Eboni K. Williams discussed Black women’s integral role in reality television, including negative depictions during her appearance on The View.
The daytime show is looking for a new co-host, and it was Williams’s turn to step up to the plate. On the agenda was the topic of reality television.
Earlier this year, Williams integrated the cast of the Real Housewives of New York, and it ended up being a season full of controversy as the rest of the cast struggled to deal with her brand of Black girl magic.
#RHONY star @EboniKWilliams shares what reality TV owes Black women and why she made the decision to be a part of it: “We can’t allow for any woman – least of all a Black woman in America – to be called angry or argumentative because she’s not allowing disrespect.” pic.twitter.com/e8AhiEszxo
— The View (@TheView) October 18, 2021
The fact that RHONY has been on television for 13 seasons and is based in one of the most diverse cities in the country yet had never had a Black cast member was puzzling.
Williams was very clear that she felt it was natural for her, as a Black woman, to join the cast because Black women have made reality television what it is.
“The reason [is] because I think reality TV owes everything to Black women. I think it’s built on the backs of Black women,” Williams said.
Getting even more real, she addressed that the “angry Black woman” trope has been portrayed on television for far too long.
“I think Black women are some of the most misunderstood demographics in our nation,” Williams said.
However, where there is a lack, there is opportunity. Williams noted that reality television is an excellent place to start to dispel those misunderstandings of Black womanhood.
It would be hard to argue that Williams is right about how the power that Black women have wielded in the reality television world.
“I said what I said!” “Who gon’ check me, boo?” “Twirl on that!”
Those are iconic lines from the mouths of Black reality stars. It’s time that network executives factor us into more of their show ideas.
