Racism has become so arbitrary that it’s hard for someone like me to keep up with all of the ridiculousness that goes on in this great big world we live in. I say “someone like me” because I’m finally accepting that I’m not just a blogger but indeed a BLACK blogger. I’ve determined and embrace that my being black, African-American, or whatever other term we use as a point of geographical reference with respect to our unique place in the African Diaspora absolutely defined my identity and outlook on life thus far.

I say this because judging from the feedback I get on YouTube it seems that a popular opinion among my viewers is that I’m too sensitive about race. Even my mother made the playful comment that she likes my blog but I come off a kind of militant, in her words an “angry, scorned black woman.” I wish more than anybody that I had more neutral and inclusive opinions and that I didn’t feel like the last of a dying breed of people who still feel like race even matters, a sentiment that has become increasingly evident to me with the influx of high profile news stories like the Philadelphia pool incident, or the Gates arrest.

I think the driving arguments surrounding racism in regards to African-Americans, come from unreasonably blinded notions that either hypocritically hold white people accountable to a certain standard of racial sensitivity and awareness; yet ignores the blatant disrespect that certain notable black people bring upon themselves and subsequently the entire race irregardless of any help or antagonism by “the man.” Then there are the self-absorbed, well-to-do, capitalistic pro-racists who think everyone should just ‘pull yourself up by the boot straps’ and believe beyond a measure of a doubt that black people are 100% responsible for their own plight and should quit complaining about racism; and that nobody owes any acknowledgement to the historic legacy of racism in this country that undoubtedly gives privilege and power to white people in disproportionate capacities and creates unimaginable conditions for communities of color.

With ideologies like this, no wonder they say ignorance is bliss, sometimes I feel like my knack for pro-blackness is more of a burden than a cause.

Just the other night I was having a conversation with one of my fellow BLACK friends discussing whether or not we should just give in and lower our standards for what it should mean to be a young black person in this day and age. I mean everyone else seems to already accept mediocrity from black people, why should we dare to want more? Just the other day I overheard an argument in my office involving two interns, both teens. It went a little something like this:

Boy: Fuck you bitch.

Girl: Fuck you nigga you got me fucked up.

Boy: I’ll slap the shit out of you.

Girl: Slap me, nigga I’ll call my nigga up hear and he’ll beat yo ass.

Boy: Fuck that nigga, I’ll slap him too.

That’s the sum of it, throw in a couple more threats and derogatory names. Keep in mind this happened in an office of a non-profit organization filled with racially conscious journalists of ethnic media. Yet for some reason, when this argument ensued loud enough for all to hear no one offered so much as a “come on guys, can’t we all just get along?” Even beyond race, this young man threatened to hit this young woman but no one budged, an office full of adults who I knew sat there thinking about how vulgar and inappropriate the interaction was didn’t feel inclined to interject or show the slightest bit of concern.

That’s not to criticize them because it wasn’t until I saw the girl march across the room crying that I decided to get in touch with my humanity and stand on the principle that regardless of how many people accept it, never should that type of behavior appear as normal or acceptable to me regardless of whoever else believes otherwise.
“What have you bought into? How much will it cost to buy you out?” -Saul Williams

-Jazmyne Young