https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJDx5EZBeNI
There has been so many conversations and speculations surrounding the “This is America” video which prompted me to talk about this issue.
I will give my full analysis of the video soon.
As most of you already know I was born in the Ivory coast to Liberian parents. Growing up in Africa (I say Africa because I was raised in 3 different countries) I never had to worry about the issue of race because we were all mostly black. I moved to the United states for school when I was 10 years old. Like any kid being in a new country for the first time there was a cultural shock. It irritated me that everything in America was about race. The first time somebody told me I was black was my first year in middle school. It was a shock to me because I lived my entire life not being judged by the color of my skin but the content of my character. I was not angry or irritated the first time, I was simply amused. I thought to explore the life of a black woman in America and this is what I learned.
- There’s roughly 46,778,674 African Americans in the United States, that’s a small percentage of the entire 325.7 million people. We are a minority. According to Roots.com black women are now the most educated group in the entire United states. when you hear that you think “okay that’s nice but what about equality?” We all know that being black in America is a strike, being black and educated is another strike so imagine being black, educated and a woman. Black women are the most disrespected group of women in America. We have to work twice as hard for what we want because opportunities are not handed to us.
NATURAL HAIR
Natural hair vs. corporate America is still very real. Most establishments in the United States do not accept natural hair and requires you to straighten your hair to look more “kept”. I have told been by many people that black women wearing their natural hair makes them uncomfortable and it’s easier to approach a black woman when she’s wearing weave. Everybody have their preference of women. I think it’s crazy to judge someone for loving them self. For decades we were told our hair was ugly so we permed it, dyed it and put wigs over it because it wasn’t acceptable to society. It took generations of great women to help us muster the courage to wear our hair in it’s natural state and it’s causing debates in and out of the black community. Whether that’s progress or not I’m just happy for change.
TRENDS
Everyone knows that black people bring culture. The slang,movies, dance moves, food and even your favorite catch phrase is from the black community guaranteed. We contribute so much flavor to these United States that if we didn’t exist America would just be States. Culture appropriation is another big thing. Everybody loves black culture but not black people. Big lips, big butt, big boobs, colored wigs and cornrows were hated on black girls before the Kardashians started making cash off of them. It still amazes me how some people are still calling Cornrows Boxer Braids and acting like they invented it.
BEING DARK SKINNED
Being a dark skinned woman is only celebrated when you look like a barbie. Dark skin, long hair, big butt and you’re rubbed down in coconut oil on social media strutting a pose. Dark skinned girls with natural hair don’t go viral because society has not embraced the fact that we want to be natural and that a woman in her natural form is beautiful.
CONTINENCE
If you live anywhere in these United States I’m sure you have heard of the “Angry Black Woman”. A woman from a different race can complain about something and it won’t be a problem but when a black woman complains it’s such a big issue because black women are always angry. People do not listen to what we have to say because everything we say is out of anger. It’s pathetic how society guilt trips every black woman into not feeling like we don’t have the right to be angry. Anger is an emotion that everyone feels so why is different is a black woman feels that way?
SELF LOVE AND SOCIAL MEDIA
We have gotten better as a society in promoting black love and celebrating black features and representing our girls! I love to log onto Instagram everyday because I always see inspiring things about black women and girls. We have grown so much as a community and we’re at the point where we celebrate our differences and embrace who we are. Our hair no longer scare us, our features no longer shame us, we have accepted that we’re foreign.
DEAR BLACK GIRLS
To end this post I would like to introduce you guys to a poetry book I’m writing on wattpad. It features poems about the everyday struggle of being a black girl. It’s very dear to me and it’s like my baby so I hope you guys enjoy it. https://my.w.tt/20dI68f96M
