What It Means To Be Black

To be Black means to be viewed as the opposite of white.

Blacks recognize and appreciate the disparity in color, but not the disparity in perception or treatment. If we embrace the notion that white is good and pure, and black is bad and impure, then we move beyond disparity in color and into a dichotomy of positioning. Status is based on positioning.

To be Black means to be born with burden; just as being born white means being born with privilege. Black burden and white privilege are real phenomena. The difference is that one is an asset, the other is a liability. Blacks become aware of this burden and its Pygmalion effects at an early age. Inferiority or superiority complexes can result as coping mechanisms.

Despite being subjected to situations, circumstances, and treatment that can make us feel less than, we don't hate whites; we are conditioned to accept whites in a way that whites will never be conditioned to accept Blacks. We hate inequality. We know that inequality is at the root of all sinister isms. It sparks resistance and aggression in us that's commonly mistaken as black rage. Yes, we are all dormant volcanoes. Some quiet. Some simmering. But life as a Black person carries inherent  triggers, and reminders of our blackness, that can cause us to erupt at any time.

To be Black means to not be given the benefit of the doubt. It runs parallel to being guilty until proven innocent. Background, pedigree, or multiple degrees does not make us immune to (greater) scrutiny. In fact, Blacks with status are challenged far more frequently in situations where respect is naturally or commonly afforded. Our first Black president confirmed to America what blacks know and deal with all of our lives: we arouse suspicion in and out of work.

To be black means to receive a lower quality of customer service. Serving Black people is role reversal at its finest. Only we know what it's like to feel the energy of those serving us fluctuate. It's compounded by the discrepancies in treatment we see when we watch the energy, courtesy, and (genuine) friendliness white people give each other when they think we are not watching. These observations subconsciously, if not futilely, motivate Blacks to learn the art of disarming white people with overt friendliness in an effort make them comfortable with us. Being Black, but not too Black, becomes a subconscious undertaking that white collared Blacks embrace almost daily.

More than anything, to be Black means that we have to work twice (sometimes thrice) as hard as our white peers and colleagues to achieve the same success. This is known as the 2x's Rule. In the best of cases (and parenting), Black children embrace the 2x's Rule, which is a widely known and accepted reality in Black culture. It behooves our children to embrace the 2x's Rule sooner, than later.

Being Black can feel like an uphill climb at times, but Black people know how strong one can become by running uphill. We have an abundance of examples of those who have not only run steep hills, but leaped over seemingly insurmountable obstacles to survive, succeed, attain goals, and fulfill dreams. Black History Month, on a fundamental level, provides lessons and a necessary reminder of what it means to be Black and how to be prosperous, courtesy of other resilient Black people who have conquered the uphill climb, one day, one step, at a time.