TROUBL

I would like to add a little fuel to the fire concerning the question of “blackness” which we have been discussing in detail. More specifically I would like to address the question of authenticity which affects the black community on both individual and communal scales. However, I would like to examine this phenomenon through a different lens- the deconstruction of racial identity. (Note: I use the term “black” as the most contemporary version of our communal identity only because I personally use it as an identifier in my everyday life.)

Let’s get it out the way immediately: The “black” community exists throughout all social levels of American society. Whether the mainstream media would like to approach the subject or not, a black middle class exists in our country beyond television and movies. We do not just encompass impoverished areas and entertainment culture. Unfortunately, while plenty of literature has attempted to shed light on this fact, they are considered largely invisible, without a strong voice or leadership. While there are many powerful role models, from Tavis Smiley to Cornell West, others such as Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton have been pigeonholed and misrepresented through clips and sound bites. While these men may be effective leaders for the causes which they choose to represent, it is unfair and unrealistic for any individual to speak for the way of life of an entire race.

One of the primary problems to dissect here comes in the forms of identity and assimilation. We have a bad habit in this country of differentiating between groups of people based upon fabricated racial and social categories. Race is a social and political construct. We are all familiar with the transitions over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries to label the class of people now known as black. Nigger, Negro, Afro-American, African-American and now “Black” are all titles which have been attached to the black community throughout our history, largely by an aristocratic ruling class of white individuals. However, besides being offensive on varying levels, none of these titles adequately addresses the complexity or individuality of our culture. Somehow we have all been placed under these umbrella terms regardless of which part of the world your heritage originates, whether that be Nigerian (not just African), Jamaican (not just West Indian), or American. Of course the last option is the sticky issue at hand because there are those of us whose heritage is so deep and multifaceted to the degree that we would need to literally list the various influences or the many whose history may have been lost in the chronicles of slavery.

Race is nothing more than a tool, often used for measurement, organization and disorientation. American culture only muddles the issue even further into a hodgepodge of inadequate titles. Ethnicity for many becomes a scramble when identification comes into play (i.e. standardized testing, statistics, affirmative action, gentrification, etc). We see this same dilemma surface across the racial spectrum in this country, whether the targeted group is Asian, Hispanic, Middle-Eastern or White. This dilemma is distinctly American. In other portions of the world, a black man is not constrained solely by race, i.e. a black man is France is French. My point is that not only are these terms grossly inaccurate but most of them are relatively new and ever-changing. For example, the term “white” as we know it today in American culture did not arrive until the early 20th century. Before this time, peoples from Western and Eastern Europe were associated by their immigrant origins, Anglo-Saxon, Irish, Italian, Jewish etc. Interestingly, these “white” people are the minority in the world (and an increasingly diminishing percentage of America). Please understand that these racial categories, while necessary to maintain an organized discussion, have not just been used to identify people, but divide them (especially amongst themselves). Hence, questions of authenticity arise and the convoluted struggle continues in a seemingly endless loop. To make matters worse we then throw nationality, religion, and class into the mix. What is America’s newest solution to the “race problem?” Colorblindness. I’d like to know who had the brilliant idea of sweeping it all under the carpet with the hope that if enough time passes the issues will just go away. Listen: Staring blankly at me and smiling politely is not going to alleviate the problem.

I despise the idea of tolerance. One of the greatest tragedies of our country is that people have learned to tolerate one another with a substantial amount of indifference and in some cases passive hostility. This attitude provides the illusion of brotherhood, while concealing the true intolerance people hold towards one another. We as a people must learn to respect and understand one another, especially within our own “race” rather than remain apathetic towards cultures which may seem foreign to us. Pay close attention to the distinction between inclusion and assimilation because our aim is not to force people to adapt by neglecting or hiding their culture, but expand our hearts and minds by bringing the lessons of wisdom of their own worlds to ours. Furthermore, this is an important concept, because the progression of our society as a whole shall be determined by the slow development of minority communities integrating into the collective whole.

As America becomes more culturally aware, new viewpoints and ideas are coming into existence. Mainstream society itself can benefit by the inclusion of multifaceted thoughts and movements. However, before we can truly advance as a people, as Americans, we must learn to celebrate our differences, rather than hold them in opposition of each other. History is just that-“His story.” On the question of identity, the beautiful truth is that the black community is the living, breathing definition of a rich, ever expanding culture of people. If we identify ourselves under the veneer of blackness to keep perspective, maintain a sense of community, and teach our children then let us own it, learn from it, and define it in ways which work for, not against, us. It should be the vessel to achieve our dreams and inspire, not a method to destroy one another.