Not sure I agree with its intent and current premise. I personally find the celebration ironic for these reasons:
* How is it that African Americans can allow omission of thousands of years of "black" history and only reflect on the few hundred observed in "White America"?
* How is it that African Americans can allow the compression of the few hundred years of observational history into the SHORTEST month of the year?
* How is it that African Americas allowed "Europeans" to circumvent their history around blacks?
* With so many African American contributions, who is it that decides what is worthy of black history? - obviously not blacks.
Honestly it makes me sick that we embrace, celebrate and uphold such hypocrisy and rhetoric so proudly when the very context of the celebration in its self is a dictation of who skewed it. Black History to this day still truly isn't Black History. Its the black history that Europeans "decided" to "give" to us.
Are African Americans so weak, compromised, brainwashed and lazy that they will not take anything just to get along and fit the mold...? Standing up for the collective and owning what's yours doesn't have to result in violence, but should always result in self worth and collective unity.
Through my elders eyes I have witnessed African Americans become weaker and weaker over the generations to the point that a cheap job title, a sports scholarship, armed services, 24 inch rims, and some bullshit culture called hip hip are all African Americans need to be happy.
For my wiser African American elders I can only apologize for our collective transgression and do MY part to keep the lineage strong.
Like Valentine's Day, I think Black History Month is a joke. (and yes, D, it IS the shortest month...wtf..). Shouldn't someone's history be celebrated EVERY day? I am proud of my background and could only WISH that I knew more! I can't seem to even trace any blood to Tipperary, Ireland, the home of my Great-Grandparents. On my mom's side, My grandmother was part Native. I have to constantly school myself on the history of "my people".
ReplyDeleteHere's a question I have: What makes someone "Black enough"? If you are so bold to be born in America and call yourself "African American", then by all means, stand up for your homeland.
Here's a funny story, which I'll re-create in a dialogue, told to me by a good friend of mine, I'll call him Uzi, who came over here to study from Africa:
Uzi (speaking to beautiful Black woman): So would you want to go on a date?
BBW: Um.. yeah no.
Uzi: Well, mind if I ask why not?
BBW: You're not... Black enough for me! *laughs, while looking him up and down*
A stunned Uzi: BITCH.. I'm from AFRICA!! It doesn't GET any blacker than that!
Poor Uzi.. and poor, ignorant woman.
The cure for ignorance is knowledge. The cure of stupidity is.. well, death.
it sounds more like Uzi has some self confidence issues about being "black enough" or whatever and the lady noticed and gave him the YOU ARE LAME response. I cant believe that men are out here still asking to go on a date when you supposed to know weather it is already evident that she wants to go on a date and you just make plans to get up with each other later. is it the black thing you are having a problem with or is the courting abilities that you are having a problem with?
ReplyDelete8p
well, here's the thing: the girl didn't quite "hear" what she was saying.. what's the definition of "black enough"? especially to someone from Africa?
ReplyDeleteHis reaction was, "ok I'm not Americanized enough.. 'ghetto' enough.."
In the end, it wasn't at all that he wasn't "black enough".
Being Black is not being ghetto but the opposite wich is inteligent/civilised.
ReplyDelete8p
Hear and respect, and concur the need to talk the intelligence and global depth needed to conquer the facade.
ReplyDelete