Blacktually
how a Black person feels, interacts, and lives without attempting to adhere to whiteness
Dear You,
You say I am not a token…
But, inside I feel like the good one. The only one you place in front of the crowds, plaster on billboards, and ask to accept all the awards. Have I become your trophy?
You call me brave, articulate, strong, and different. I never openly question what you mean. But, I feel deeply that I know.
Where are you from?
You’re not from here are you?
Are these questions designed to remind me there is no opportunity to hide? Questions that aren’t looking for truths, and instead searching for explanation and confirmation that I don’t belong here?
As compliments feel condescending and the line between helpful and hindering is blurred, I’m the one that you welcomed in. I’m told I should be thankful and appreciative. As the separate worlds we’re from begin to collide instead of merge, I remember I’m the one who accepted this dance. But, should I be submissive and follow?
Who do you want me to be? Would I be here if I told you my whole story? Do you like when I crop around my life to attempt a perfect picture of worthiness? Or can I be whole?
From my clothes, to my hair. From my mannerisms, to my tone. From my needs, to my wants. From my heart, to my soul.
Would you accept me for who I blackactually am?
Or would that be too different…
Sincerely,
Me…
About the Creator
Alexis Dean Jr.
Alexis “L.E.X” Dean Jr. is a clean Hip-Hop artist, poet, and educator from Milwaukee, WI. As a writer and music artist, he focuses on the importance of educating through his words and stories...
IG: @DreamsStartYoung
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Comments (16)
A powerful exploration of identity, belonging, and the pressure to conform.
A diamond has many facets of self...it's the light that shines on it that makes it brilliant and sparkle. Hope you are always surrounded by beautiful light
Well Done👀😁🌟📝💯♥️Congratulations on Your Top Story🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Really good - honest, moving, and very thought-provoking. "The tiger does not proclaim his tigritude - he pounces!" In the dated-even-then British film Song of Freedom (1936) Paul Robeson's reply to "Where are you from?" is an immediate and complicit "Most all us coloured folks be from Africa originally," indicating that at that time an adherence to whiteness was not what establishment mentality looked for. It's not until the Empire Windrush that today's black British identity begins to emerge in my country, but sadly, I've still seen what you describe here my whole life. Tokenizing and demands for conformity pervaded the media of my younger days, and these still do, much as I wish we were able to say we'd left them behind in the Twentieth Century. Patrick Stewart's so-called "photo-negative" 1997 stage production of Othello, in which he starred with an all-black cast, may be food for thought here. This kind of interpretation, just like your article, bring to my mind the questions that still need to be asked on racial identity and self-understanding. Having lectured for ten years in China (where "Where are you from?" is asked almost daily of anyone who's not Chinese!) it's clear enough that any one of us may be subject to such interrogation, and that all too often we're still not seeing each other whole. Maybe someday!
Well said! and trust me, you're well understood! Side note: it took me up until just a few years ago to start recognizing "where are you from?" to be intended as an insult when used by some; it's a question that doesn't aim to inquire anything, but instead to HIGHLIGHT something.
Great questions and insights. Not knowing oneself is an awful feeling. I hope we all come into out true selves in quick time. Prejudice will always be there no matter what. It is important to keep out identity, though it may ne hard.
Wonderfully and powerfully written. Congrats on the TS.
You brought tears to my eyes with this. I usually ask people where they have moved from, but never ever based on the color of their skin. I ask out of general interest to find out where they have lived. I'd never directly say 'You're not from here, are you?' After all you live here, and your welcome!
I love this, it really prompts me to think, and consider how I act.
Brilliant!
A tough thing expressed so well and succinctly. Congrats on Top Story!
Congratulations on your Top Story, well deserved ❤️❤️❤️
This word rolls off the tongue so easily. Excellent entry!
Absolutely raw and deep!
This was so powerful and deep! You nailed this challenge! I loved both your word and your story!
This reminds me to a piece I wrote about being the token ‘working class novelty’ at the elite conventions. I wonder if the root of all -isms are not in actuality perpetuated through the ages by our avoidance of our own deep feelings of unworthiness? We hide behind them because we feel inadequate - and so assume we are being viewed that way? All people face the same issues ultimately. We all face people looking down on us for something we cannot change or that doesn’t define us - or isn’t their view of ‘normal’ / ‘correct’ or whatever…. Whether it’s skin colour or a cleft palate, wonky teeth or grey hair, a fat body, a thin body, your postcode, etc etc. We all meet low conscious people. Who find something to pick up on. Im growing into believing that it is actually US who needs to grow our compassion and love for them….