I believe this is a hot topic especially for women as they begin to climb through the ranks of professionalism. I don't know how many of ya'll have dealt with this but I do know that President Obama, his wife, Colin Powell, Alan Keyes, Justice Thomas, Halle Berry, Condelezza Rice, Oprah and many more common day people have dealt with it. But what's interesting is that if you look pre civil rights this concept did not exist. So why is so prevelant now?
Why do we have some black people accuse others of not being black enough. On this board I have been compared to white women, had my blackness/heritage questioned, called out of my name (biatch to be exact) and threatened to watch what I say because there are black people on here who feel as if my views and outlook are outside the realm of blackness. So I ask you what does it take to be black?
On the real, I feel people who resort to such tactics are right in line with what has been called "massa mentality". They believe they are superior to others and that their views are the only views of blackness and if challenged then they resort to petty name calling and the oh so painful you ain't black enough trump card. The same tactic used by Jim Crow and massa only flipped. First we weren't white enough so we were discarded and now we ain't black enough so we're dismissed and dissed.
I have spoken to many women and know that this concept is not based on skin color but personality attributes (just as foolish to me because u're still denying the person a right to be who they were born to be a violation of an individuals civil right). You wonder why black women have a difficult time with self esteem and a positive outlook. Here's a reason maybe it's because we fear never being accepted. We have white, hispanic, asian etc judging us on false and over exaggerated stereotypes and then we have black folk judging us on our behaviors, tone and type of conversation and drive. You don't make it in life alone but as a black woman it's almost as if you have to walk alone sometimes for some of us all the time.
There was a sister who said she was leaving this board because she felt it was racist and after reading and responding to some comments left by others about me I would say that she is right. We have to be careful because not all of us has gotten to point to take this ish off of each other and can't deal with all the drama. Instead of criticizing I don't see why we can't use the same energy to uplift and encourage critical thought and varying ideas. So what if I see history a little different than you heck Medger Evers, Malcom X and Dr. King didn't see eye to eye but they had a mutual respect.
Our youth, our aged and ourselves are worth more than what we have, are and if we're not careful will continue to be complacent, hippocritical, judgemental, disengaged, arrogant, ignorant, malinformed, ununified fragments of self hate.
Here is what I believe some of the judgements of blackness to be:
1. Your speech. If it's too proper and if you are a good communicator, you're white.
2. Your attitude. Do you go off all the time or do you maintain composure. If you do it in situations I believe you shouldn't you're white. It's ok to go off on a sister but keep your best behavior on in public around white folk so they don't think we're out of control or fit into their stereotypes.
3. Your drive. If you are too focused and organized, you're white. It's better to let life happen and hope for the best. Let other people or inanimate objects control your life not you.
4. Your passion. Don't show too much emotion or conviction, you're white.
5. Character. Don't be too honest, too engaged or too trustworthy, you may be white.
Watch the pitifalls of race. Though it is prevelant in our society we will never get over it because we are now becoming what we accuse white people of already being. For shame.
I can definately identify with the first one. As a child and young adult I was always told that I spoke like a white person. My Dad raised me to speak the English language properly not to mutilate it. With close friends I could revert to "slang" but never at home. Eventually as I entered the working world I gave up using "street language" altogether because I knew that this was a barrier to success in the working world. I always had a love of books even as a child and was encouraged to read so I naturally picked up the proper way to speak and write English. Later when I did return to college to get my BA I naturally choose English because I love to read and write. The eubonics, black english or whatever it is called nowadays is a disgrace to us as a people who are descended from great orators. Young people in their teens, 20s and 30s don't seem to realize that are sabotaging themselves in regards to their education and careers by not speaking and writing proper English. Leave the slang for when you are at home with your buddies. Now that I am older I no longer have these issues because the people I work, associate or are friends with nearly all have college degrees. Even my friends from foreign countries want me to help them with their English. Non-native speakers yearn to speak proper English. Too bad many Blacks buy into the stereotype of "keeping it real"!! Real Stupid!! Grace & Peace!
Monday, June 1st 2009 at 5:05PM
DeBorah Palmer
:-) I know alot of people who have been hit with number one. ebonics is a huge failure and whoever created that mess should be ashamed. unless you have a market that will support it it is useless. heck even our rappers know better than to use ebonics. i never did get that and i had many heated disagreements with people who support they didn't understand how ineffective it was but i guess in their eyes it was to them what spanish is to hispanics and i can understand that but i will always argue for proper english for anyone living in america it is our national language after all.
Monday, June 1st 2009 at 10:18PM
crystal smith
