protest the use of black
black friday, thursday, wednesday, tuesday; black july; black market; black spring; black comedy; black list; black sheep; black mail; and, the misnomers - black magic, black propaganda; black death
choose your insult, and trust fact that the use of black is not just about pigment levels. . .zorro should be insulted; philanthropic, power-pin stripe, dark suit wearers should be insulted; better yet, any one who has seen the beauty of black on a stallion, in decor, above dusk, from nature . . . should be insulted
still, it can't be ignored that the strongest buying power enjoys 'bed & breakfast' in the pockets of people of color. specifically, the estranged descendants of slaves. and therefore, the insult is both implicit and explicit
black is an ethnicity; a race; a genealogical historic event; a friend; a lover; a re-defining survival guide
protest the use of black because its users have options - other words, phrases - and they opt to use this direct implication of a people, and indirect result of generations of sub-perior existence and miseducation
ok, so how
~ do not shop on the busiest shopping day of the season
~ call it and ask others to call it 'the busiest shopping day'
~ start a black fund and deposit money for use at HBCUs
~ wear all black and always be polite, helpful and courteous
~ write complaints to news editors, public officials and stores
~ get the black is beautiful era proclaimed a natural resource
~ teach and demonstrate to children about the power of words
2 comments:
Hey girl, I love this. I have similar issues with nigga. I bless it. And I love the word. Sounds weird, huh? I'll explain.
To erase their sin, to absolve themselves, the majority race told us we we're inferior. They called us niggas - supposedly lazy, dumb, ignorant, un-intelligent animals not capable of caring for ourselves and living humanely.
But, who were niggas really?
So called niggas worked 12 and 14 hours days beneath blazing suns. So called niggas endured rape, belittlement, little food, little sleep, beatings, having their children, their men, and their wives stolen from them and sold. They endured ownership - and survived. And still found pieces of joy. And still found reasons to laugh. And still found fragments of hope.
They went through. They died to be free. And they endured so I could be and be free.
So, I don't separate myself from them. I separate myself from the lies they were told about themselves.
I claim the character that sustained them. I claim the heart that spurred them on. And, I refuse the lie.
It was meant to be derogatory, but when I examine and explain the reality, I have to pay homage to my niggas. And the only reason we shouldn't flaunt the word callously is that few of us today could meet the criteria of having been a nigga.
I think you must be the best writer I have ever read. I cannot believe the words that come out of that pen. You are so talented; it is disgusting you are so good! I loved the one on the protest 'black'. I'm going to keep that one in my files.
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