Recently, Amanda Seales, known for her outspokenness, went on the Jubilee YouTube channel to battle it out with Black conservatives. For those who are unaware, Jubilee often hosts debates between opposing groups; some of those groups are vile Nazis, and some are just people who have drastically different life experiences. On this episode, one of the more popular ones for the channel, Amanda easily chews up the Black conservatives, sometimes with a sting and assertiveness that is strongly felt on the other side of the screen. Not only is Amanda easily dissolving their arguments, but another reason for the virality of the clips is that the 44-year-old is masterful at getting under people’s skin.
In the introduction to the video, she even describes herself as an “annoying person on the internet who’s always right.” Amanda has not always had the best press; it is arguable whether it is deserved or not, but what is clear is that with a Master’s in African American studies from Columbia University, she does know her stuff, and people like that are essential.
Amanda, as a comedian, actress and historian, can be easily and rightfully described as a multi-faceted person, and her personality is no different. Still, with all her faults, whether imagined or real, she is necessary to the Black community. She is well-educated and willing to share her knowledge and not be afraid of people disliking her for telling the truth, or at least what she thinks is true. She is not afraid to be loud and assertive, and just because someone doesn’t want to hear it, doesn’t mean her voice doesn’t need to be heard.
Due to her disagreements with Issa Rae, it was somewhat easy for people to take Issa’s side. Not only was it her show, but Issa’s character, which we assume was so much like her that she had the same name, was much more relatable to Amanda’s character, Tiffany. Their public disagreements were not built on a back-and-forth but rather whispers that Amanda was difficult to work with, Amanda being denied entrance into a party, aided by Issa’s lack of response, only facilitated people picking Issa’s side that much more easily.
Amanda is not without her faults; she criticized Samaria Rice, the mother of Tamir Rice, for her calling out Shaun King for using her son’s name to raise funds for her, which she reportedly never received, all while acknowledging her suspicions of King. She often lets the intrusive thoughts win. If that was something that she had said to a friend group, they may have kindly corrected her and moved forward, because it was definitely not a logical perspective, but the internet is a much more delicate and harsh environment. However, that boldness and brashness is also an important thing to have in the face of dismantling systemic oppression. Notwithstanding, Amanda has made statements in the more distant past that could be considered anti-Black and classist, but that is currently not what she is communicating, so if that is not the message that she is currently sending, then where does allowing people to be better start?
Amanda’s greatest trick is that she is polarizing.
There are Black people who love her dirty drawers, and there are Black people who think she has the aura of nails on a chalkboard; either way, as it stands, Amanda firmly stands for the Black community enough to defend it lucidly and effectively. She is clearly smart and talented, and she is even wrong on occasion, but she is necessary, and someone doesn’t have to have a positive or negative response to her personality to see that.
Love her or hate her, Amanda Seales is important to the Black community. She may not be the person you want to chill at the house with, but she is still someone you would want in your corner.
