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Babes Wodumo's reaction to getting shushed at the airport is about the continued silencing of black women

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Babes Wodumo
Babes Wodumo

While some might not see it for what it is, it's important that we speak about the exact reason Babes confronted a stranger who felt that she could approach her to keep quiet in a public space.

The Wololo hit maker is seen inside Cape Town International airport with her friend when an unidentified white woman told them to shush.

READ MORE: Babes Wodumo speaks out about that interview with Metro FM and says she never got an apology

In the video Babes can be seen following the woman, visibly shaken and agitated.

Some are asking why Babes was so angry. It was only a shush right?

It reminds us of BBQ Betty, Permit Patty and the countless (but real) white women in the U.S. who have become tropes for calling the police on black people minding their own business.

READ MORE: Recent news around former Model C girls' schools remind us how difficult it is to be black in those spaces

While some may not agree with the way Babes handled the situation, it's important to understand the prevalent pain and anger built up from many years of subjugation. Hers and other black women's.

How does a stranger feel they have the right to tell another grown woman to keep quiet in a public space?

Many Twitter users commended the artist for standing up for herself and drawing attention to situations like these that happen daily and get shrugged off. Here are some of their tweets.

READ MORE: It's time to have that awkward conversation with your friend who's a different race to you

This user said that Babes has "empowered" black women.

While this user highlighted the fact that the situation was racist because a black person was being told how to behave in a "white space".

This user also mentioned how it is not okay to shush someone else in a public area.

While Babes could've easily ignored the microaggression, why should it fall on her to accept such behaviour?

What is a microaggression? 

Firstly, Psychology Today defines it as: “the everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalised group membership.”

Over time, repeated microaggressions can become a weight and slight that become difficult to brush off.

READ MORE: Ashwin Willemse, quotas and other microaggressions in the workplace: how do you deal with it?

Have you ever had a Babes moment where you could no longer hold back your frustration at being treated as less important than someone else? What was your reaction.

Please share your story with us here.

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