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Introduction
Rapper Roxanne Shanté's 1989 rendition of "Independent Woman," explored relationships and admonished women not to dote on partners who do not reciprocate or to buy into the fairytale dream that a man would always take care of them. The definition of an "Independent Woman" in the Urban Dictionary, a predominantly African American written and defined Web site, is "A woman who pays her own bills, buys her own things, and does not allow a man to affect her stability or self-confidence. She supports herself on her own entirely and is proud to be able to do so."
Another depiction of independence is found in Tina Portis' video clip titled the "Deception of the Independent Woman" posted to YouTube in 2010. Portis, an entrepreneur and former single mother, offers her opinion on statistics showing 42% of U.S. black women have never been married and are "independent" because they focus on achievement, often waiting too long to compete for the small number of black men who are equal in status (Johnson, 2010). In the video, she asserts that independent women do not need a pat on the back for doing what grownups are supposed to do: pay their bills, buy houses and cars, etc. She adds that independence discourages relationships as people begin to believe they can do everything alone, so they do not need a mate.
Portis' depiction of independence is different from Shanté's vision of independent women mentioned at the beginning of this essay. Both are distinct from those featured in popular music, which often describe the "independent woman" as someone who is wealthy, beautiful, and domestic. This variance in opinion underscores the importance of studying the phenomena of the "independent black woman" in the twenty-first century. I personally became interested in the topic at a concert during which an artist described his idea of an "independent woman." I looked at the women in the authence who were praising the song, and I wondered how many of them, like me, were overworked single mothers struggling to pay bills while raising children alone and trying to look appealing. That was when I decided the glamorous "independent black woman" depicted in popular music is a misnomer. After looking at the lyrics of other songs, I found...