SHAKE SOMETHING: BLOG 5: On Race

I am a Black woman.

There are probably a million other things that contribute to who I am, and who I will be. However, on the surface, to the utmost and deep in my soul, I am a Black woman.

I’ve read quite a few articles since President Obama was elected in November 2008 that claim we live in a “post-racial” America. To that I say, post-racial to who?!

There are some things that certain groups of people in the United States will never understand. I have always secretly hoped that every single person that I come in contact with from day-to-day sees me as I see myself. I mean, I see me as beautiful, funny and intelligent [[Just to name a few. Lol.]]. In short, I see myself as a good, well rounded human being. Of course, upon meeting me one wouldn’t be able to ascertain all of that. But I guess I just hoped that people would be open-minded enough to give that a chance. My experiences in the United States over the last twenty-three years have led me to believe that my “good person-ness” is secondary to my race.

I am, above all else, a Black person. I’m supposed to know things about Hip-Hop music and culture. I’m supposed to answer questions about the texture and maintenance of my hair. I’m supposed to be sensitive to the fact that Becky from Oklahoma has only encountered African Americans through her television screen and, until the Obama family entered the public eye, had a very narrow view of who I might be. [[I mean, reeeeeally… Name one Black person you know who can HONESTLY say they’ve never ever been in the same room with a white person! Now try that same statistic the other way around!]]

I am educated, driven and empowered and that is more often the rule among Black Americans than it is the exception. One wouldn’t know that by looking at certain entertainment networks or the evening news. You’re more likely to see a scantily clad Black woman [[backin’ it up and dumpin it… back back back backin it up & dumpin it LOL]] in a music video next to some overly accessorized rapper than you are to see a well dressed Black woman doing investigative reporting on your evening news. It’s not that Black investigative reporters don’t exist. It’s that they don’t fit the national norm.

It is the challenge, but also the exquisiteness of being Black in America… It’s what makes us angry at times and also what has made us so unbelievably strong as a people. History was made when President Barack Obama was sworn into office on January 20^th of this year, but it was not erased. Four hundred years of slavery and oppression are not wounds that will close over night. It’s going to take more than five decades to heal that hurt. And, our white counterparts should be sensitive to that fact.

Post-racial America does not now, nor will it ever exist in my lifetime. And although I feel very passionate about this fact being true, I’m also genuinely encouraged that my children, or my children’s children will prove me wrong.