I’m so tired of just being “African American”
When I really think about it, I’m so tired of it. When people think about African Americans— even when African Americans think about ourselves, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Slavery. Discrimination. Pain. Endurance. Why do WE have the be the face of pain? Our people’s culture is NOT pain. Our culture is NOT slavery. Our culture is NOT just rebellion. Our culture is NOT facing racism. We are so much more than that. When you learn about African Americans it’s never about our music, our inventions, our food, our style, our way of life. It’s always about being at the end of the stick. We were never taught the BEAUTY of African Americans. Only the worse. I know because of what we experienced, IS a big part of our culture, but come on. Social injustice isn’t the only thing we consist of. Like I said, I know it’s important to be taught. Im just tired of always the “inferiority” being taught about us and not anything else’s beyond that.
I also feel like that’s part of a reason why people are so comfortable with just constantly taking from us. Taking from our culture. Because point one, they’re ignorant. And point two all there really is to “African Americans” if slavery and discrimination.
Who are we? Who are African Americans outside of just being the face of social injustice. The short end of the stick. I know some people may make a face while reading this, but it’s just how I feel. I am proud of my people and proud of what we fought for. How we did it. And how far we have come. It’s understanding of, if you’re African American, who are you to yourself? Who are your people to you? And if you’re not African American it’s an understanding of who are we to you? And on neither side, should it just be the face of injustice.
- I dare to mention that I’m a little bit afraid how people may feel about this. But I only hope to find people who agree, and perhaps even put a thought or two in the heads of the ones that don’t.
