A raunchy animated Netflix comedy starring Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Maya Rudolph and more, Big Mouth follows a group of quirky, confused youth from suburban New York as they navigate the troublesome waters of Bridgeton Middle School.

Released in September 2017, the TV-MA sitcom has been running for three seasons, with an 80% rating on average. From conversations about first loves and puberty to masturbation and sexuality, the Emmy-nominated show has managed to creep its way into the hearts of people like me: folks who left middle school years ago and wish to never return.

There’s something about the nostalgia and the power of cringeworthy entertainment that is weirdly soothing, especially during times of tension and uncertainty like these. Apart from letting me evade responsibility and giving me a good laugh, Big Mouth allows me to reconnect with the little girl I once was and reflect on the young woman I hoped to become.

With the anticipated renewal of the show, supporting character Missy Foreman-Greenwald deserves some applause. Voiced by Jenny Slate, Missy is a non-confrontational, science-obsessed biracial girl with a love for fiction and her denim overalls. She quickly learns that despite her efforts to appease everyone, respectability politics helps no one. Her authenticity serves as a lesson for all viewers, and her presence is something I wish I saw more of growing up.

Things escalate in season 3 episode 2, “Girls Are Angry Too.” As her fellow “filthy tweenage girls” stage a “Slut Walk” to protest sexist dress codes, Missy finds herself uncomfortable with the idea of being scantily clad. Missy, like me and so many other little Black girls, had to learn the hard way that diligent organizing may not be enough to foster solidarity amongst young women. That is if you don’t look the part.

I attended various private schools with mandated uniforms from 4th to 12th grade, so I couldn’t help but relate. I was policed because my skort was “too short” while also being the tallest girl in my grade. I was frustrated with an administration that refused to listen to the needs of students. However, nothing can compare to the pang that is felt when you, a young Black girl, realize that if you don’t fit the conventionally acceptable bill for the face of feminism, you’re unimportant.

Although Missy shows up to the protest with a “Don’t Tread on Her Threads” sign and a strong sense of purpose, her female classmates call her a “traitor to her gender” for making the decision to wear what she actually feels empowered in: her denim overalls. She breaks down crying and runs out of the building.

Erasure of women of color from the feminist movement can occur in various forms. They may not be as overt as being excluded from the lunch table, but it still happens when white women tokenize women of color or disregard our lived experiences with blanket statements such as, “I think we all just need to come together as women…” When Black women make a note to amplify our needs, we’re deemed “angry.” What I love about Missy is how she unabashedly owns her anger.

The next day, she returns to school in her denim overalls despite the fact that they’ve implemented an official uniform. She explodes not only at the dean of student life, but also at the hypocritical girls with their “hollow” cheers as she defies authority. I only wish I was as comfortable with rocking the boat as Missy is at her age. While it may have taken me some time to get there, I hope she inspires a new generation of young Black women and little girls to own their righteous anger.

Missy Foreman-Greenwald: Big Mouth's Feminist Icon