Hi everyone! Happy Black History Month! This is one of my favourite months of the year, where we get to celebrate Black people from all over the world and all the beautiful creations and achievements. But before we go on to do that, I would like to tell you about my experience being a Black Human.
It is disheartening to pen my experience, but I feel that it is necessary. I have decided to take a more transparent approach so that you will fully understand our plight because it is equally important to have discussions about our experiences being Black. It may make you uncomfortable but being Black, I have been uncomfortably my whole life. To be a Black person in this world you are placed in a position where others will love your entertainment value, but not you!
I came from a lineage of scholars, doctors, preachers, government officials, business owners, revolutionists and so forth, but seen to the world as someone who is subpar.
My life journey has been difficult, yet I still strive for excellence. I didn’t have the privilege to be born in Canada, so I faced trauma as an immigrant young child. When I was a child my father was jailed, tortured and humiliated because of his Christian faith. We were told he was dead and had to find ways to move on. Desperate and destitute, my mother risked the dangers of a refugee camp for the opportunity to be selected to immigrate to a place that could afford her peace and stability as well as a chance for kids to have a better life than she did. The refugee camp was in the middle of two countries that were feuding with one another. There I witnessed poverty, death, disease, pestilence and war. All this for a better “opportunity ” in Canada.
Regardless of our situation we always made sure we were well mannered and educated. Education was one of the highest currencies we obtained, yet we were always questioned, probed and ridiculed because some people couldn’t fathom that we would have more intellect in them.
As a Black human, I noticed that there are two kinds of racism. There is the blatant racism that you see clear as day and subtle microaggressions.
Being a racist is just not the traditional white hooded individual who spews hatred and division in the name of saving the “white race”, It is also the microaggression that a lot of people partake in. It is the delusional fear that my skin colour will bring harm to you. It is the comments and whispers you make among your non-Black family, friends and colleagues. It is the racial slurs, jests, jokes and actions you make when we aren’t around. It is the surprising commendations of my articulation and grasp of diction as if it something beyond my scope to achieve. It is the idea my success is labelled as inclusion and affirmative action, and not that I worked relentlessly for it. It is also the missed opportunities that many Black people face because corporations are afraid to have a Black person as the face of their company or institution. It is being served last or not being rendered aid. It is the idea that all Black humans are the same. That we are “ghetto”, uneducated, lazy, unattractive, disgusting, diseased and scums of the earth. It’s the idea and privilege that we should accept them, forgive them and praise them for allowing us to be in their presence. It is the idea that we must comply with your every whim. It is the thought that everything is your business and that you can be a judge, jury and executioner.
My Experience Being a Black Human
My experience being a Black human is knowing that regardless of my kind nature there will be someone who would want and has caused me harm. Knowing someone who will hate me purely because of the colour of my skin. Living in constant fear that I would end up as a hashtag that will be quickly forgotten. Knowing my death could be cruel. It is knowing that my beauty will be label as exotic to some but highly disdainful to others. While some pay $1000 to achieve the same look.
Being a Black human is being exploited at the highest levels. From our natural resources, intelligence, inventions and the list go on. They love our culture but fail to understand us.
Although there has been a lot of progress, I feel that there is much work to be done. I would employ my non-Black friends, colleagues, family members, everyone to take this opportunity to educate themselves. Acknowledge that your experience isn’t everyone else’s. Learn our history and our history isn’t slavery. Dig deep and educated yourselves and the people around you. Ask questions, listen, have empathy and surround yourself with other races. Rebuke anyone who demonstrated ill will. Correct them, stand up against them and try to educate them! Take accountability for your past ignorance, actions and humble yourself with this new knowledge. Have those open progressive conversations about racism with your child and family members. Racism is taught and it can also be unlearned! We are the human race are better when we stick together! We can accomplish so much when we love and respect each other! [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
I hope this post was educational to you and teaches you to do better and be kinder to the people around you. If you are looking for other pieces we’ve written, check out this post here.
