What Made Scary Spice Scary: Confronting Unconscious Bias
“White Supremacy is not a shark; it is the water.”
-Ibram X. Kendi
I hummed whatever songs came to mind as I sat silently working. I was getting close to my deadline and in deep focus, so I avoided turning on some music. That’s when I began humming what was once a pop hit: Wannabe by Spice Girls. As I stared at the database I was working out of, I recalled the first time I heard this song.
It was a Saturday morning, and I had VH1 one on. The music video for Wannabe came on. I noticed immediately from the introduction that the video was unfamiliar to me. When the caption came on, the artist’s name was instantly intriguing. Spice Girls.
Within a week or two, I would learn more about this new pop sensation from the UK.
I began picturing each group member a la “Say You’ll Be There” music video. There was Baby, Sporty, Posh, Scary, Ginger, Scary again.
Scary.
And that’s when I stopped and stared blankly at the computer screen. I snapped out of my brief catatonic state and yelled, “What the hell made Scary Spice scary!?”
It was a demand shouted at the heavens. But no response was necessary. We already know the answer.
Spice Girl History Recap
The British girl group originally consisted of five members. They are Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, and Victoria Beckham (née Adams). Each woman wore a nickname meant to embody their persona and distinguish them.
Melanie Chisholm (Mel C) became known as “Sporty Spice” because of her athletic and sporty image. Emma Bunton was called “Baby Spice” because of her youthful and innocent image. Geri was known as “Ginger Spice” because of her red hair and outgoing, bold personality. Victoria Beckham (née Adams) was named “Posh Spice” because of her elegant and posh demeanor. As I already mentioned, Melanie B. was…Scary Spice. This was due to her “bold and fierce personality.” The thing is, all of the women had pretty bold and fierce personalities. What exactly made Melanie B. scary?
We’ll get to that.
What Made Mel B Scary?
The Spice Girls were a product of British society, shaped by its history and the dominant Anglo culture.
The Spice Girls were formed in a country with a rich history and culture and a history of domination and exploitation. This history dates back centuries before European imperialism and the exploitation of non-European lands.
The pervasive influence of whiteness as superior and the notion of Anglo superiority have left indelible marks on society. These ideals have shaped British culture, politics, and everyday life from colonial to contemporary times.
Philosophers like David Hume propagated the theory of racial hierarchy, which suggested that Africans were inherently inferior to whites.
Artists such as George Stubbs and Thomas Stothard contributed to the visual narrative of colonialism. They did this by portraying colonized subjects as exotic or subservient. This reinforced harmful stereotypes.
The British Empire, driven by the conviction of its own superiority, imposed British values and governance upon colonized regions worldwide. This imperialistic project marginalized Indigenous cultures and peoples.
The impact of this project can still be seen today all over the world.
The legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade also influenced British society. Economic and social disparities persist today, disproportionately affecting POC.
Structural inequalities, racial profiling, and disparities in education and employment underscore the ongoing influence of these historical ideologies.
How the Spice Girls Got Their Nicknames
A white person came up with the nickname, not Mel B. herself.
I wanted to know how and why these women came up with their nicknames. Did they come up with them on their own? Was it the executives at the label? After all, they were all fairly young in 1994 when they first formed the group.
Journalist Peter Loraine was working for Top of the Pops magazine when he came up with the nicknames during a meeting in 1996. Melanie B. said, “It was actually a lazy journalist that couldn’t be bothered to remember all our names, so he just gave us nicknames.” The women learned of the nicknames and decided to use them.
What I found even more telling than the one POC in the group being considered scary was what was said next.
“We laughed the most when we came up with Scary. Jennifer Cawthron, also from Leeds, came up with that one because Mel B was so loud and had tried to take over our whole photo shoot,” said Loraine when asked about the incident.
Although the nicknames were not intended to be derogatory, intention does not excuse racism.
Those who partook in Mel B. being called scary maintain the use of the word was simply due to her boldness and fierceness. However, being bold and fierce does not equate to something or someone being scary.
Being loud does not equate to being intimidating or frightening. Being outspoken does not make one scary. Additionally, having a dominant personality does not necessarily mean a person is frightening.
And yet, we know that plenty of people will maintain that it has nothing to do with racism and that Mel B. was bold and fierce! Stop making everything about race, Cara de Gata!
Oh, the joys of subtle racism, bias, and white-centered logic!
Although Mel B. chose to refer to herself as Scary Spice, this does not negate the racism present in this situation.
It is true that Mel B. gave her blessing for the name. Not recognizing when you are being subjected to racism or even perpetuating it despite being a POC does not make it any less racist.
Anti-Blackness and other ideas rooted in racist and Supremacist ideologies are so normalized that often we fail to see it even when it’s right in front of our eyes. As a result, past ideas about race are alive and well today.
When Culture Comes Into Play
Historically and presently, cultural differences between whites and non-whites have been considered off-putting and frightening to white people.
At the root of this problem is the fear of the Other in white discourse. Historically, BIPOC have been viewed as uncivilized. They have been considered dangerous to ‘ goodly whites,’ the culture, and the virtue of white women. So cultural differences present today naturally feed into these ideas. This is because these ideas are still present in everyday discourse.
For example, many immigrant groups and POC are known for being loud and freely expressing emotions, even negative ones. However, emotions are to be suppressed within the white culture and Anglo cultures in general.
The communication styles of POC and immigrant communities scare white people.
Thomas Kochman, a communications professor, is known for his work on cross-cultural communication. He has contributed to our understanding of communication style differences between POC and white people in the context of the United States. His research and insights focus on how cultural backgrounds and experiences influence communication patterns and perceptions.
One of his significant contributions is the concept of “codeswitching” in communication. Codeswitching refers to the ability to switch between different communication styles or codes based on the social and cultural context.
Professor Kochman highlighted how POCs often use codeswitching to navigate within predominantly white environments. They may adjust their communication style, tone, and language to fit the norms and expectations of the dominant white culture.
Controlling your emotions and volume is important within white culture. And it’s more important to be mindful of everyone else’s comfort.
Kochman’s research suggests that specific communication norms and expectations may be associated with the “mainstream” or “white” communication style in predominantly white cultural and institutional settings.
For example, within the white American culture, it is important to be mindful of the feelings and sensibilities of other people no matter how upset one may be. Emotions are to be controlled and contained. Loud and spontaneous expressions of emotions like anger and physical animation are often interpreted as aggressive and even threatening.
You might be thinking, “duh.” However, in other cultures, the opposite is true.
Within the Black culture, for example, feelings are supposed to be expressed verbally and physically. The person expressing their emotions has the floor, and you are not to interrupt.
Without a genuine understanding and respect for these cultural differences, it is unsurprising that Black people are still ridiculed for “being loud” and are perceived as hostile and aggressive.
Due to limited personal interactions with Black individuals, many white people may lack knowledge about these cultural differences. As a result, they expect Black people to behave in the same manner as themselves.
Consequently, when Black individuals express any emotion that aligns with Black cultural norms, they are immediately labeled as aggressive, unruly, and intimidating by white individuals.
While I am discussing cultural differences within the US, these same cultural norms are also present within the UK.
When Peter Loraine and his team describe Mel B.’s behavior during the encounter, you’ll get very different interpretations of her behavior depending on your own perspective.
According to Loraine, during the photo shoot for this newly formed singing group, Mel B. was loud and tried to take over the shoot. I cannot confidently say what he means by her trying to take over the shoot. What comes to mind is someone who vocalizes their ideas without being asked, involves themselves in just about every aspect of the process, and makes their presence known.
It might also be that if she vocalized her opinions about clothing and set choices, this could be viewed as her trying to take over the shoot.
Nothing was said about Mel B. being difficult to work with, unprofessional, or even angry. Since truly negative behaviors were not described, we can safely assume that Mel B. was not a negative presence during the photo shoot.
Based on the idea that Melanie Brown was loud, likely very excited, and possibly even rambunctious, possibly opinionated over the decisions of those in charge, they portray her as someone who exhibits leadership within her group and was happy and excited at the time of this event.
However, she appeared loud, dominant, and intimidating from their perspective.
She was scary.
Language Influences Subconscious and Conscious Ideas about Race.
It is reasonable to conclude that even without the Transatlantic Slave Trade, humans were on projection to favor light features. For example, we assign objects and animals based on their whiteness and blackness.
We have long associated cleanliness and goodness with certain colors in artwork, writings, and language. One need not look far to find how artists have used white and other light colors to depict goodness and virtue. White and blue have been used to represent purity, virtue, and holiness. Dark colors such as black, brown, and red are used to depict portrayals of the devil, death, and evil.
Using the black cat and the crow as symbols of dark omens has a long historical tradition. In many European cultures, black cats have been associated with witches, and as a result, they have often been subjected to violence and persecution. Similarly, many cultures have used the crow to symbolize death and doom. This reigns true for ancient Greece, where the crow was associated with the god of prophecy and death.
However, in some cultures, such as in Japan, black cats are considered to bring good luck and fortune. In some Native American cultures, the crow is seen as a messenger of the gods and a bringer of wisdom and guidance. That said, black animals and insects have historically represented the macabre to humans.
So it’s not a big surprise that darker-skinned people have been viewed as more intimidating and frightening than lighter-skinned people, despite there being no inherent truth to this notion. This stereotype has been sealed by biased media representation, implicit bias, and historical discrimination.
To deny that Mel B. being dubbed Scary Spice had nothing to do with her Blackness is to deny reality. However, other aspects of Scary Spice’s style also contributed to this perception.
It was not only Mel B.’s dark skin that would have made her “scary.”
The more primitive nature of tribal people played into the fears of imperialists and onward into Anglo-dominated societies.
Terms like “savage” and “uncivilized” have been interlinked with BIPOC not only because of tribal warfare but also because their practices and traditions were quite contrary to Anglo standards.
Leopard print is a pattern that originates from the distinctive coat of the leopard, a large cat found in Africa and parts of Asia. Despite its long history in fashion and design, it remains primarily a fashion choice or aesthetic preference.
However, while leopard print is popular in Western fashion and design, it has historical and present-day associations with tribal people. To where the print or even hide of an animal signifies a return to nature and a more primal state of being.
Just about every aspect of Indigenousness is counter to Anglo standards, from pagan practices to nudity and even dancing by moving the torso, chest, and butt.
There’s no way to say if Mel B. intentionally wore leopard print to play into the ideas surrounding what made her scary or if she naturally gravitated toward leopard print. The print itself is symbolic of a bold personality.
I myself have an affinity for leopard print. I am pretty bold and fierce, after all. But these traits have never made me scary. That’s not to say I’ve never been considered scary.
Confronting Our Unconcious Bias
Unconscious bias refers to the automatic and unintentional biases or prejudices that shape our perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors towards certain individuals or groups.
These biases are based on our personal experiences, cultural upbringing, societal norms, and media influences. They operate at a subconscious level, often without our awareness or conscious control.
Unconscious bias can and does influence our judgments, decisions, and interactions with others. This can lead to unintentional discrimination or unequal treatment. Even individuals who consciously reject prejudiced beliefs can still be influenced by unconscious biases.
One common type of unconscious bias is implicit bias, which refers to the associations or stereotypes that our minds automatically make about certain groups of people. These associations can be positive or negative and may not align with our conscious beliefs or values.
Scary, huh?
It is important to note that unconscious biases are not a reflection of individual character or morality. They are a result of the societal and cultural influences we have been exposed to throughout our lives.
It is likely that unconscious bias was at play when Crawford referred to Mel. B as scary and when everyone else at that meeting joyfully agreed.
During the meeting, when Peter Loraine mentioned that everyone laughed at the idea of Mel B. being scary, it became evident that they didn’t fully consider why they perceived the word to be accurate. Describing someone as “scary” is not a term that should be used casually to describe a person who hasn’t done anything to deserve being seen as intimidating or dangerous. In fact, the word itself is offensive when applied to an individual. Additionally, there was no further consideration given to how they were treating the only person of color in the group.
This incident highlights that viewing Mel B as scary was a result of unconscious bias present in all those who laughed and agreed during the meeting.
However, acknowledging and understanding our unconscious biases is crucial in order to mitigate their impact and promote fairness and equality.
My Own Experience With White Fear
About six years ago, a friend wanted to visit a quaint little movie theater in the next town. It was playing a movie she sorely wanted to watch. It was the second installation in the Fifty Shades series so it was a movie that had to be attended sans children. We made ourselves free one night and went together for a girls’ night out.
As the movie started, another woman around our age stood in the aisle, looking for a spot to sit. My friend waved her on over. She was alone and like us, took the rare opportunity without kids and spouse to see Fifty Shades Darker.
She took a seat next to me and thanked us for inviting her. We introduced ourselves. After our brief introductions and a few laughs about husbands and Fifty Shades of Grey humor, she leaned over to inform us she wanted to use the restroom before the movie started. We nodded and continued eating our popcorn and candy.
I noticed from the corner of my eye that she was standing still instead of leaving. I looked up at her and saw her staring at me with concern. I looked down at her seat and saw her purse. At first, she was so comfortable with us that she decided to leave her purse. But when she got up and looked over at me, she hesitated.
I looked back up at her but decided to look away so she could take her purse without looking at me, a maneuver I usually use with men when I catch them checking me out. It’s my attempt to avoid additional discomfort if I pretend I didn’t see it.
But she didn’t reach for her purse so I looked up at her again. At that moment, I watched her look over at my friend on the other side of me, a fellow white girl, nod to herself, and finally leave.
I immediately felt the blood drain from my face.
But how do I know they’re being racist?
I’ve had white people tell me I’m wrong about what I believe was a racist act almost every time I’ve vented about an experience with racism. I’ve sat through the motions of hearing others rationalize and give the unknown accused the benefit of the doubt so many times that I started to distrust my own perception in these situations.
How do I know it was racist? Maybe she was afraid of leaving her purse with my friend and me, and I was just taking it personally. Maybe she had something of high value in her purse, and she happened to remember just as she was getting ready to leave.
I watched her go from concerned to assured in a matter of moments because the white girl next to me was there. That was what happened. And when she got back, she grabbed her purse and sat on the other side of my friend- away from me.
The two chatted merrily throughout the entire movie. I checked out mentally. I don’t even remember the rest of the movie. It was as if I never saw it.
But even if I am wrong, even if people are mistaken when they think they’ve been subjected to racist actions, it’s completely understandable. To ask a person how they know for sure if someone is guilty of what they allegedly said or did is to deny the reality of gravity of the matter.
Throughout my life, people assume I’ve grown up in rough neighborhoods and am feisty and aggressive.
The assumption that I am familiar with gang life or gang members has come up numerous times. From being told on the playground to the workplace, I have been associated with ideas of poverty, aggression, toughness, anger, hardness, and crime.
From being told that my friends and I (all Latinas) looked like a gang, to being asked by colleagues if I knew gang members, to being asked by a supervisor at work if my relative who passed away had been involved with gangs; I’ve heard it all.
In school, when girls suggested that other girls were pretty “for being Black” or “Asian,” they said it casually without fear of being called racist.
Parents express concern over their child spending time with a new Black or brown friend, even when that friend is just a regular kid with no negative behaviors on display.
More often than not, these types of remarks and comments are not made with malicious intent. Even I have said things that I wouldn’t have had I taken the time to think it through. I’ve perpetiated racist ideas about my own people without hesitation!
These examples demonstrate the deeply ingrained biases and stereotypes that exist within our society. By perpetuating these ideas and beliefs, we contribute to the marginalization and othering of POC, reinforcing harmful ideas and perpetuating systemic racism.
Does Melanie Brown Bare Responsibility?
Mel B.’s Blackness doesn’t mean she knew better than to agree to be called Scary.
Melanie B. grew up in a society structured by racism, much like the US. Anglo norms and ideals are centered in this society, and anti-Blackness is normalized. Once a concept is normalized, it becomes virtually impossible to see from any other perspective than the one you have already developed. Although this society may not consider itself racist and supremacist, it likely does not know the difference.
This all means that despite being a Black woman, Mel B. did not necessarily have the wisdom and knowledge to understand she was perpetuating a harmful idea about POC on a mass scale as a world-famous pop star. She might have had hesitations about being labeled scary. But this doesn’t mean she had the language and insight to take a meaningful stance. Being the only one to claim racism and not happily accept the name given to her like the others would have set her apart.
To take a meaningful stance and convince the rest, she would have needed to be equipped with information and facts to help everyone around the formation of the Spice Girls understand the subtle racism they would be promoting. Still, the accusation itself could have hurt her good standing with the label and her reputation within the white-dominated music industry of the UK.
Breaking Down the Stereotypes: The Media’s Role in Shaping Perceptions of Black People
The portrayal of African Americans in movies, sitcoms, and news stories has perpetuated negative stereotypes and reinforced biases all over the globe.
This widespread exposure to biased media has contributed to the prevalence of bias against African Americans, highlighting the need for more accurate and diverse representation to challenge these stereotypes and promote understanding.
Recognizing that these negative images do not reflect the entire Black community is crucial. Black people are diverse, like any other group, and should not be reduced to stereotypes. But it is also important to understand the behaviors and disparities associated with Blackness, such as incarceration, were designed to be this way long ago.
By challenging these portrayals and demanding more accurate, inclusive representation in the media, we can break down the barriers of fear.
We must hold media outlets accountable for their biased coverage and demand more diverse voices and perspectives. It’s time to give Black individuals the agency to tell their stories and redefine the narrative.
It is also important to understand that behaviors and disparities associated with Blackness, such as incarceration, were intentionally designed this way long ago.
Centuries of inadequate education and resources, underemployment, exploitation, racist laws, and violence against this community have led to the current outcomes.
Understand this: when people scoff at and look down on the negative things associated with Blackness, they blame and mock the victim.
#BlackLivesMatter: The Movement for Equality and Dismantling Fear
In recent years, the emergence of the #BlackLivesMatter movement has been a powerful force in challenging systemic racism and biases such as the fear of Black people.
This movement has shed light on the daily injustices and violence Black individuals experience, sparking important conversations about racial bias and inequality.
The #BlackLivesMatter movement emphasizes the need to dismantle deeply rooted societal fears. Although many deny and rationalize police brutality, it truly is no surprise that police officers are most likely to use deadly force against unarmed Black males at disproportionate rates. When we stop denying reality, we can work towards real change, no matter how ugly and shameful the truth is.
It is important for all of us to support the #BlackLivesMatter movement and actively work towards dismantling existing fear. We can achieve this by educating ourselves, listening to the experiences of Black individuals, and advocating for policies and systems that promote equality and justice.
Together, we can create a society where Black people are not perceived as intimidating but as equal community members.
Taking Action: How We Can All Contribute to Changing Ingrained Beliefs
Changing deeply rooted beliefs and perceptions starts with individual action. Each and every one of us has the power to make a difference in dismantling the fear associated with Black people. Remember, these ideas are ingrained in all of us. To quote Ibram X. Kendi, “White Supremacy is not a shark; it is the water.”
Here are some practical steps we can take to change our ingrained beliefs about Black people:
- Educate ourselves: Take the initiative to understand the history and experiences of black people. Read books, watch documentaries, and engage with educational resources that shed light on the contributions and richness of Black culture.
- Speak up against racism: Silence only perpetuates the problem. Use your voice to call out racism whenever you witness it, whether in conversations with friends and family or in public spaces. Challenge stereotypes and misconceptions by sharing knowledge and engaging in constructive dialogue.
- Support Black-owned businesses and organizations: By actively supporting and patronizing Black-owned businesses, we can help create economic opportunities and demonstrate solidarity. Seek out your community’s Black artisans, entrepreneurs, and professionals, and show your support through purchasing power.
- Advocate for change: Get involved in local organizations and movements towards racial justice and equality. Attend rallies, sign petitions, and support policy changes that address systemic racism and discrimination.
We are contributing to a larger movement by consistently taking these small actions. It’s a collective effort that requires continuous commitment and determination.
Together, we can break down harmful stereotypes and create a society where black people are celebrated rather than feared.
How Denial of Anti-Blackness Holds Us Back from Progress and How to Combat It
If there is anything I could make sure you take away from this post, it is that denial is only self-serving; it does not actually invert reality.
When racism and anti-Blackness arise, many become instantly defensive as though they are personally being called out as the perp. A big reason for this is that people feel shame; rather than confront this feeling in productive, healthy, positive ways, they deny the accusations. Sadly, what is painfully evident is that it’s not the marginalization of entire communities that is of concern to these individuals but instead the need to be seen as not racist.
It is crucial for us to confront and acknowledge the systemic anti-Blackness that exists in our society. Denying or rationalizing this reality only perpetuates the harm and injustice Black individuals face.
To combat anti-Blackness, we must educate ourselves about the history and experiences of Black people, speak up against racism whenever we encounter it, support Black-owned businesses and organizations, and advocate for policy changes that address systemic racism and discrimination. By taking these actions, we can contribute to dismantling fear and creating a more equitable and just society for all.
