Here we go again with ShxtsNGigs and Misogynoir. I feel like I’ve been writing about misogynoir for years and lots of people shrug like, not our problem. It’s 2024, and yet here we are, still dealing with the vile combination of racism and sexism that targets Black women—misogynoir.
When comedian Andrew Schulz met ShxtsNGigs, his racially insensitive jokes about Black women weren’t met with discomfort, but with laughter from the hosts. The fact that such “humor” is still casually accepted in mainstream spaces reflects how deep the problem runs. Then we got the ‘we date all women’ comment which Black Women know is code for we prefer non Black but don’t want to be seen as less for the culture particularly as we built our whole brand off of it. So I’m already sideeyeing them hard for this before we got the apology. More on that later.
The controversy involving Andrew Schulz and the ShxtsNGigs podcast centers around Schulz’s jokes that were considered racially insensitive, particularly targeting Black women. James and Fuhad, were criticized for laughing along, leading to accusations of enabling offensive humor. This sparked further discussion around the intersection of racism and sexism faced by Black women, known as misogynoir.
Misogynoir is Still a Problem: Here’s Why
Misogynoir isn’t just about microaggressions; it’s woven into the fabric of our society. Media, comedy, dating—it’s everywhere. Schulz’s interview with ShxtsNGigs has reignited this conversation because it highlights how Black women’s experiences are minimized and dismissed, even when the jokes directly attack their dignity.
The term misogynoir perfectly encapsulates this. Coined by Moya Bailey, it recognizes how Black women experience both racial and gender-based discrimination. It’s not just sexist; it’s not just racist. It’s a toxic cocktail of both that Black women are forced to swallow daily. Whether it’s being stereotyped as “angry,” being labeled “unattractive” by male supremacist movements, or enduring jokes that strip away humanity, Black women endure a unique form of oppression.
And before someone comes rushing in with the tired “it’s just a joke” defense—no, it’s not. These “jokes” are a reflection of deeply ingrained societal views that need challenging. The issue isn’t Schulz or the ShxtsNGigs hosts alone; it’s a broader societal issue that gives these views space to flourish. I’m not one to defend Will Smith’s attack on Chris Rock but at least he stood up for his woman.
Black women don’t need to toughen up or “learn to take a joke.” What we need is a real conversation about why these harmful attitudes persist and how we can collectively unlearn them. The first step is acknowledging that misogynoir is real and pervasive. The next is demanding better—from everyone. Enough is enough.
Why Don’t Black Men Defend Black Women?
Black women face stereotypes and attacks constantly. Whether it’s in the media or at work, the “strong Black woman” trope is used to justify why we’re left to defend ourselves. But here’s the burning question—why aren’t Black men stepping up?
Sometimes it feels like Black women are seen as strong enough to handle everything alone. This perception feeds into the silence when we’re disrespected. It’s not that Black men don’t care; many do. But often, they’re caught up in their own battles, struggling with how to confront racism without endangering themselves. In a world that already views Black men as aggressive, some feel speaking up could be risky.
Back to the Andrew Schulz and ShxtsNGigs controversy. The jokes were racist, but where was the outcry from Black men? It’s as if there’s this unspoken rule that we can fend for ourselves—after all, we’ve been doing it for centuries, right? Wrong.
It’s not enough to just avoid being part of the problem. We need Black men to actively reject these attacks. We need them to stand up, not just as individuals, but as allies. The idea that defending Black women somehow weakens Black men is outdated and toxic. It’s time to build each other up, not watch as stereotypes tear us apart.
Should ShxtsNGigs be canceled?
Americans are saying that ShtsNGigs are canceled already as this dude outlines but I’m not sure if this just means that their domination of the US has been halted. Whether ShxtsNGigs should be canceled for the Andrew Schulz controversy despite their apology is a nuanced debate. On one hand, the jokes made were offensive and highlighted a bigger issue around how Black women are treated and disrespected in media. However 1) Andrew is the one who made the jokes ii) the hosts did issue an apology, which signals some accountability and C) I’ve never heard of Andrew before this so this feels very much an American storm bubble which won’t have as much impact on the UK audience methinks. We have way too many pickmes for this to kill them off.
The key question is whether that apology leads to meaningful change or is merely performative. I’m also not sure that canceling them won’t lead to space for worse podcasts to spring up in their place. What we don’t need is worse!
Yes I think one of them made a ‘Meg Stallion top 5 women’ comment which bears no relevant to the debate. Everyone knows that Meg is sexy af so the fact that you would deem her top 5 worthy doesn’t redeem you. I think it was James.
Final thoughts on ShtsNGigs
I’ve given these men way too much of my morning. Disclaimer. I’m not a huge listener of the ShxtsNGigs podcast mainly because of their ages and the fact that they’re shown priors on misogyny but, I get it. I’m not their target audience.
Also not hearing anyone calling for Andrew Schulz to be canceled. So only Black Men must be held accountable. He was the one who made the comments. I dunno. This could be an opportunity for growth and learning but I suspect that competitors will use this as an opportunity to bring them down. Not because they genuinely want to fight for Black women but more because they don’t want them to succeed.
Fans and critics alike will need to decide whether the apology feels sincere and if the platform becomes more responsible with its content in the future.Until Black men start showing up for Black women, we’ll always be fighting two battles—one against racism, and one against our own community’s silence.
© Chelsea Black ® 2024
