Heard It’s Her Man Too

Solána Rowe, professionally known as SZA, released the album CTRL last year in 2017. As suggested by the title, the album contains themes of control, but also modern love, jealousy, anxiety, and self-esteem. I think this album speaks volumes as a black woman speaking the truth against societal expectations. In black communities, black women assume the role of being strong and emotionally stable. They must be put together all the time, there is no room for weakness. Specifically, it is considered taboo to have sex outside of a labeled relationship. The stigma that if you’re not the girlfriend, then you’re the side hoe is all too real. In the song “The Weekend”,  SZA openly sings about three women time-sharing a man. The beginning of the chorus is:

“My man is my man, is your man
Heard it’s her man too
My man is my man, is your man
Heard that’s her man
Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
I just keep him satisfied through the weekend”

She knows that she’s not the only girl and she doesn’t care. She doesn’t want to be his girlfriend. It doesn’t make her any less because he’s not her boyfriend. He’s not anyone’s boyfriend, he’s not actually dating any of these girls in the song and I think that this is really important to say that this is okay. It’s okay to not be dating someone who is not committed and still having a sexual relationship with them. That doesn’t make you a hoe, that makes you human.  Not only does this song empower black women, but it’s a message saying that you don’t have to explain yourself or your actions to anyone but yourself. I think this is an afrofuturistic idea because it’s a vision for the future of black women and even men. To not be held back by anyone’s expectations and to be open about it because there are probably others in the same position who can relate.

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