THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE US FREE!

In the church, we have this saying; “I don’t want the rocks crying out for me!”  It is rooted in Biblical Text.  Keeping that same spirit, I am vocal about my heritage for fear of allowing someone to tell my story.

There isn’t or has not been a day in my life that I didn’t think about my skin color.  The majority of that time is celebrating it, because if I do not, who will?  I find appalling that for a significant number of white people found the only way to be non-bias or racist is to use the phrase; “I don’t see color.”  That statement itself is both ignorant and untrue.  We all see color! It goes beyond color, we see culture and cultural differences.  Sometimes we see the stereotypes we have all heard!  Yes, in the black community an enormous amount of chicken is consumed! Chicken was one of the first meats that we could afford to buy.  To say you do not notice my melanin that is beautiful or to ignore my natural God-given curls and color by the way, isn’t a sign of respect it is quite disrespectful.  Instead of not seeing me to accept me, try getting to know me as a person!  When Dr. King said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”; he meant exactly that!  That you would see their skin color AND still get to know them as people!  Anything less is uncivilized.

There was a period, I know we had a period in Amerikkka; where we, as Black Americans, didn’t really know how to address, speak or discuss race.  There was a misleading time where we felt things had changed and we were blending as a country and society.  White Amerikkka was over the slavery talk, reparations and Black Americans wanted to move past it as well. A people known to work for free; it wasn’t our dream to keep dwelling on the past either! We were willing to work for what we wanted.  With opportunities available, many Black Americans attended college; majority at HBCU’s and then other colleges and universities. They obtained degrees and other opportunities open to them as well.  Despite this progress, racism never stopped, it just hid better and to survive, we learned to look away.

If you talked about racism especially systematic racism, Amerikkka grew angry and quickly threw back in your face, affirmative action, welfare, food stamps and any other programs believed specifically enabled for Black Americans to ‘get ahead.’   There are always success stories!  Even in the time of slavery, you will always find a success story; Harriet Tubman, Federick Douglass, Booker T Washington, just to name a few!  We are a remarkable people! The point is we are Black AMERICANS entitled to the AMERICAN DREAM which isn’t a few success stories, but LIFE, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Emphasis on LIFE.

When we stopped talking about race, racism and the systemic racism engrained in ameriKKKa, we left a generation of children, youth without an understanding and an appreciation for who we are, the depths that we have fought to arrive and as a result presented them with a false picture of whom they are to amerikkka.

They are the young organizers and marchers (of whom I’m proud) screaming Black Lives Matter.  Most of them in shock because after watching our ‘slavery’ movies as they would refer to them; had no idea they would fighting for Civil Rights!  “We have an amendment, things have changed, we won’t take it!”  Yes, all of that and yet we are still watching and hearing about lynchings, legal lynchings by the police and the justice system.

Remember when celebrities were speaking out against movies like; Roots, The Help, 12 Years A Slave?  Remember?  Literally, less than three years ago, I remember a few vividly speaking out against those movies because in their mind it spoke against the strength of Black Americans.  AmeriKKKa did what she has always done and reminded those young people that while it appears things have changed, they have not!

I watched the original documentary about the Central Park Five, you know when we weren’t talking about race.  I knew and understood of their tragedy then.  When Ava DuVernay bought their story to life on Netflix, it reminded us again that slavery never died, it just continually changes form. So just when you think, you do not need to discuss race in amerikkka, she teaches you the value in understanding how your enemy thinks!

You cannot defeat an enemy you don’t understand! You must view the past, understand it, embrace it, BEFORE, you attempt to build a future!  I had ‘the talk’ about police and engaging them!  I told you, I came out fighting.  I had the privilege of riding with my grandfather, a juvenile probation office for over 30 years in Arkansas!  I knew he saved many men and women from a corrupt justice system.  Years after his death, that name saved me! 

I should never feel shame in discussing my experiences as a Black Woman in amerikka.  I have co-workers with whom occasionally the relationship spills into my personal life.  I shouldn’t have to hide, ignore or downplay my pain for them to accept me as a friend, an equal!  The discussion about race & racism isn’t comfortable however, it must occur for change to occur.

We’re not done……………………………………………………………..PART 3 is on the way

~Black in amerikkka