The latest instalment of Big Brother here in the UK had a first. For the first time in its history here in the UK a person of colour, a young black man actually one the prize of 100,000 pounds. Many had questioned whether this would ever happen (blaming a kind of latent/subtle racism). You would have thought that the black community would embrace such a thing. Alas no. Many a talk show on black radio questioned the 'blackness' of this young man. Apparently Brian had been adopted by a white family from a young age. He also demonstrated attributes that were not common to a black male (from his cockney speaking voice and the pub culture he so loved). This led me to the question what defines 'blackness' (if anything).
When I was young blackness was defined by your musical taste (pop and rock were too white, jazz funk, soul and R&B were okay, the company you kept even the way you walked was also were ways that your blackness was defined. Being a studious pupil was also a crime worthy of judgemental punishment.
Since those days my perspective has changed somewhat blackness to me isn't defined by your musical taste, your choice of clothes, your friends or the way you walk. Blackness is defined by your mindset, thoughts and actions.
Instead of throwing darts at the winner of a reality show why isn't the blackness of drug dealers, pimps any artist that glorifies in negativity (50 cents stand up). Being black in skin tone isn't enough (listen to Night Train by Public Enemy).
In conclusion I would say that defining blackness isn't a straightforward thing and is more a state of mind rather than a code of effects.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I read an article in N'digo newspaper where the editor basically wrote about the same topic when people ask Barack Obama is he Black enough. First of all, nobody can define what's Black and what's not. I recall a guy at a club getting my number, and when I wasn't home, he called me. I called him back, and he said "You must sound white on your answering machine because of the book selling promotions, right?" I flipped out on that fool and pretty much cursed him out. In a polite way (considering your wishes for no cursing), I told him "I guess a Black woman who speaks correct English after her ancestors were beaten and abused for trying to learn the language and read must somehow be a sell-out. I guess all that fighting they did to get us in better schools to level out the education means I'm super sell-out. Well if your blankety blank blank feels I have to act ghetto in order to be a blankety blank Black woman, then you have a lot to learn about this blankety blank world. Now, was that Black enough for your blankety?" Yep, needless to say as soon as I was ignorant with him, I earned some "Black" points and he got off my back. Too bad. I slammed the phone down and haven't talked to him since. I hate it when you have to resort to acting a fool in order for people to think you're Black. Annoys me to no end.
Did the Brother think that by passing comment on you that way was making a good impression? BTW, I love the blanks :). Thanks for that.
I had my own issues with Brian from Big Brother in the beginning but I've since been reminded that black people come in all shapes and sizes, literally and metaphorically. I think the whole idea of questioning whether someone is black enough though (which was never my issue with Brian, by the way; I just thought he was incredibly dumb and a poor role model) is stupid beyong belief though.
I remember reading in the New York Times a couple of months ago, how black middle school students were being bullied in school for "talking and acting white". Shamontiel has already covered that angle, I guess but I do wonder where we are headed as a race if speaking and behaving properly are now considered non-black and something to be ashamed of. As far as I'm concerned, blackness is defined by your skin colour and nothing else. Your mindset, thoughts and actions might say many other important things about you but not whether you are 'black enough' or not. We need to quit with this idiocy already.
Post a Comment