Taking a stance to celebrate Black women is no sign of disrespect toward other female groups — so says actor Christian Keyes who has done just that in a recent Instagram post.
“Black women are definitely superheroes,” Keyes wrote on Instagram the week of April 6.
Someone who responded in the comments section of that post wrote “All women.”
Keyes, who grew to fame as an actor in films such as the 2006 release of “Madea Goes to Jail,” then shot back.
“I said what I said,” wrote Keyes, who also has appeared in TV series such as The CW’s “Legends of Tomorrow” and “911” on FOX. “It’s a shame we can’t even celebrate black women without ‘others’ popping up talking about ‘what about us?’ ”
He added “just because someone says something positive about black women, it doesn’t mean they don’t think the same about other women. It just means that here, in this moment right now, I would like to say something positive and amazing about black women. If that offends you, then you are part of the problem. God bless.”
On Wednesday, April 8, Keyes posted that person’s response on his Instagram and Facebook pages. He then doubled down on his point about how praising Black women shouldn’t cause a problem for anyone.
“Just because you celebrate or compliment one particular ethnicity, doesn’t mean that other ethnicities aren’t great… It just means that RIGHT NOW, In this moment, I’d like to acknowledge the greatness of black women,” he explained. “It doesn’t mean your entitlement, insecurity, or inner bigotry should flareup… This statement shouldn’t offend anyone else and if it does, then YOU are the problem, NOT my statement,” the message continued. “#ISaidWhatISaid Black women are definitely superheroes. (Feel free to disagree ON YOUR PAGE).🤷🏾♂️”
People responded in droves and thanked Keyes for his message, which they said was spot on.
“We appreciate you❤️❤️❤️,” one person stated.
“Tell em bro!! Everybody feels like if you aren’t talking about them or don’t include them in a statement that means that you hate them somehow🤦🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️,” another message read.
“Your response was perfect ❤️,” wrote someone else.
The response to Keyes’ message about Black women may remind some of what Gina Rodriguez said when she and Yara Shahidi promoted the 2018 animated film “Smallfoot,” which they co-starred in.
“You are just goals for so many young black women,” the interviewer Xilla Valentine told Shahidi.
“So many women. Women,” Rodriguez said afterward.
“Yeah, for women too,” Valentine then stated. “But for Black women, we need people on a whole ‘nother level.”
