In news that can only be described as “y’all should be ashamed,” veteran actress Jasmine Guy has become the latest Black woman to face scrutiny for the audacity of getting older. Thanks in large part to her appearance in the new “A Different World” series, Guy has been scrutinized for how she looks instead of being celebrated for reprising her iconic role. Sadly, her experience only highlights the impossible beauty standards Black women are expected to navigate as they age. We’re told “Black don’t crack,” but there’s a whole lot of pressure hiding behind that seemingly harmless phrase.
As we previously told you, Guy reprised her iconic character, Whitley Gilbert, in the new show, which finally debuted on Netflix one week ago. But while her face should’ve been met with surprise, joy, and excitement, it was unfortunately met with criticism over her appearance and how she’s aged. That’s why she decided to speak out about it in a post on Instagram on Monday.
Related: 5 Things to Love About The New ‘A Different World’ Series
If we’re keeping it a buck, though, Guy shouldn’t have had to say anything in the first place, but we’re highkey glad she did. Why? Because it highlights the impossible standard Black women are held to when it comes to beauty and aging. We’re constantly told (and have long believed) that “Black don’t crack.” It’s all over the internet, science has confirmed it’s no myth as have our group chats, social media and for the most part, we wear it like a badge of honor.
But Guy’s situation clearly shows that there’s a tacit weight and negative flipside to that narrative the second a Black woman shows any visible sign of aging. It’s almost as if she’s broken some unspoken beauty rule and societal mandate. You know, the one that pressures women to look the same way they were in their 20s in their older years. And when they don’t, they get heavily criticized. And this isn’t just something women in their 50s or 60s have to deal with. Black women start navigating these expectations as early as their 30s, whether we want to acknowledge it or not.
While men get the luxury of embracing their silver hairs, women, and especially Black women, are expected to stay youthful, polished, and age essentially like vampires. It’s time to call the contradiction what it is: misogyny and ageism. And hopefully, Guy’s experience and her words will open up more conversations about the standards Black women face and why it’s beyond time to call them out.
Source: Yes, Jasmine Guy Is the Victim of ‘Black Don’t Crack’ but She’s Not Alone
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