The Guardian newspaper recently published a series of comments from black female writers responding to the criticism levelled at Michelle Obama. What's curious is that in England no woman is allowed to be angry, regardless of colour. Don't forget, this is a country where Cheryl Cole is described as being the "nation's sweetheart" - a woman whose only discernible talent is being able to afford good hair and make-up stylists and PR. There is something pernicious going on in England right now. It's been written about elsewhere but you cannot help but notice the absence of women in political life, in current affairs - even on television and at the cinema. Where are the female social commentators, the scientists and economists? The scriptwriters and directors?
England prefers to elevate women such as Kate Middleton and Samantha Cameron - empty-headed helpmates who conform to a particular stereotype. All the Guardian's commentators overlooked one important aspect of the "angry black woman" tag - it's a charge levelled at women of colour that's meant to imply that somehow we're not quite "feminine" enough. After all, "anger" is seen as a male preserve. Women are supposed to keep our pretty little mouths firmly shut.
