Thursday, April 27, 2017

Being Black in America and the West

    
     No matter how I dress, talk, or act, the end result is the same. That is 5 to 15 car locks as I walk by, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyQOBayeyu0. No joke. In the middle of the day at a University filled to the brim with other people. With other people dressed just like me! The only difference you may ask? Do I even have to answer. People avoid me like the plague on the street and on public transportation. See this link for one man's story of this and his overall experience of being black and feeling constantly watched. In Toronto of all places! http://www.theroot.com/why-i-hate-being-a-black-man-1790898867 Wherever I go, people seem to be making countless, extreme accusations. I'm guilty until proven innocent. I know I am not the only one too. Here is just one of many who have figured this out. https://blog.devcolor.org/on-being-a-black-man-42ecb7946fe0
     Stereotypes also plays a significant role. Black people are known primarily for three things: rap music, athletics, and being criminals. What if you are a professional, with a middle or high class income, and you like distance running? Chances are you will be the lone representative of your color at a particular time and a particular place. Sometimes it works out. But not all of the time. There was a black nurse on a Delta flight that couldn't use her skills to help someone due to others thinking she wasn't a "real nurse". Four black undercover cops had the cops called on them for wearing matching bulletproof vests. A black therapist was shot in Florida when helping an autistic man that had dropped a toy and the man was trying to pick it up when it was mistaken for a gun. The list goes on. You too have experiences, I am sure. 
     Okay, lots of people have experienced these too for many years. Surely there must be solutions that work. Well call them "solutions" if you want. One of them is to just "deal" with the issue and to try to carry on as normal as possible. This leads to scaring people everyday, all the time, while stressing you out. No matter how much you try to deny the fact that you are being treated different, it won't change reality. I'm sure everyone reading this can agree. It will only lead to more false accusations, that could lead to ... I think we all know. The second option is to try to avoid looking like a threat and to even minimize the time spent out in society. This is not always possible and doesn't always work. 
     So what is a stable solution, then? You might say that I am going to extremes, but the fool-proof way to avoid and escape racism, thrive in society, and not be underrepresented in a chosen career choice is to .... move to Africa. 
     This isn't a new idea. It has been floating around for 150 years now. Just look at the history of Liberia. In the early 1800's, it was a country established for the primary role of rehabilitating former slaves. Several thousands of blacks in the US then moved there, leaving behind their lives of toil and frustration ... for many, many generations to come. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Liberia
     Also, in the early 20th century, a Black Caribbean-born man by the name of Marcus Garvey created the "Back to Africa" movement. He also created "Black Star Lines", a take onto the popular "White Star Lines" to migrate African Americans to Africa. 
     Before you say Hold Up!, isn't Africa very poor? And don't people from Africa move here? These are both true-to some extent. You have to understand how much Africa varies-from those before mentioned poorer regions, to more affluent areas, such as urban Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, or other countries. These countries have a growing middle class and a lot of foreign investment. One such example can be seen here. http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/21/africa/chinese-funded-railways-in-africa/
So basically I'm telling you that it's like a 100% Black version of America in some areas. Except with no one to accuse you of things you wouldn't even allow to occupy your mind. 


Here are some additional links.





     

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