WASHINGTON (AP) — Bill O’Reilly’s joke about a congresswoman’s wig and White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s dressing down of a reporter have spurred black women to take to social media in protest.
Activist Brittany Packnett encouraged people to tweet under #BlackWomenAtWork Tuesday. It’s a response to O’Reilly’s comment Tuesday that Democratic U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters’ hair was a ‘‘James Brown wig.’’ He later apologized. Also Tuesday, Spicer told American Urban Radio Networks reporter April Ryan to stop shaking her head during a testy exchange at a White House press briefing.
Former DNC chair Donna Brazile tweeted , ‘‘#BlackWomenAtWork face the double bind of gender and race.’’
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Waters used the hashtag herself on Tuesday night, tweeting , ‘‘I am a strong black woman. I cannot be intimidated, and I’m not going anywhere.’’
Read #BlackWomenAtWork tweets:
She was underestimated.
— Robin Thede (@robinthede) March 29, 2017
She was discriminated against.
She was insulted.
Yet... she persisted. #BlackWomenAtWork
My old boss: Years ago you wouldn't be able to get a job with dreads like yours.
— Ashley Thompson (@bbash_thomp) March 28, 2017
I have braids.#BlackWomenAtWork
This #BlackWomenAtWork tag. Whew. My fave was the coworker who was so fascinated with my hair she kept trying to touch it. In meetings
— ❄Mikki Kendall❄ (@Karnythia) March 28, 2017
There was the time I ran into a judge in court in downtown LA and he assumed I was a defendant and not a lawyer. #BlackWomenAtWork
— Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) March 28, 2017
Every black woman meets at least 3 @oreillyfactor's and 5 @seanspicer's a day.#BlackWomenAtWork
— Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) March 28, 2017