I happen to be talking to the Icon the other day and we both had the question: What is Black Enough? We laughed; had a few jokes; (most we couldn’t print here) but, with all seriousness decided that the Educator should research it. Well, after researching it I still do not have a clear understanding, because the whole thing is so ridiculous, that if these “so called” media personalities; journalist; {black and white) alike and “black leaders do not stop asking if Barrack Obama is “Black Enough” I’m going to jump off the side of a building. But, I digress. Anyway, here’s what I uncovered:
It is our tendency as black people to ask these kinds of questions to those among us who, for whatever reason, have the ability to relate to people of other races and cultures as not being “Black Enough,” it’s like if you appeal to white folks, then there must be something wrong with you."
When White America embraced you and feel comfortable with you than you are not “Black Enough”.
That if your life doesn't have the same back story of the rank-and-file African Americans then you are not “Black Enough”.
Being raised by a white mother somehow does not quaifly you as being “Black Enough”; even though your father is African.(I guess we have forgotton about the quarter of black blood rule). The assumption is that you can’t truly understand the experience of growing up like other blacks, in an impoverished, urban, mostly segregated environments.( I would think that someone of mixed race would have a greater understanding, because of not being “white enough”; but that’s just me.)
The "Black Enough" question proceeds from the fact that some black people have subconsciously bought into centuries of racist rhetoric that holds black, to be synonymous with ignorant , poorly educated and scorned by whites.
What I know for sure is: Being “Black Enough” is spoken from the mouths of ignorant people. There is no level of blackness that would justify one’s acceptance for being black.
And that: Being black in this country now means; regardless of your beginnings, you might one day be wealthy; successful; and running for president.
Being black could now mean you were educated in an all-white school, raised by a white mother, and go on to fight for black causes.
Being black in this country means that you may have grown up in the inner-city, and been told that you had no opportunity or hope of making anything of yourself, but you fought your way out through hard work and perseverance, and later became an Engineer, an Educator, a Talk Show Host, or anything else you could imagine.
Being black in this country now means, you may be born of a white mother, and because of your mixed heritage, you devoted your life to public service to help all people, no matter their race.
So there is no standard for being Black or being “Black Enough”. We need to stop putting ourselves in a box, see situations for what they are, and react accordingly.
I believe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said it best; “Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.”(Letter from the Birmingham Jail)
It is our tendency as black people to ask these kinds of questions to those among us who, for whatever reason, have the ability to relate to people of other races and cultures as not being “Black Enough,” it’s like if you appeal to white folks, then there must be something wrong with you."
When White America embraced you and feel comfortable with you than you are not “Black Enough”.
That if your life doesn't have the same back story of the rank-and-file African Americans then you are not “Black Enough”.
Being raised by a white mother somehow does not quaifly you as being “Black Enough”; even though your father is African.(I guess we have forgotton about the quarter of black blood rule). The assumption is that you can’t truly understand the experience of growing up like other blacks, in an impoverished, urban, mostly segregated environments.( I would think that someone of mixed race would have a greater understanding, because of not being “white enough”; but that’s just me.)
The "Black Enough" question proceeds from the fact that some black people have subconsciously bought into centuries of racist rhetoric that holds black, to be synonymous with ignorant , poorly educated and scorned by whites.
What I know for sure is: Being “Black Enough” is spoken from the mouths of ignorant people. There is no level of blackness that would justify one’s acceptance for being black.
And that: Being black in this country now means; regardless of your beginnings, you might one day be wealthy; successful; and running for president.
Being black could now mean you were educated in an all-white school, raised by a white mother, and go on to fight for black causes.
Being black in this country means that you may have grown up in the inner-city, and been told that you had no opportunity or hope of making anything of yourself, but you fought your way out through hard work and perseverance, and later became an Engineer, an Educator, a Talk Show Host, or anything else you could imagine.
Being black in this country now means, you may be born of a white mother, and because of your mixed heritage, you devoted your life to public service to help all people, no matter their race.
So there is no standard for being Black or being “Black Enough”. We need to stop putting ourselves in a box, see situations for what they are, and react accordingly.
I believe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said it best; “Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.”(Letter from the Birmingham Jail)
2 comments:
You better preach!!! This is an excellant post. TheEducator does it again when it comes to spitting that knowledge.
I totally agree! Once again we find away to cause division amongst ourselves instead of focusing on the real issues....Jim Crow does it again.
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