This is Not the End

The Evolution of Eillya

I. Enslaved

I was born color-blind;
I came out of the womb that way…
This rainbow of color was forced upon my mind
Not an instant process, but slowly over time.
The girl in my class—
               The one I saw everyday
I don’t know what possessed her,
I don’t know what suddenly changed!
But she submerged my head in the sea of colors
Their brightness blinding my blinded eyes
And I drowned somewhere beneath its colored tide

Rolled and churned, swept out to sea
The weight of blackness entangled me.
nigger shackled my legs, my arms…
--It’s impossible to move.
And there in the distance,
Schools of fish simply staring at me…
They spit the salt I’m forced to inhale

While I choke on false assumptions
There’s a fire in my lungs...
But I’m tangled and mangled,
Shackled and shamed
Sinking further and further beneath the wave.

II. Enlightened

But my roots run deep
Twisting and turning,
Entangled in the lost legacy…
She told me to rise
         Because I have the strength
She told me to go where I've never been
         Because I have the vision
She told me to sit when I’m at my limit
         Because I’m not invincible
She told me to take control, claim my own power
Because I am.

And we—
She and I,
               My mother
               Grandmother
               Aunt
               Sister
We grow strong
Into this old, proud tree.
The wind blows
And my leaves may drift away
But my branches never break
My trunk never bends.
I am defiant
I am tall.

I want the world to see
To stand in awe beneath my shade
Never to ask what manner of tree is this,
But to know us by our rightful name.

III. Emancipated

As storms roll across the sky,
Raindrops pelt my branches
Lightning tickles my spine
And I melt away in the rolling drops—
I take flight above my tree-top
And the world disappears beneath me.
Their opinion burns as the lightning strikes
Red fire. Gold flames.
     Orange and yellow dancing
     To the beat of a lioness’ roar

I have become her.
Nature’s answer to pain and pride—
Not quite enough to dispel the color
Not quite enough to completely free my eyes…
But I fly and I glide,
And I dance high, higher in the clouds.
The world doesn't exist anymore
               Just me: nature’s tears
And I’m free.

The Failure of History

Race in America is a touchy subject. Everyone feels like their problems are being overlooked, and we all point fingers as we look for someone to blame. There's anger and pain, but there's also pride. We are born as individuals, we discover race, and then we seem to lose our sense of humanity. It is strange that I can be upset when people do not recognize me as a black person,  but be equally as upset when people make assumptions about me due to my blackness. This is the insanity that the construction of race has brought upon society.

We live a world with many races, and these races all contribute to the history of mankind. In the United States, history is taught from a white perspective, holding in high esteem men like Christopher Columbus [1, 2] and Andrew Jackson [3,4]. Atrocities like the Trail of Tears [5] and the effects of slavery are glossed over in favor of promoting "The American Dream." In American Literature the only books we read not written by whites are from the Harlem Renaissance, as though that was the only time period in which black authors existed--and we never read books by Asian, Native, or Hispanic authors.

The history of a race should not be confined to a single month. History should include all of mankind, it should include both sides of the story, and it should not be glossed over. We must discuss the bad as well as the good, the minority as well as the majority. We will never be a united country as long as we try to hide, ignore, and excuse our history. Just because today is the last day of Black History Month, doesn't mean that you should wait until next year to teach and to learn black history. Just because there isn't a history month for other minorities, doesn't mean that you never teach or learn the history of other minorities. #EducateYourself

References

[1] The Truth About Christopher Columbus
[2] Columbus Controversy
[3] Indian Killer Andrew Jackson Deserves Top Spot List Worst US Presidents
[4] Andrew Jackson, Slavery, and Historians
[5] The Trail of Tears
[6] Andrew Jackson: Lies my Daughter Endures
[7] 5 Racist Historical Icons

Think Before You Speak

Microagressions

According to Psychology Today,"Racial microaggressions are the brief and everyday slights, insults, indignities and denigrating messages sent to people of color by well-intentioned White people who are unaware of the hidden messages being communicated. These messages may be sent verbally ("You speak good English."), nonverbally (clutching one's purse more tightly) or environmentally (symbols like the confederate flag or using American Indian mascots)." Today's society may not be full of people who conciously hate those of a particular race, but it is full of microagressions. Microagressions can be directed at people of any race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation and often are not realized until it is brought to their attention. Psychology Today specifies that microagressions are generated by whites and directed at non-whites, but non-whites can also be guilty of microagressions (most commonly from minority to minority, but also towards your own race). Over time these comments can drastically effect how a person views him/herself and feels about their own identity. Unfortunately, people committing microagressions often brush off the accusation as oversensitivity. Below are 6 examples of microagressions (specifically pertaining to black culture, per my personal experience and a brief explanation of why its offensive. You can see a more diverse sampling of microagressions here).

1. "You don't look black" / "You're pretty for a black girl" / "You're pretty for a dark skinned girl"

All three of these statements are problematic for the same underlying reason: you're saying someone doesn't look like your definition of what black should look like. In the case of the first statement, if you're trying to compliment the person, you're suggesting that there's something positive about not looking black which translates to "looking black is bad." Either way, the underlying statement is that black people must fit a certain image. The second and third statements automatically suggest that blacks are less beautiful, less attractive, and less desirable, which is obviously offensive. These statements imply that it is shocking for a black person to be attractive and also quantify the person's beauty. "For a black/dark-skinned girl" could also imply that outside of that sphere, the person is no longer pretty.

2. "You sound white" / "You act like a white person"

These comment are always given to someone who is acting outside of stereotypical black behavior. Whether its the fact that they speak proper English or that they enjoy opera and classical music, you are pigeonholing both blacks and whites into tiny boxes. Statements such as these continue to perpetuate the sentiment that you can predict a person's personality based on their skin color.

3. "You're not really black though"

By suggesting that someone is "not really black" is not only calling someone an exception to the rule (again, perpetuating that skin color and personality are correlated), but is also condescending. It's often said as though its a compliment, which implies the person speaking doesn't think highly of black people. Imagine, as a girl, someone walked up to you and said "you're not really a girl though." Would you not be offended?

This GIF is of Issa Rae, creator of the
Awkward Black Girl series. I found the GIF here.

4. "How did you get that job?" / "How did you get so many scholarships?"

These questions have roots in the assumption that every black person got where they are due to affirmative action. Are there minority scholarships? Yes. There are also need-based, religious, and academic scholarships. I was asked this infamous question by someone who was barely top 20% in my class, while I was in the top 1%. The suggestion that I couldn't possibly earn those scholarship or be skilled/smart enough to be offered the job is definitely going to make me angry, and when you neglect to ask the white people in the room the same questions, I'm definitely going to know that you are saying blacks can't get the job/scholarship based on their own merit.

5. Touching my hair without asking

This should be self explanatory; I don't know why anyone would think it was ok to just walk up and stick their hand(s) in someone else's hair, particularly if you don't know the person. The general excuse people give for this behavior is curiosity. There are logical solutions to this "curiosity"-- one is short-term and the other is long-term. Short-term, I would suggest you proceed like a civilized person: introduce yourself to the person, offer a compliment on their hair such as "I really like your hair" or "Your hair looks really soft," and then ask for permission. A simple "Would you mind if I felt your hair?" will do wonders to keep you from looking insensitive, as well as, save you from instantaneous wrath. The long term solution is to expose your children to other hair textures--example: buy your daughter a black doll at some point (Asian and Hispanic ones too, while you're at it). Growing up, I was never curious about what my non-black peers' hair felt like. I'm not sure if its because the curiosity excuse is b.s. (pardon the language) or if its because I had white Barbies in addition to my black Barbies and knew what other hair textures felt like. 

6. "I love your straight hair" / "You should straighten your hair"

These are comments white curly girls have to hear as well (#CurlyGirlsUnite), but while it may be annoying to white curly girls, the implication for black curly girls is much different.  Both are being told their natural self is not good enough. The added layer offensive-ness stems from the history of disapproval natural afro-textured hair has received. From being told its unprofessional, unkept, dirty, etc., to the fact that one must have a very large percentage of non-African blood to be born with straight, comments suggesting that afro/curly hair is less than acceptable or less attractive are equivalent to saying blacks are less than acceptable or less attractive because we all have afro/curly hair. NOTE: If someone choses to straighten their hair and you are simple complimenting them, remember to compliment their naturally curly hair as well--this is the difference between a microagression that implies straight hair > curly hair and a thoughtful compliment. 

Black Cinema: the Filmmakers Edition

First Black Filmmaker

Oscar Micheaux may not be the namesake of the Oscar award, but he is a legend in the film world. Upon producing The Homesteader in 1919, Micheaux became the first black in America to produce a feature film. Not only was he the first black to produce a feature film, but he was also the first to produce a film to be shown in white-only movie theaters. He used his status as producer to create films to attack the overt racism of other films during his time (such as The Birth of a Nation). During his lifetime, 44 feature-length films were written, produced, and directed by Micheaux. In addition, he authored a national best selling novel, along with 6 other novels. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 2010 a commemorative stamp was issued in his honor [1, 2].

Other Black Filmmakers

Julie Dash made history in 1991 when she became the first black woman to produce a full-length film--Daughters of the Dust--with a general theatrical release. The movie was filmed in the Gullah dialect and contains some subtitles [3, 4]. Steve McQueen, along with Lee Daniels and John Singleton are currently the only blacks to be nominated for the Best Director Oscar [5]. Unfortunately, no one has snagged that award yet.  Steve McQueen may not have broken that record, but he did make history when his film, 12 Years a Slave, won Best Picture, making it the first black-directed film to win the award [6].

A Little Extra History on Minorities & The Oscars

Latinos and Hispanics have been breaking records at the Oscars recently, and I thought I'd take a minute to give them a spotlight. For starters, the Oscar might actually be modeled after Emilio Fernandéz, a Mexican director [7, 8]. Last year (2014), Alfonso Cuarón became the first Mexican to win an Oscar for Best Director (beating out Steve McQueen--but I'm just happy it went to another minority) for Gravity. This year, Birdman, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, became the first movie directed by a Latino to win Best Picture. [9].

Ang Lee became the first Asian (and the first non-European) to win Best Director in 2005 for Brokeback Mountain. He won the award again in 2012 for Life of Pi [10].

References

[1] Oscar Micheaux Biography
[2] Notable Black Directors
[3] Julie Dash Biography
[4] Daughters of the Dust
[5] Will Steve McQueen Win the Oscar for Best Director?
[6] 12 Years A Slave Makes Oscar History
[7] Oscar's Real Name is Emilio
[8] Latin Pride Swells For Mystery Model Behind Oscar Statuette
[9] Birdman: A Proud Mexican's Spot-On Take On Hollywood Sweeps Oscars
[10] Ang Lee Biography

The Pen is Mightier than the Sword

Reading is fundamental.Whether your interests are scientific or artistic, words are always lurking around the corner. A love for reading can inspire a child to achieve greatness in any field. Many of the children and young adult novels that sucked me into the world of reading were not given to me by my teachers, but my parents. While my teachers assigned books like Pippi Longstocking and The Great Gatsby, my parents found books with faces like mine on the cover to remind me that I could be in the pages as well. When I met my favorite author, she told me that the publishing company refused to put a dark girl on the cover--they said the book wouldn't sell. I didn't understand why it should matter. When my classmates declared they couldn't understand Go Tell It On The Mountain by James Baldwin and my teacher chalked it up to cultural differences, I realized that while I went home and read "black literature" they continued to read the same stuff we read in class. While I didn't always like the books we read in class, I think its important that children are able to read books from every culture, not just for the students in the class that may relate more to that particular story, but to introduce students who are not of that culture to something they otherwise wouldn't experience.

There is a rich history of literature written by black authors that is often overlooked. Like Black Cities & Towns, Black Literature in America also predates the United States. Although it was not published until 1855, the first known poem written by a black American was written in 1746 by Lucy Terry. In 1773, Phillis Wheatley became the first published black author by publishing her Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral.

If you've never read a book with characters outside of your culture (or from your culture), I challenge you to do so. It's impossible to list them all, but below is a list of some of my favorite black authors as well as some of my favorite books by them. Some are written specifically for pre-teens and teens, while others are meant for a more mature audience. Some are rooted in racial themes while others center on everyday themes that anyone could relate to. Each title is a link to the summary of the book.

As I've often said, I'm not an expert scholar in every culture (probably not even my own) and there was no way I could list every book I've read and liked, so feel free to add book suggestions (particularly for other cultures) in the comment section or contact me to be a guest blogger and share your perspective.

Authors

• James Baldwin
• Octavia E. Butler
• Countee Cullen
• Ralph Ellison
• Nikki Giovanni
• Nikki Grimes
• Virginia Hamilton
• Zora Neale Hurston
• Kimani Tru Series for teens (multiple authors)
• Toni Morrison
• Walter Dean Myers
• Gary Paulsen
• Eleanora E. Tate
• Mildred D. Taylor

Books

• A Blessing in Disguise (Eleanora E. Tate)
• A Lesson Before Dying (Ernest J. Gaines)
• Belle (Beverly Jenkins)
• Beloved (Toni Morrison)
• Bronx Masquerade (Nikki Grimes)
• Cane (Jean Toomer)
• Can't Stop the Shine (Joyce E. Davis)
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou)
• Invisible Man (Ralph Ellison)
• Josephine (Beverly Jenkins)
• Just An Overnight Guest (Eleanora E. Tate)
• Let the Circle Be Unbroken (Mildred D. Taylor)
• Monster (Walter Dean Myers)
• Native Son (Richard Wright)
• Nightjohn (Gary Paulsen)
• Pointe (Brandy Colbert)
• Road to Memphis (Mildred D. Taylor)
• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Mildred D. Taylor)
• Roots (Alex Haley)
• Songs of Solomon (Toni Morrison)
• Tears of a Tiger (Sharon M. Draper)
• The Bluest Eye (Toni Morrison)
• The Edification of Sonya Crane (JD Guliford)
• The Feast of All Saints  (Ann Rice) *not written by a black author
• The People Could Fly (Virginia Hamilton)
• The Secret of Gumbo Grove (Eleanora E. Tate)
• Their Eyes Were Watching God (Zora Neale Hurston)

Jumping the Broom

They Were Told No

They were told no
Over and over
They were not allowed--
No, is a worthless answer
Given by a worthless cause
To someone perceived as worthless--

Laws were unjust
Legality held no merit
The system is broken--
And they were told no
Over and over
Regardless of the question...

But an earthly no
Is surpassed by a heavenly yes
And they refused to be broken--
No cannot stop love,
No cannot stop truth,
No did not stop the bonding of souls.

References

[1] African Weddings
[2] Bridal Brooms: History
[3] 24 Couples Who Honored Their Heritage and Jumped the Broom
[4] Wedding Traditions From Around the Globe

Image from Jumping the Broom Eliza, a company that makes custom brooms for wedding ceremonies.

The History of Jumping the Broom

The origin of jumping the broom is debated by some, but many will say was born of a wedding tradition in Ghana in which bridal brooms are waved over the couple's head after the ceremony. In the US, the tradition of jumping the broom began during slavery. During that time, slaves were not permitted to legally marry, thus jumping the broom was their way of announcing that they were married and starting a new life together.

Present day, many blacks (and even other cultures) continue this tradition by jumping the broom at the close of their wedding ceremony (or the beginning of the reception). Brooms may be ornately decorated or plain and simple. For many, continuing the tradition is a reminder of the hardships our ancestors endured and symbolic of overcoming those hardships. Others choose not to include the tradition in their ceremony. The 2011 movie "Jumping the Broom," named after the tradition, features the showdown between a bride who does not want to jump the broom and a mother-in-law who insists the couple should.

Scholarship Above All

One of the most important things, in my opinion, is to showcase the positive within the black community. Often, new relating to present day blacks is littered with tragedy or controversy--drama and tension sell. From shows like Real Housewives to Kanye, well being Kanye. The news well replay stories where blacks commit crimes but they will overlook, or barely mention, the group of blacks working in a soup kitchen to feed the local homeless. The act of reporting only the bad is part of what sways people to believing stereotypes. Media outlets like Upworthy are great for getting positive news (about anyone, it's not race specific), and if I had the funds and man power (contact me if you want to get this rolling) I'd start an Upworthy for blacks. 

Image from Yale's baseball roster

In that line of thought, I thought I'd dedicate today's Black History Month post to Akintunde Ahmad. Ahmad was a senior at Oakland Technical High School last year. He had a perfect 5.0 GPA and he scored 2100 of the SAT. Ahmad plays the French horn, the African drums, and also excels on the baseball team. Its not surprising that the Ivy League was waiting with open doors for this young man. He's been honored by the Oakland Raiders, made an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and accepted to more schools than the newscasters were allowed to let him list. Ahmad decided to pursue his studies at Yale and is a freshman there now.

Achieving academic success is usually a nail in the social coffin for high school students regardless of color, but for black students it can be even more alienating. Academically gifted blacks are often on the receiving end of labels and comments such as "oreo," "acting white," "talking white," and "forgetting where you come from." Seeing Ahmad receive the recognition he deserves will not only inspire people to follow his footsteps, but also remind other black teens who are also excelling academically (and they are out there, perhaps they don't have a perfect 5.0 or they come from "more positive" neighborhoods, but he's not alone) that what they are doing is worth while. So, congratulations, especially to Akintunde Ahmad, but in general to all the young scholars making their way to college. Whether you're going to technical school, community college, or the Ivy League, I'm proud of you. Keep up the good work.

References

[1] National Black Buzz
[2] NBC Bay Area
[3] CBS San Francisco

Children are the Future

A Few Facts and References About the Video

The experiment preformed is based on the Doll Test which was conducted in the 1940s. The Doll Test was used to study the effects of segregation on black children. During the Doll Test, children were presented with two dolls identical in features, except one doll was white and the other black. When asked to choose a doll, most of the children chose the white doll despite acknowledging there own resemblance to the black doll. Overall, the black children saw the white doll more positively than the black doll, bringing to light feelings of self-hatred and perceived inferiority caused by society's structure. The Doll Test was used in Brown v. Board of Education and thus helped to end segregation in our schools. More information on the Doll Test as well as Brown v. Board of Education can be found here. Also, read the post "Difference: Spotlight on the Current State of Race in Public Schools" for more on how race plays a role in the United States' schools currently.

A Personal Experience

If you've read some of my other posts on racism in America, you know that race was first brought to my attention at the tender age of four by a white classmate. As a child growing up in South Carolina, I witnessed many occasions where older whites--the grandmothers and grandfathers of my generation--were teaching young children racism. At one point, while stopped at a red light, the man in the car beside us pointed to my family and told his granddaughter "those are n*****s." I spent most of my teenage years believing that racists were merely products of racist parents who had brainwashed their children in to similar beliefs. It wasn't until I grew older, met more people, and visited more places, that I began to notice a distinct correlation between the diversity of the people in a child's life and their views on diversity.

Like many black families, the skin color of my family members varies from very dark to passing for white. My family already had at least one interracial marriage by the time I was born: my uncle's wife at the time, and the mother of three of my first cousins, is Puerto-Rican. The first interracial wedding in my family that I actually witnessed occurred when I was four--I was even the flower girl. The aunt I gained from this marriage is Vietnamese, though she was raised by a white American family. I have two first cousins from this family. By the time I was in middle school, my older cousins had gotten married and had children. Many of them also married people of a different race and had multi-racial children. As you can imagine, family reunions for my family are quite diverse. Perhaps that's why at four years old I didn't see anything unusual about having different skin colors.

In graduate school, as I began to meet blacks who had attended HBCUs and predominately black high-schools. Many of them were as apprehensive about whites as the whites I'd met who attended predominately white schools their whole life. The video above speaks volumes to what I have personally experienced. While I have clearly witnessed the teaching of racism to small children, I do believe that growing up in a diverse (and by diverse I don't just mean black and white, I'm talking about everybody here) environment from a early age is a key ingredient to raising a compassionate and accepting human being.

Visions of Love

Incoherent babbles of shy teens--
Roses, red and delicate
Hushed whispers of promised things
A soft kiss, sweet and affectionate
Under sparkling stars we sit
Torn apart by distance and fears
A short walk, smiles and cunning wit
Long nights full of empty tears...
The embarrassment of snorts in giggles
Ocean water washing over our moving feet
Awkward motions of dancing wiggles
By the phone waiting on your voice to speak--
Ice cream mends a broken heart,
Hand enclosed in hand
From a little spark, this fire might start
Soft eyes and thrown away plans.
Cozy moments in theaters dark
Comfort, lounging on couches lazily
Rain falls as we walk in the park
Arms embracing, more words shared
Goofy photographs in a photo booth
A shoulder to lean on because we cared
Two adults reliving the beauty of youth.
Good morning and good night,
Silver and diamonds--rings for two
Thinking about you at first light...
White, flowers, vows--I do.

The Black Man Who Took on the KKK

Common Ground

We dwell on our differences--
Emphasize the our disagreements
To downplay our similarities;
Common ground is quicksand,
Muddied with bitter truths
The fear of sameness
     you struggle to escape
          and the harder you fight
               the deeper you fall...

At the bottom of the pit,
Beneath the sinking sand
Where common ground gives way
Grass grows green and healthy
     solid ground breeding solidarity
          and the fighting ends
               there is no more falling.

Daryl Davis: The Craziest Man Alive

Daryl Davis is a musician, specifically a pianist, who plays in the style of Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis. Music isn't what he's famous for, though. In 1983, while playing a gig, Davis was approached by a KKK member who was shocked at Davis' playing skills. The two struck up an unlikely friendship, bonding over music which led to Davis making friendship with other klansmen. These friendship challenged the misconception the klansmen had about blacks and caused them to rethink their views, eventually prompting them to leave the KKK. Davis is credited with dismantling the Maryland KKK [1]. Davis wrote a book entitled Klan-destine Relationships: A Black Man's Odyssey in the Ku Klux Klan about his experiences. I haven't read the book yet, but it's definitely on my list of book to be read.

References

[1] Black Musician Befriends the KKK
[2] KKK Member Walks Up to a Black Musician in a Bar, But It's Not a Joke...
[3] Darryl Davis

The Black Identity

Yesterday, I began a discussion on the differentiation of the labels "Black" and "African-American," in the post called "Why Don't You Call Yourself African-American?"  The instant I clicked publish, I wondered if people would be angry (like people were with Raven-Symoné), if people would agree, or if people would even read the post--though I surmise that last one is a thought every blogger has at some point.

I was overjoyed when so many of my friends responded to the post and an actual discussion took place. The most beautiful thing, is that we all have unique ideas and experiences that makes us feel differently about any and every topic I could come up with. These differences are what make us individuals.

The conversation among my friends on yesterday's post easily morphed into a discussion on identity, when a friend posited that "Black" was not a label but an identity. As I read the comment I couldn't help but smile, it was well stated, proud, and uplifting. It was the kind of thing I imagine hearing as a rallying cry. However, it drew me back to the same point I always find myself coming back to. What does that mean? Another friend added the words "Black Culture" to the conversation. Again, what does that mean? So I wanted to continue the conversation and I wanted to discuss two main concepts--identity and "Black Culture"--individually and then together.

Identity

The definition of identity, as given by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, is as follows: "who someone is; the name of a person; the qualities, beliefs, etc., that make a particular person or group different from others" [1].  Essentially, your identity is who you are as a person. Your identity is, as my friend pointed out, something you define and as the definition says, tells the world something about you.

Black Culture

What is "Black Culture?" What does it mean to be "Black?" There is nothing that can be defined that all black people share other than our African roots. Our ancestors, however, weren't necessarily from the same tribes or countries. I shared a classroom with another black girl on and off throughout high school, and while I will run out of fingers recounting the racist and/or microaggressive comments and experiences I dealt with in high school, she asserts that she's never witnessed or been a victim of racism. I grew up on a farm, was introduced to Bach and Beethoven around the age of four, but I didn't know who 2Pac was until after he was dead. As I walk around campus, I see many black faces, but they are not speaking English; I don't understand the language they speak, I can't even identify the language they speak. I would say what we share is the fear that our fathers, uncles, brothers, and sons won't come home because they've been shot, but we don't even all agree on that. I would say that we share a phenotype, but as a friend pointed out, there are people who identify as "Black" that don't look black by society's definition of black. To try to define what it means to be "Black" or what "Black Culture" is, is to generalize. These generalizations bring forth the hated (by me at least) phrases "acting black" and "acting white."

The Black Identity

If I say to you, "I am a black person," what does that mean? What does that tell you about me? Does it tell you the shade of my skin? The color of my eyes? The texture of my hair? Does it tell you my favorite genre of music? Something about my spirituality or beliefs? Does it tell you what types of books I like to read or what I want to do with my life? If you don't know me (which some of you don't) and you try to answer any of the above questions based on the statement "I am a black person" you are stereotyping me. This is exactly what happens to young men like Trayvon Martin--instead of seeing Trayvon Martin, a youth walking in the neighborhood, George Zimmerman saw a black man in a hoodie. He applied his own definition to the identity of black and that definition was thug, hoodlum, troublemaker.

I can decide what I think it means to be "Black" and I can choose to identify as "Black" (which I do). I can actually choose to identify as "White" if I want; no one will stop me. But when I walk outside, other people will identify me as black (or not black surprisingly) based on their definition of what they think black means. I have no control over this.

I asked the question: Do you identify as "Black" or African-American? Most people said "Black," though a few said both. There's only one box. Just as these two options share a box, they share the same definition in my white peers' minds. This is why I consider both a label; neither can assure accuracy in anything you assume about me.  This is why I entitled the poem from yesterday's post "A Slave to Being Black." I have no choice in how the world identifies me. This is why I said when the labels are not the forefront of the picture, when I become a person who happens to be of brown complexion with slave and African ancestry, instead of a "Black" person, we will see an end to racism.

Why Don't You Call Yourself African-American?

Of course I'd pick a picture of her sporting
her natural curls! Image from Essence

A Slave to Being Black

To label a Negro, devoid of rights
Call him Colored and bar him from entry
Remind the African-American
     of roots he'll never reclaim
Or misclassify him as Black
     when Black doesn't even exist...
Will you continue to diminish him
Chain him to petty expectation...

If a rose--by any other name--is still sweet,
Is a nigger, by another name, still a slave?

Am I an African-American?

Raven-Symoné received a lot of backlash after making the comment that she wasn't African-American last year (see the video clip here). Later she clarified her statement by pointing out that she never said she wasn't black and made it clear that her rejection of the term African-American was based on the fact that she grew up in Louisiana, not Africa (read the article here). I agreed with this sentiment long before I heard Raven-Symoné's interview--all the way back in 12th grade, when I lost points for referring to myself as black instead of African-American in a paper.

Race labeling in America is a weird and strange phenomenon. There's the obvious problem for people who are multiracial; a girl I went to high school with used to use eeny-meeny-miney-moe to check boxes on forms. Many people who are multiracial feel pressured to check "Black/African-American" for fear of being accused of passing or considered a sell-out. But that brings us to the question of why there is a label at all.

A History of Labels Refering to Black Folk

When Africans, from various tribes and countries from the continent of Africa (it's very important that people realize Africa is a continent, not a country) arrived in this country, they were labeled as slaves. By the late 1700s, the term nigger (referred to as the n-word from here on out) became common slang. It is thought that this word is from the latin niger, which means black (Niger is also a country in Africa, for those who don't know, but it wasn't called Niger until the 1950's). Another assumption is that the n-word developed out of the southern mispronunciation of Negro. Regardless of origin, it has always been used as a derogatory term (no, I do not agree with black people presently referring to themselves and their fellow blacks as the n-word or other variations, yes that may be a post later in the month) [1, 2]. The first politically correct term given for people of African descent in America was Negro. This term was used until the 1970s and Lyndon B. Johnson was the last president to publicly refer to blacks as Negroes [3]. During the Jim Crow South, the term "colored" was used to promote segregation. The level of offensive-ness of this term is dependent upon the person being spoken to. Many find the term colored to be both out-dated and offensive, due to its ties to the pre-civil rights era treatment of blacks in the US, while others simply find it out-dated. CNN made video on why the term colored is offensive which can be viewed here. Afro-American became popular in the 1970's, eventually phasing into today's politically correct term African-American.

Problems with the Labels

In terms of choosing a label, or identifying the most with a particular label, I choose black; everything I know about Africa I read in a book. I have no knowledge of who, when, or where my roots to Africa come from. This information is lost for most blacks with slave ancestors. Besides if I was born and raised in America, why should I have to check these sub-categories that imply I'm only partially American (this also goes for Asian-American, Indian-American, etc)? Whites don't have to say European-American, they're just American... Furthermore, the creation of these labels served to separate people. The purpose of a label is to categorize, and both "Black" and "African-American" are labels. Perhaps one day, I can be darker and you can be lighter, but instead of categorizing us this and that we can just be two people. The day that people stop categorizing people will be the day racism ends. 

Read the Follow-up Post: The Black Identity

References

[1] Dictionary.com: The Origin of The N-Word
[2] A Brief History of The N-Word
[3] History of the Word Negro
[4] Raven-Symoné Interview
[5] Raven-Symoné Clarification
[6] CNN Video: Why "Colored" is an Offensive Term

Black Owned Cities & Towns

Home Sweet Home

You don't know me,
I haven't been given a name
     But I'm still here...
Lingering in the shadows
Forgotten memories,
Forgotten years.

I don't grace the pages
Someone hid away my legacy
Left me to fade away
Erase this truth that enrages,
Wash away the blood of the ages

And pretend I was never here.

But I was a beacon of light
Calling out in the darkest of night
And it was I that gave hope
Welcomed hope-starved masses
     into the bosom of love--
I am home...

I am carried in the mind,
Celebrated in the soul,
Loved deep within the heart--
You don't know me,
But from me you cannot depart.

Fort Mose

Founded even before the United States of America, Fort Mose was the first town ran and established by free blacks. Originally named Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose, Fort Mose was founded in 1738 by fugitive slaves. Led by Francisco Menendez, the men of the town formed a militia which stood as the first line of defense between Spanish Florida and English Carolina. During this time period any slave that escaped to Florida and confessed to be Roman Catholic was declared free. The growth of newly freed blacks in the area paved way for the creation of the town. Promises of freedom inspired slaves in Georgia and the Carolinas to flee eventually resulting in the revolt known as the Stono Rebellion, the bloodiest uprising of the 18th century by black slaves. In response, the English attacked and destroyed Fort Mose, then captured and enslaved Menendez. Luckily, Menendez was able to escape slavery and return to Fort Mose which was rebuilt in 1752. The city prospered until 1763 when the Spanish lost "ownership" of Florida. The residents of Fort Mose left Florida as well and re-established a town in Cuba [1]. The site of Fort Mose, just north of St. Augustine, is now preserved by the Fort Mose Historical Society.

The Black Wall Street

Greenwood, a black neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was one of the wealthiest black neighborhoods in the United States and earned the nickname "The Black Wall Street." Greenwood was home to many prosperous black owned stores and businesses until 1921. A mob ransacked the area in May of 1921 and in the days that followed, a destructive race riot erupted. By the end of the riot, 35 blocks of the town were destroyed, many lives were lost, and though no one from the mob was arrested, at least 4,000 blacks were taken into custody. There was so much death and devastation that the thriving city collapsed [2, 3]. 

Other Notable Black Cities & Towns

Speaking of Wall Street, from the 1830s to the 1860s, the area now known as Wall Street was home to Manhattan's first free black residence. Back then, it was known as Five Points and home to both free blacks and Irish immigrants. Due to prostitution, bars, gambling, and the radical practice of racial mixing, it unfortunately became known as a slum. Most of the population fled in 1863 during the draft riot [4].

Rosewood--not the fictional town in popular television series Pretty Little Liars, but Rosewood, Florida--was another black town, founded in 1870, and lost to a race riot. The trigger for the riot in Rosewood was the accusation of a black man raping a white woman. Enraged at the idea of a black man assaulting a white woman, the KKK stormed the town and massacred its citizens for three days. They continued to hunt and burn the remains of the citizens (dead or alive) in attempt to cover up the true number of murders. When taken to trial the jurors reported that they found no evidence for indictments [5]. A movie about the tragedy was made in 1997, you can view the movie trailer here. 

A list of other black cities and towns can be found here.

References

[1] What Was America's First Black Town

[2] The Destruction of Black Wall Street

[3] Tulsa Riots

[4] New York's Mixed-Race Riot

[5] The History of Rosewood, FL

[6] Rosewood: The Last Survivor Remembers the Tragedy

HBCUs: A Rose Born of Adversity

A Rose Born of Adversity

Cultivated like a planted seed
This budding rose stems from roots
Solid, well fed and carefully kept
Roots that had little choice
Roots that were left to starve--

But those roots refused to wither...

Grow down, deeper and deeper
Down they expand and explore
As the bud ripens the petals open wide
A beautiful flower for all to see--
The product of roots digging deep
The product of sorrows and pride.

Legacy and Definition of an HBCU

HBCU stands for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The first three HBCUs were founded before the Civil War: Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (1837), Lincoln University (1854) and Wilberforce University (1856). With the exception of these 3 universities, HBCUs were founded between the years of 1865 and 1964. Concentrated in the former slave states, these institutions were founded with the purpose of providing education to black students. During these years was nearly all other colleges and universities in former slave states denied admission to black students.

HBCUs have given us many notable black history figures, from civil rights activists to entertainers, from pulitzer prize winners to musicians. Howard University, one of the most well known HBCUs, is the alma mater of writers Toni Morrison and Paul Laurence Dunbar, actors Phylicia Rashad, Taraji P. Henson, and Anthony Anderson, and civil rights activists Ossie Davis and Benjamin Hooks [1]. Oprah Winfrey is an alumni of HBCU Tennessee State University [2] and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is an alumnus of Morehouse College [3].

Featured in Denzel Washington's movie The Great Debaters, Wiley College garnered national attention in 1935 when its debate team defeated national champion University of Southern California [4].

Spelman College was ranked #1 on US News &World Report's list of top HBCUs.

Many non-blacks that I have encountered believe that HBCUs are still segregated schools and that non-blacks cannot attend them. Contrarily, there are several HBCUs that actually have a non-black majority, though many HBCUs have roughly the same percentage of white students as PWIs (Predominately White Institutions) have black students. West Virginia State University, an HBCU, is 60.8% white [5]. North Carolina A&T University, another HBCU, is 7% white, while the University of North Carolina, a PWI, is 8% black[6].

There is a proud legacy in these colleges and universities that often goes unnoticed, trivialized, or otherwise diminished in the eyes of those who do not understand the history of such institutions. While it would be nice to see more diversity across all schools (both HBCUs and PWIs) now that we are in 2015, no one should deny the profound legacy these schools have had and continue to have upon the U.S. Check below for sources and references. Reference #7 contains a list of HBCUs as well as links to more information about each college or university.

Resources

[1] Famous Alumni of Howard University
[2] 18 Famous HBCU Alumni
[3] Dr. King at Morehouse
[4] Article on Wiley College Debate Team
[5] West Virginia State University Demographics
[6] UNC Chapel Hill Demographics
[7] US New & World Report HBCU Rankings

Black History Month

Last year was the first time I really celebrated Black History Month on the blog. In my post "Welcome, February" I discussed a few reasons why I thought Black History Month was important and a few of my goals for February 2014. Below is a list of the posts from last year (and each title is a link to its respective post).

As you can see below, most of the topics I covered last year were rooted around specific people. This year, however, I want to talk more about concepts, ideas, and culture. One thing I've noticed during my years attending predominately white schools and having circles of friends that are more diverse, is that the major factor in racism and prejudice is ignorance. There is a lot about black culture that many non-blacks just don't know. Often this lack of awareness rears its head in the form of ignorant assumptions and awkward questions. So this month, I wanted to touch on topics that while they may be extremely familiar to blacks, may not be familiar to non-blacks.

I titled the series Legends of Africa, because while researching mythology I found a lot of interesting mythology from the continent of Africa that is largely swept under the rug. In our culture--American culture that is--it isn't shocking when people don't know information pertaining to non-white cultures. It should be. But it's not, because everything else is swept under the rug. So I'm lifting the rug (at least in part).

I hope you'll check back for more throughout the month. Feel free to comment and join in the celebration.

Art & Sports

• Limitations Won't Stop Me: Spotlight on Derrick Coleman (First deaf offensive lineman in the NFL)
• Dreams of a Sugar Plum Fairy: Spotlight on Misty Copeland (Ballet)
• Express Yourself: Spotlight on Thomas Blackshear (Artist)
• Ebb and Flow of the Tide: Spotlight on Nick Gabaldon (Surfer)
• Imagination Frees: Spotlight on Morrie Turner (Cartoonist)
• Prime Time is My Time: Spotlight on Hattie McDaniel (Actress)
• Sci-Fi Legend: Spotlight on Octavia E. Butler (Science fiction author)

Education & Science

• Knowledge: Spotlight on Dr. Ruth Simmons (First black president of an Ivy League institution)
• What About Everyone Else?: Spotlight on Dr. George Franklin Grant (Educator, dentist, golf tee inventor)
• Difference: Spotlight on the Current State of Race in Public Schools
• Lost History: Spotlight on Pedro Alonso (Navigator)

Image

• Sacred Part of Me: Spotlight on Natural Hair
• La Belle et La Betê: Spotlight on Saartije Baartman (Objectified woman)

Politics & Law

• Overlooked and Overpowering: Spotlight on Blanche Kelso Bruce (First (and only) U.S. Senator to be born a slave)
• Loving You With All My Heart: Spotlight on the Lovings (Interracial marriage)
• Justice for All: Spotlight on Charles Hamilton Houston (Civil rights lawyer)

Music

• Do What You Do: Spotlight on Charley Pride (Country music legend)
• A Voice As Smooth As Silk: Spotlight on Jazz
• Suppressed Voices: Spotlight on Hip Hop

Cultural Awareness

• Victim of a Hive Mind: Spotlight on Jordan Davis (Gun violence victim)
• Decoding My Own Thought: Spotlight on the 1870 Brick Wall
• Keeping It 100: Spotlight on the One Drop Rule
• Goodbye February: Spotlight on Us

Business & Entrenupneurship

• Cyborg Nation: Spotlight on John Thompson (Chairman of Microsoft)
• Confessions of a Shoe Fiend: Spotling on Jan Matzeliger (Inventor)
• When I'm Gone: Spotlight on NC Mutual Life Insurance Company (Black owned company)
• Impossible Dreams: Spotlight on Paul R. Williams  (Architect)

Storytellers & Black Folk Tales

The Storyteller

My grandmother's word echo--
Each syllable fills this empty room.
She creates each character
With just the tenor of her voice,
She has no need for elaborate costumes
For she brings each soul to life
By the will and command of spoken word...

And we sit anxiously,
    Tipped on the edge of stairs
We wait anxiously,
    hearts captured by the tale.

My grandmother's words attract,
Again and again, we always come back
Unable to resist the tale she weaves
We watched with eyes wide and wondered
Excited for this unexpected escape--
Through our ears we see more clearly
And she shows ourselves,
   at the heart of her story.

Storytelling in Black Culture

Earlier this year, I talked about my love for fairy-tales. Most of these tales were written in book form in the 1500s. In Black culture (African and Native-American culture as well), stories were not traditionally written down. Instead, we participate in the tradition of oral story telling. In my experience, the story teller is usually an older person, like a grandmother or grandfather, who exuberantly narrates and voices the characters of the tale. The full effect of the story is really only achieved through oral delivery, in my opinion, but in recent history (the late 19th and early 20th centuries) these tales have been copied to paper.

Br'er Rabbit and the Tar Baby as depicted in Virginia Hamilton's The People Could Fly.

There are countless stories and characters but each story generally contains a moral or lesson, much like most tales and legends. The underlying theme of many Black folktales is that of hope and overcoming. Many stories, such as "The People Could Fly" speak figuratively of overcoming the bonds of slavery. As a coastal South Carolina native, I grew up with the Br'er Rabbit stories told from the Gullah tradition. Br'er Rabbit is a trickster character similar to Anansi the Spider (who is of West African origin). 

In the past, storytelling served as a way to retain our history during a time when it was illegal for Blacks to read or write, as well as a form of entertainment to lift the spirit. Today, storytelling is an honored tradition that still continues in some Black families. Below is a YouTube video of storyteller Jan Brown preforming, links containing more information on Black Folk Tales, as well as a list of some of my favorite tales.

Jan Brown, Storyteller

References / Folktale Anthologies

• Black Storytelling Festival in Virginia
• More on Br'er Rabbit
• The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton

Favorite Black Folktales

• Wiley His Mama and the Hairy Man
• Br'er Rabbit and the Tar Bay
• John and the Devil's Daughter

The New Challenge

If you've read my post entitled, The Successful Blog, you may have guessed that one of the things I struggle with is the wide range of topics I dabble in. Most blogs are on a specific topic: fashion, religion, hair, healthy living, etc. My blog is mostly poetry, and thus covers a wide range of topics. It is difficult to market my blog as one specific thing because it is an extension of me and I am not one specific thing.

Earlier today, as I was browsing blogs, I came across a blog called Review and Analysis. The author of this blog, has outlined a different theme in which each of her posts that month will relate. I thought this was a great idea for a new challenge. I usually just write about whatever is on my mind at the time, giving myself a set topic each month will be like a writing exercise. Also, this will give readers a chance to be on the look out for topics that interest them specifically and help me to be less scatterbrained.

Themes for Each Month

	February: Legends of Africa   A continuation of the Black History Month Challenge from 2014. This year expect to see more on legends, myths, and folk tales from Black culture.
	March: March of Dimes Children are the future, and March will be a celebration of the children. Also, since March of Dimes has always been near and dear to my heart, expect to find information on prematurity awareness, from how to help those that are born premature to how to avoid premature babies, as well.
	April: He is Risen God is an important aspect of my life and April will be dedicated to Him, faith, spirituality, and religion. If you've read any of my previous posts on religion, you know this month might get touchy for some, but I'll be exploring all types of religions, countering a few popular beliefs, and otherwise throwing out food for thought.
	May: An Apple a Day I've never been a fan of the health food craze, calorie counting, or exercising, but I also manage to lead a fairly healthy life style. I'll share some recipes, tips on staying in-tune with your body's needs, and life hacks for "lazy" exercising.
	June: I Love My Kinks and Curls Dedicated to all my naturally kinky and curly haired readers! From regimens, styles, and products to emotions and reactions, I love talking about hair. If you're thinking about going natural, feeling shy about your curls, proud of your curls, or just curious, this will be a month for you.
	July: Dreams Do Come True I have the strangest dreams. Some of them become real dreams (things I want to happen), others become stories, and some just make for a good story. July will be all about how dreams effect us, following our dreams, what our dreams mean, and maybe I'll share some of my most memorable dreams.
	August: How to be Happy Sometimes we just need some positivity in our lives. August will be all about happiness, things that bring happiness, and how to increase your happiness.
	September: A Rainbow of Color I relate almost everything to color. In school my binders were always color coordinated--red for math, blue for english. We see color everyday and each color means something different to each person. I'll take the month of September to appreciate and explore the beauty of each color.
	October: Book Worm What kind of writer would I be if I didn't read? In October I'll be sharing some of my favorite books. I'll probably share some of my favorite blogs as well.
	November: Give Thanks Thanksgiving is often overlooked as a holiday, but I think it's important to remember the blessing you have. It's easy to lose sight of the good amongst the bad, but this November I'm going to keep it positive with a month of thanksgiving.
	December: It's Not Real...Yet Over-active imagination is an accurate description of me. Fantasy and Sci-Fi are my favorite genres for movies, books, art, and of course writing. We'll see how crazy my imagination gets when December comes.
	January: One World Why not end the challenge with posts on unity? January will focus on the beauty of diversity and appreciating your fellow man. I'll take a look at differences and similarities across the globe, and just down the street.