Awkwardly hysterical: theorizing black girl awkwardness and humor in social media

Abstract

This paper explores the intersections of digital media and black women's identities using the concept of ‘black girl awkwardness’, a concept made popular by writer and comedienne Issa Rae. Rae's viral Web series, The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl, that stars Rae as a J, a social introvert trying to navigate her love life and career. J's self-proclaimed awkwardness signifies the possibility of black women's normalcy and humanity by showcasing her social ineptitudes in common situations. Black girl awkwardness serves as a cultural indicator of how black women navigate race and identity in twenty-first century popular culture. Unlike ‘quirky’, a term used to identify white women in comedy, awkwardness is racialized and political, a tool for black women to both identify and work through the social–cultural discomfort surrounding their bodies. Black girl awkwardness in social media humor serves as a cultural workspace to address not only their personal anxieties but the African American community at large. Thus, social media sites such as YouTube make room to address the marginalized narratives and experiences of contemporary black women. Rae and other black women's use of social media plays a significant role in pushing forward conversations about the complexity of black women's lives.