At first, I thought the Hulu series How to Die Alone was about a woman realizing her potential, accomplishing so much more in life, and moving toward a happier, more fulfilled future. The premise had promise, and I was ready for a refreshing, uplifting narrative. But after binge-watching three episodes, I was left sorely disappointed.
What initially seemed like a story of growth and empowerment quickly unraveled into yet another show perpetuating harmful stereotypes about Black women. Instead of offering something empowering or motivational, it leaned into the same tired, degrading tropes that have been imposed on Black women’s images for far too long.
Why is it that in these shows, there’s always an out-of-shape Black woman who is either excessively masculine, obnoxiously loud, or constantly unhappy? She’s stuck in undesirable circumstances, portrayed as struggling, without hope or joy. It’s frustrating because, once again, we see a Black woman reduced to a caricature instead of a fully fleshed-out character with depth, beauty, and potential.
What bothered me the most was the lack of balance. Where are the stories that show happy, healthy, and vibrant Black women who are thriving in life? Where are the portrayals of Black women who are loved, cherished, and taken care of by a man who truly desires them? These women exist in the world—why do we see them so rarely in media, especially in shows created or produced by predominantly white media outlets?
It feels like the only narrative allowed for Black women is one of struggle and suffering. Meanwhile, stories of joy, love, and success are sidelined. This is damaging, not just for Black women who deserve better representation, but also for viewers of all backgrounds who are left with a narrow, distorted view of Black womanhood.
There is so much more to the Black woman’s experience than the overused tropes of hardship, loneliness, or loudness. There are joyful, confident, and thriving Black women who know their worth, who are loved, who love themselves, and who embrace life fully. Why can’t we see more of that on screen?
So much for the motivation I hoped How to Die Alone would offer. Instead, it served as a reminder that there’s still a long way to go in how Black women are portrayed in media. We deserve stories that reflect our complexity, our beauty, and our capacity for joy—without being boxed into the same old stereotypes.