Reflections on Race and Bachelor Nation
Brandon, Nayte, Rodney, and Joe are the final four men headed to hometowns on season eighteen of The Bachelorette.
As a Black viewer, my heart soared. Brandon, the definition of earnest, adores Michelle. Joe, the silent former basketball player, displayed his softer side caring for animals on the group date. Rodney, the ideal teammate, cheers Michelle on at every turn and would be such a supportive partner. Nayte, the charismatic charmer with a million-dollar smile, makes for a stunning partner for our Bachelorette Michelle.
Michelle, our graceful lead, has remained composed as several situations occurred throughout the season that would have reasonably derailed a saint. She does not have the luxury afforded to her white counterparts, and she cannot yell, scream, or have her girlboss moment. Aware at every turn of the cameras in her face and the angry Black woman trope, Michelle has deftly spoken up for herself and asserted her control over each situation, her journey, and ultimately the outcome of the season. So, as a Black woman, seeing these men on either side of Michelle raise their celebratory glass was a feeling that I had never felt before watching an episode of this franchise.
So, I took that personally when I began to see the historic foursome referred to as people of color (even by the men themselves).
I am unambiguously Black, and I have never had to navigate multiple racial identities, so I cannot speak to that reality. People of color can be a helpful term that many use to characterize their own experiences, but it is not synonymous with Black. Non-Black people of color can both experience racism and participate in anti-Black racism, so I am of the mind to be specific whenever possible. I genuinely respect the wishes of the men and Michelle to identify as people of color, but it is not a term that I embrace as an identifier for myself.
I would not be watching The Bachelor or The Bachelorette without Rachel Lindsay. Sometimes I'm not sure why I stayed after her season. Like many horror movies pre Jordan Peele, I knew the Black contestants would not last on the season very long. So when the country and Bachelor Nation finally began to pay attention to issues specific to the Black community, I thought the show had taken a turn for the better.
In the year of the first Black Bachelor, who openly spoke about feeling pressure to choose a Black woman, we get Riley, who chose a Black woman on purpose. We also get the final four men of this season and the possibility of two Black love stories in a year on the whitest dating show in history. I want these moments to be Black.
Even with these victories, Bachelor Nation still has a problem with race.
Folks who are unambiguously Black continue to receive less screen time, followers, and financial opportunities.
Contestants with lighter-skinned privilege and closer proximity to whiteness have access to more lead roles and opportunities.
Black and NBPOC contestants do not have the same amount of followers as their white counterparts.
Only one of the ten most followed former contestants is a woman of color.
Black and NBPOC Bachelor content creators do not have as many followers as their white counterparts.
Black and NBPOC contestants are continually subjected to microaggressions on and off the screen.
There is still much work to do in Bachelor Nation. That work does not stop because we had a Black bachelor and more Black love stories this year.
We do not get to check a box and say we've solved all the problems of racism in the franchise.
All of Bachelor Nation should take a moment to reflect on the "progress" of this year as we carve out the path to hold both the franchise and ourselves accountable.
Will you continue to discuss race when Clayton is the lead?
Will you speak up when you see contestants engaging in microaggressive behavior on screen and on social media?
Will you intentionally follow and support Black and NBPOC contestants?
Will you intentionally follow Black and NBPOC content creators and engage with and promote their content?
Or will you passively accept the status quo?
The choice is yours.