I know as I write this that we are currently awaiting election results from this Presidential election. To me, it really doesn't matter who wins. It will still feel illegal to be a Black American. Even the statement Black American or African-American bothers me. Why can't I be just an American like any other person in this country? No one refers to White people as White Americans or European Americans. Why must my ties to this country include a hyphen? I was born here. My family was born here. I am not from Africa. Not all of my ancestors are even from Africa. However, I must identify myself with a country that I know nothing about for the comfort of other non-Black Americans. What most don't realize is that hyphen in African-Americans is to remind us that we don't belong here.
Every time a Black person is killed by the police, every time we have a new age lynching, or anything like this, it's a constant reminder that so many people in this country simply do not believe Black people belong here. For example, when we complain about racism, classism, and all the other isms that we are subject to, we always get met with the comments like "Go back to Africa." or "Just leave this country if you hate it so much." None of this was stated when our ancestors were dragged here in chains. Since the chains have been broken, we have been dragged through the mud and are still bogged down by figurative chains. We are still chained to racism. Racism impacts all non-white people, but somehow they still come out ahead as long as they aren't Black.
It's hurtful to explain to my children that there will be non-Black people who before their pretty smiles are noticed or their shining personalities, they will see their skin and draw their own conclusions. It's hurtful to live day by day working hard at any job only to watch promotions go to much less talented and less educated non-Black people before you will ever be considered. Then with a smile, the same people who told you that you weren't good enough for a promotion want you to "assist" the ill-qualified person they chose to hire instead. These things happen daily at the most high ranking companies. Even with the call to bring diversity to the executive boards of companies nationwide, all they saw black people fit for was a made-up role of Diversity and Inclusion Officer.
At the end of the day, it's hard to continuously get kicked down simply because I am Black. It's hard to live this life as an American with dark skin because no matter what I do or say, I'm not viewed as an American. I am not viewed as a human being with rights. I am not viewed as a person with legitimate thoughts and feelings. Even the non-Black people who do not view themselves as racist hold some very racist views of Black people. It's sickening. We are tired. It's really not fair that immigrants get more rights and opportunities in this country than Black people whose ancestors helped to build this country that so many think they need to "make great again". Here are some questions that one day a future president should be able to answer. When will I be judged based on my personality and not my skin color? When can my Black brothers be able to live and not be accosted by the police?When will Black neighborhoods be able to thrive again without infighting due to lack of resources? When? When can I finally just be an American with full benefits of citizenship? Is it legal to be Black in this country yet? Am I not an American yet? Let me know.
About the Creator
Marcherie
I am a writer. I am a content creator. I am a mother and yet still stuck in the regular world of working in a standard office. I am here and free to express myself as I see fit.
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