The full scope of humans has its highs and lows. We love the high, but the lows, not so much. This dichotomy forces us to not be authentic about our experiences because expressing negative emotions are ‘bad,’ especially as a woman due to ups being characterized as dramatic, more specifically as black women, due to us being characterized as bitter and angry. This has been brought to the forefront for me because recently Angela Bassett has been the focus of social media discourse after speaking on how she felt after losing the Oscar for Best Supporting Actresss in 2023 to Jaime Lee Curtis and the following backlash due to her not clapping for Jaime. There was so much criticism she received and now even after speaking on the incident, she is now considered entitled.

Due to society’s pedestalization of celebrities, we do not see them as people, leading us to treating them differently. We unconsciously hold them to a higher standard while also justifying and extending more grace for their failures.

Angela felt she delivered a phenomenal performance in Black Panther 2. Not once did she discredit the other actresses or speak poorly on Jaime lee Curtis, who won the Oscar. So many seem to be upset Angela did not clap, but in moments of disappointment and shock, it’s easy to forget to do all the right, polite, and gracious things expected of you.

I believe if this was a conversation that was had after Angela winning in the future, people would be okay with the story, as most seem to only care for underdog narratives. However, the reality is most only have 1 opportunity. Major opportunities don’t come often and if you miss out or lose, there is no guarantee it will happen for you.

The uncomfortability we have with negative emotions limit not only ourselves, but others as we put constraints on what is deemed okay and/or respectable reactions. There is freedom in full expression and that liberation will only then allow us to see the full humanity of others.