2020 has brought a year of change and expression amongst us all. From the environment begging for a change with the way we treat her, our health being brought to attention with the spread of Covid-19, and our screams for racial equality. Something that has been a topic for centuries.
Being a minority in itself has always been a challenge growing up. Especially from growing up in the hood then moving to a predominantly white suburb, listening to your peers talk down on your upbringing before knowing your background. That awkward silence after telling them you grew up in poverty and made it out of gang violence, and avoided the Drug cartels across the street from my house always seems to be as loud as the astonishment on their faces when you make them eat their own words.
I used to feel guilty and silenced, being a minority in the healthcare field. Inadequate and molded into a certain spot that I couldn’t get out of. A part of affirmative action rather than being seen for being a badass healthcare provider. Scared to be seen as an ‘angry black woman’ when I just wanted my voice to be heard. Tolerated and not accepted as one of the equal credentials.
I recently went driving through my city and looked at the results of the rioting. Others may look at it and see it as nonsense and anger directed aimlessly. I see it differently. Trying to keep the tears from falling from my face I saw the pain of my Black Queens and Kings screaming at the top of their lungs to be heard and seen. Not disregarded and tossed aside, being labeled as another statistic that we didn’t ask for. Begging to be seen as human beings and not a threat to society. Finally throwing back the resentment the community has at us right back in their face.
My peers often ask, “How can we fix this? I just don’t know what to do”. I say the answer is simple for us; and difficult for others. Hand us the mic and give us a seat at the table.
I recently read a Facebook post that was shared that thought differently. Stating that African Americans were the true ones that were racist. Us having our on tv network, NAACP, Beauty Pageant, and Universities were just too much for some to handle. “Making my friends feel excluded because of their skin color”. I found that very interesting.
My peers often ask, “How can we fix this? I just don’t know what to do”. I say the answer is simple for us; and difficult for others. Hand us the mic and give us a seat at the table.
I recently read a Facebook post that was shared that thought differently. Stating that African Americans were the true ones that were racist. Us having our on tv network, NAACP, Beauty Pageant, and Universities were just too much for some to handle. “Making my friends feel excluded because of their skin color”. I found that very interesting.
We have our network for the reason that for so long we weren’t allowed on yours. Our NAACP because colored people weren’t allowed to be around white people. Even after segregation was abolished…people of color couldnt walk campuses without the fear of ridiculement or physical out-rage, as if we didnt deserve an education. Our beauty pageant so we can celebrate our beauty proudly, instead of further etching in the terms ugly, monkey, and dirty into our hearts we replaced them with beautiful, bold, and associated with magical and extraordinary. Learning was something we weren’t allowed to do, and something our non-minority group would not teach us. So we did it ourselves.
We got to work, carved out our pieces of wood, and made our table. Highlighting the beauty of our skin. Something that we are constantly ridiculed for. Only to be told by closed-minded people that seeing color is the problem. Being colorblind isn’t a solution. Being “blind” doesn’t stop the problem, it ignores it. The solution is to see the color, openly and lovingly. Not just tolerating it, or putting it aside labeling it as different. But to truly value our beauty. Not just African Americans, but for everyone that doesn’t look like you, practice your religion, or have your culture. It’s about valuing someone’s glow up. Not writing them off specifically because they don’t have the same upbringing as you; but lifting them with you so we all have the same fair chance and not be deemed different to the point of execution based on the color of our skin or the amount of money we make.
It is our job as a people, to make sure that everyone has a voice. Silencing others will only make us louder. Use your platform, be of service to others, and practice love and acceptance. Tolerance is no longer an option.
