Yesterday I was fortunate enough to go to take part in a conversation at Morgan State University that many black people choose not to have. Either because of the heaviness of the topic or ignorance of it's existence (to some extent). The discussion, held in one of the lesser used buildings on campus, was entitled "Meet the Oreo". The only reason I was intrigued is because I have been called an Oreo multiple times in my life, and much to my dismay the word as well as it's negative connotations don't seem to be going anywhere any time soon. Armed with my comfort team, Patrick Sweet and Isis Tutman I braved the conversation and even put forth my own opinion when necessary.
Here are a few things I wanted to make clear to people. Having darker skin does not make you inferior, dumber, poorer, ghettoer, or sneakier than the next guy, however, it also does not make you better than anyone either. We as a race (THE HUMAN RACE) need to get over skin color as a defining factor in our day to day living. Dating, hanging out, school choices, neighborhood choices, television channels, and radio stations have all become ways to separate ourselves from each other. We all breathe the same air, eat the same foods, need the same nutrients, and pump the same blood through our bodies, which as far as I'm concerned, makes us all equal. We ought not teach our children labels and instill them with garbage or the cycle of ignorance WILL continue.
We are the ones who have the opportunity at this present time, as the next generation to take over, to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. We have to be bigger than black, white, yellow, red and everything in between or we'll never move forward, and the unfortunate events of the past are doomed to repeat themselves. When we go out into our communities, we need to make meaningful change, we need to stop letting the media turn our tapestry of textures into a joke. We should not allow ourselves to be relegated to stereotypes, because when we allow one person to be brought down, it is not just at their expense, it's at ours also.
THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK.....THINK BEFORE YOU ACT.....CHANGE THE WORLD
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I’m not saying skin color is the deciding factor in your life, but it is important. You one is all attitude undermines the truth about skin color in country; That we are not bigger than Black and White, and that your skin color does disadvantages, and enables other. I LOVE MY BLACKNESS AND ALL THAT COMES WITH IT THE GOOD AND THE BAD. I refuse to cut string of culture by forgetting my race. I personal view my race and skin color as a gift…and do feel my race have made me better. Be you White, Black, Yellow, or Orange I would be a little worry if you do no feel the about you race, because that has made you you.
ReplyDeleteI was raised in a world the same as yours, but you choose to wear blinders and act as if you don’t see the TRUTH. I’m not saying different race should not date or be friend (because we do have to share this world), but Race is important.
SKIN COLOR and ethnicity are not being used interchangeably here. There are lighter Blacks who think they are better than darker blacks, their are white people who think they are better than those lighter blacks, their are all kinds of people in this world and saying you are better ONLY because of skin color is a LIE. I love who I am as a person, I also love the color of my skin, the texture of my hair, and the way I was raised. I was not taught to hate others and make people feel inferior because they don't look like me. Just because I don't think I'm better than anyone else doesn't make me a self hater (It may be a tad socialist but not a self hater). I will continue to treat all of my friends with the same love and respect I have for myself and that's all I've got to say about that one.
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