I grew up in a small town in eastern North Carolina on the outskirts of of a tiny town (SHOUT OUT TO THE 252!!!!). Racial lines were pretty clearly defined. The way this basically played out is that there was language to define things that black people or white people “do”. If you did “X” set of activities that were nebulously classified as something that white people would typically do, then you were doing something “white”. Conversly, if one engaged in “black” activities, then they were doing something something “black”. This also applied to philosophies, skills, intellectual and artistic gifts and interests. CRINGE. CRINGE. CRINGE.
Digression: Here is a recent, relevant short conversation with my 13 year old out of nowhere he walks into my room as says:
13 year old: “Mom, have you ever thought about something you did in the past and it made you cringe?”
Me: “Yes, absolutely!”
13 year old: “That means you’ve grown. That’s a good thing.”
Then he gave me a thumbs up, a fake smile and walked out of the room. I was so proud of myself for passing his test. I was also proud of him for being so amazing. He was 100% right. OK, where was I?
Oh yeah, CRINGE. But I have made peace with the fact that I saw the world in this way because you know what? That was the environment I lived in and as they say, “when you know better, you do better”. Sadly, there are many who continue to exist in a very real evironment that operates this way; with real implications and consequences. I learned, after transitioning into adulthood outside of my hometown that moving to a place where such confines no longer exist can have zero bearing on one’s continued operation in such a paradigm. The paradigm persists without an awakening of the subject to the new environment and deliberate efforts to shed old mentalities. What can complicate things is the fact that issues of race can become tricky when the geographical or demographical environment changes racial boundaries and other dynamics.
Ten years ago there was a blog called “Stuff White People Like”. For the most part, I thought it was hilarious. It was written, somewhat tongue in cheek, by a white blogger a particular demographic. The blog was written to entertain by mockingly highlighting, in great detail, things that white people supposedly like. Disclaimer: I am not endorsing the blog, just telling you that is/was a thing.
All of that to say, I want to also use this blog to share pictures of us doing the things they do that don’t get a lot of visibility. Starting with pics of my own family. I’d love to build an expansive gallery of photos of folks just doing life. This is not an anti-white project.
Yes, I know, all people doing stuff matters, right?
I agree. But my goal is to help broaden the pulbic lens of black life. A big part of this is that we all get to see that we have more in common than we might think. Understanding and embracing this, I believe, gets us closer to compassion and meaningfull actions toward racial equality.
Please enjoy!
blackandwhiteandshadesofgreen 