Say It Loud....

This blog isn't unique. It's a topic that has been discussed many times before. But given the frequency of the encounters, I needed to vent.

There are several things that I dare people to speak on and expect not to feel my wrath. One is family. My womanhood. Another is my race.

I love--and I do mean LOVE--everything about being black. My features, the way I can style my hair, my skin color-- I believe that black people are some of the most beautiful beings on this earth. Imagine my disdain when I encounter people who question my allegiance to our race because I don't like or support something related to black people. It'll be for THEE MOST insignificant things, yet it'll cause me to have a mental meltdown. Let's look at several recent conversations:

Convo #1:

Friend #1: "Did you read the new book from Triple Crown?
Me: "Nah, I don't read too many of those books these days."
Friend #1: "I mean, why not? It's kinda messed up that you're so quick to read books by white authors, but you give the black authors no play."
Me: "But I never said..."


Convo #2

Friend #2: "I think I'm going to see 'Jumping the Broom' tonight."
Me: "Oh ok. I probably won't go cuz the previews didn't catch my interest."
Friend #2: "Well, it has an all-black cast, so you can't go wrong with that."
Me: "Actually, you can. You can wrong with an all-black cast just like you can wrong with an all-white cast."
Friend #2: "Well, at least I'M going to support our black people."

Convo #3

Me: "Don't you want to turn the t.v. off before you leave?"
Friend #3: "No. I'm leaving it on BET."
Me: "Why? You're wasting electricity."
Friend #3: "NO, I'm supporting BET by increasing their viewership. What would you know about that?"

#pauseforthecause

Since when did reading hood novels, watching movies with predominantly black casts, and @#$%@$^&* BET define our "blackness?" I find that there are too many black people out there trying to judge others' "blackness" without looking at their contributions-- or lack there of--to our race. And it's the funny how one the aforementioned friends peddles street pharmaceuticals to blacks in poverty-stricken neighborhoods in Detroit. And I'm the bad guy?

It just tickles me that we have the "Black Police" on patrol, seeking to find the person who's not "representin'." I had a finger aimed my way plenty of times before from the clothes that I wear to the perm in my hair. And how many of my educated black friends faced ridicule for sounding "too white?"



But ask them what they know about black history. Ask them how they are helping to stop perpetuating the cycles of crime, illiteracy, unemployment, and poverty within the Black community. It takes more than natural hair, tattoos, and collection of black films and hood novels to help to uplift our race. I often question what more can I do? How can I give back to my community? I by no means feel that my efforts outshine others nor do I want to present myself as someone who knows what others must do to "represent." It's just is frustrating to have to already prove my worth to society as both a woman and a black woman...but to have to prove myself to my own race?

BOYYYY STOP.