My Black...is BEAUTIFUL

Before I go on a tangent I want to overview what I want to discuss

• Racism and who speaks of it
• Individuals who do not know themselves but in a group can scream racism
• Older and young generations and effects on racism
• White American, Black America and ME
•  Ignorance vs. culture
• My pet peeves

This maybe a long one First, I was on facebook and there is all sorts of pages that support blacks and some that hinders them, my favorites are natural hair care , my black is beautiful etc.(love them!) What sparked this is a lawsuit towards wet seal saying that African American managers were being fired because of their race. I did not look into this but I read comments that people wrote and I was disgusted. If they are being fired strictly because of their skin color and they have no write ups, lateness, and have been amazing employees then  there is an issue, but if there is anything else that could have led to their termination I am disgusted that they are playing the "race" card. Racism exist, oh my goodness it is apparent but is it just towards African Americans? NO it is not. I lived close to Temple University in Philadelphia when white students moved into our neighborhoods and they experience a lot. Name calling, robberies, beatings etc. Is this forms of racism and hate crimes, YES There is this thing where I feel Blacks may overuse racism as a form of protection when things do not go their way. Yes we as a whole have been through the ringer with racism, slavery etc. but as of now what is being done? Everything is not about race but about how you present your self.

I find that African Americans in power may sometimes exploit us as well. Everything is not a fight, but how you present yourself in situations. Are there senseless killing of young african american men? YES, Is there racial profiling put into the execution of the stop and frisk law? HELL YES. Are there feelings of helplessness in urban areas yes there is. I say individuals do not know themselves to say that people do not make themselves aware of their rights or how their actions look to the legal world but call the good Rev. Al and they have this woe is me need for help. I can say that the way people portray the urban areas is not always true, yes life is a bit harder but the fight people put into racism as a whole they can put into their individual selves to make the whole better. Injustices do happen, so does racism BUT character has a place in this as well

Racism does exist. I find that in older people it is a bit worst, they still have the sour tastes of everything that has happened. African Americans have a tendency to point the finger at others but our grandmothers/fathers and great grands had words with venom in them sometimes about other races. Is that ok? Is that not racism? Because slavery and discrimination was done TO us does that mean we can feel how we feel and act nasty TOwards them now? Have I experienced racism, from stares to derogatory comments yes I have, did I yell scream and call Al Sharpton no I did not. That's whats expected of me. And all but once I insisted on asking questions for clarification. That can be a scary tool because then comes the comments you either do not want to hear OR the apology/ regret. It happens, just like it happens to other races as well, by African Americans, Whites who ever. I find that more younger people are open to integration I do have a friend whose grandmother is racist, but that woman has never done or said anything to me. She's always polite and welcoming. I'm not sure why. I treat her with respect and in return she does the same. If my friend would have never told me, I would have never known. Our generation is growing up being taught by people who were taught by people on how to treat others in every way. Racism will always be around, it is in every single culture/race but the overuse in the African American culture scares me because it will not lead to a change

There is White America, African American then ME. America does little to impress me and I feel that African Americans are so lost in trying to keep up that the one thing that we use to have that I adore has been lost. Culture and Tradition. Last summer I spent time in Cameroon and Ethiopia and I was impressed and disappointed. They still hold their traditions but I can see it being lost in the near future with the Western Cultural influences. Yesterday I've concluded that Bob Marley means more to me than Oprah and Obama. To me they are American icons and Bob Marley is more. His sense of culture captivates me. His identity and self image was amazing. I never wanted to be Oprah, she is too Americanized (lol) Obama is a politician and my gosh I dislike politics. The point is that I rather stick to self awareness, personal growth, and learning things about my culture so that I can touch individuals and not people in the masses.

Ignorance is ignorance. It gets you no where if you identify that there is something that you do not know, learn it. (except if its american politics, that gets a pass) People are so ignorant to life that they have no clue on what they are apart of. For instance, being loud, cursing, body language, that is associated with a particular person take that into corporate american and you do not get hired is that racism? No it is not, Its the fact that your characteristics do not match what is needed. Being at a prodomitely white college I see this so much. People stare at Blacks when they behave a certain way, it is not racism, its because for one many people are not used to that behavior, and two its confusing. Why is someone in college behaving like that? You have to alter your behavior for where you are. That is NOT selling out, the way I behave when I'm with my family is not the way I would behave at work or in an interview. Treat life as such. If you talk the same with your bestfriends when your excited about something and use the same vocabulary in your office at a corporate/professional job let me know!

Lastly my pet peeves:

•  People using the word Nigga and being loud, that word actually offends people who are not Black! So watch when you say it if you must
• People in college who still act as if they are on the streets of North Philly chilln. Uh excuse me but you are not and so STOP
• People who are scared to discuss race and scared to speak up about it, this white girl in my class was actually scared to make a comment on the topic of blacks (she actually said it)
• People in general who try to place the blame for their shortcomings on racial issues get it together its 2012 College is doable!
• Black females who have no sense of self and exploit themselves!

That is all for now, Side Note....I love my race I love who I am and I love learning! So therefore I made myself aware that the way I am being portrayed in the masses is not ok with ME. I do not care (per say) about how the majority feels because I do represent myself at the end of the day. This is not to say I never engage in cultural behaviors that may not be the best but I am aware that it is not ok and I try to be a better representation to my family than the media is.