitter clapping back at followers.
For 5 days, the CBC Annual Legislative Conference housed many of the nation’s most powerful black minds; for the few days I spent there my eyes were opened to the wonder of Angela Rye, my favorite woke black girl. The Seattle native and Washington State University alumnae is an important part of the CBC family; she serves on the board of the Congressional Black Caucus overseeing political strategies. Aside from that, Rye is CEO of IMPACT Strategies, a nonprofit for professional youth, and NPR Political Analysist…However, you may know her as that black girl who said, “Boy Bye” on CNN.
This summer during a routine segment on CNN with Donald Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, Rye got so fed up with her opponent that she called him out with Beyonce lyrics. Although this gained a lot of media attention, those who watch her regularly know that this was not out of the ordinary for Rye’s banter. Angela Rye is just one example of a bossed up black women who is vocal in politics. Tune into MSNBC to catch Melissa Harris-Perry gawking and quickly responding to poorly stated comments by Republican guests on her self-titled show, Jemele Hill of ESPN’s His and Hers making bold political statements on Twitter, and Black-ish star Yara Shahidi touring the country leading discussions and conferences about the global state of women in today’s political society. Howard University alumnae Jamilah Lemieux is often tweeting or being featured on the Huffington Post Live making statements about political nominees that are so relatable that you wonder how she is living in your head.
These woke black women are leading a new wave of woke black girls across the world. Students and millennials are taking a stand on issues that are impacting our community. Woke black girls are the microcosm who are advocating for the majority. They will not stop until their voices are heard and a change is made. As a student at Howard University, it is almost impossible to not be woke about racial issues. However, it is far too easy to be woke and quiet. These women have not only broken down their shell, but have also revealed why systemic racial sexism put our shells there to begin with!
From Twitter to TV screens, the woke black girl is on the come up and changing the conversation. The belabored narrative is that black women are ignorant, loud and angry, but these women do not fit this mocked mold. They are educated on each subject they open their minds and mouths to. They are quick-witted with their replies to the sub-par attacks from their opponents. They walk with their shoulders back and head up…unbothered, unforgettable, and unmatched.