Why Being “Crazy” Isn’t Cute

By: Jennifer Rogers

“What’s worse? Looking jealous or crazy…jealous or crazy…I’d rather be crazy.”

Hmm…

For whatever reason, being “crazy” is being celebrated by the masses as a given quality in a woman.  Women, (insert a #notallwomen) are giving validity to the idea that they are unhinged, emotional creatures that shouldn’t be trusted with anything of value.  Our main arsenal of retaliation is not to use any level of intellect but to lose every ounce of control and become a maniac when presented with a challenging situation or any interaction with a man.

Not to be a traitor to my gender and all, but WHAT YOU DOING?

In what world is it alluring and attractive to be “crazy”? Cause lemme tell ya, if a man steps to me proclaiming one of his most overarching character traits is his “crazy”, I’m gonna run. Fast.

For all of our #blackgirlmagic moments, there are equal amounts, if not more so, of very grown women standing proudly to promote just how crazy they are. Perpetuating an already precarious stereotype about women to the masses. Giving the illusion that “crazy” is a part of the package whenever you come across a woman and, very specifically, a black woman. We gon be unstable, we gon be irrational, we may even cut you, but YOU WILL DEAL.

 

*Steeples fingers*

*scratches head*

Whhhaaaaatttttt?!

I’m not here to preach to y’all. However…

Is this not what our predecessors fought completely against? There is a large facet of the world today that seems to have never encountered, never even received a whisper, as to what women’s liberation was all about. Women fought for decades to be seen as equals to men, intellectually and emotionally, and yet there are aspects of our community that voluntarily break that down with the quick keystroke of a hashtag in a caption or the clever creation of a meme.

Proclaiming and embracing this supposed “crazy” is setting a precedent. A terrible, terrible one. Women are intricate, complex beings. Ok, so maybe there are times that call for “crazy” actions. But should it be what defines us? There are so many layers to us that make us the fairer sex so why is it that so many of us are determined to lean on this concept that we are totally out of our minds?

Sure, some of it may come from attempting to take the power back from others who deem the expression of certain emotions to be unpredictable, volatile if you will. Essentially, being defensive enough to say you’re crazy before anyone else gets the privilege of naming it first. But, beloveds, you are achieving the opposite. Shouting out that you’re crazy before someone else can, does not yield the same results as shouting out that you’re instead, amazing.  It is not taking back your power.  It is eliminating it.

Let’s even forget for a moment about what this proclamation means, how it translates, as it pertains to the opposite sex.  What are we doing to ourselves to be so vocal and proud about being legitimately certifiable?

What are these little girls, these teenage girls, to think when so much of what they see on social media is applauding this? I get it.  A great deal of this may be stated facetiously.  Possibly even stated with the intention of being clear that. “We will make our voices heard no matter what and if you need to call us crazy for us to achieve that then so be it.” However, outsiders looking in don’t always grasp that double entendre.

It is so much easier to believe in the negative. It is so much easier to set this kind of negativity as a goal. As an educator, I see young girls latch onto these cynical concepts far quicker than they will embrace the “magic”. The magic is mythical to them. It is what only certain people are able to achieve. Crazy is much more accessible to these young girls, who will be young women, that will carry this same sentiment into adulthood.

Young girls are being double teamed with hearing virtually every song on the radio condemning black women coupled with the same notion reiterated by black women themselves on social media. Please know that a foundation is being set firmly in place in their minds and in their beliefs. The relatability of the “crazy” tends to trump the “magic” that is displayed.

Here’s the point.  As black women in America, the world comes for us enough. We are beautiful. We are intelligent. We are strong. We are passionate. We are resilient. And yes, absolutely magical. Isn’t it time to celebrate and inundate the world with that instead?