I dont see you as black
I do not know how many time I have heard this. I think this is something white people or non blacks think they need to say in order for us not to think they are prejudice. I used to ignore it but now it pisses me off.
When you tell me you do not see my blackness or see me as black that means you do not see me AS I AM. I am black, dark brown, chocolate even. I LOVE that about myself; and when you say you do not see it, then you are not seeing me.
When you say you do not see me as black do you mean you do not see me as a hoochie. Maybe you dont see me as a single mama with five babies and five baby daddys. Do you mean I am not on welfare or living in the projects. Do you mean I am not uneducated? Maybe you mean I am not on drugs or an alcoholic. No, you do not and can not see me as those things, however there are many non blacks that can fit into any of these categories. These traits are not confined to the back community.
When you tell me you do not see me as black you insult me and many other strong, intelligent, loving, caring, back people. You are telling us that you have or chose to ignore the many positive things black people have done. When you chose not to see black people you chose not to see people like; Madam C.J. Walker, Madam Walker She was the first black Millionaire. Maybe I can see how you can over look her. I mean unless you have black hair she is not of any great importance to you.
How can you not see Malcolm X. Malcolm X was a powerful man who brought the light into many people’s eyes and changed the world as much as he possibly could. Converted to the Nation of Islam while in prison. Once he was paroled he joined the NOI, Nation of Islam and stared Muhammad Speaks, the NOI newspaper, in 1957. This paper is still being published today. Ok maybe not him either cause your not into radical stuff.
Ok how about Thurgood Marshall. In 1967, President Johnson appointed Marshall to the Supreme Court. He was the 96th person to hold the position, and the first African-American. Ok maybe you do not know him either since you have never been in trouble with the law.
Have you ever read a book, then maybe you have heard of James Baldwin. Ok if not him how about Maybe George Washington Carver, Fredrick Douglas, Charles R Drew, Dred Scott, Sojourner Truth, Booker T Washington, and many more.
To not see these people is to not see yourself. These people suffered not only for black people but for ALL people. All American people have benefited because of these great individuals.
Now let me bring it home just a bit. When you say you do not see me as Black you are saying you don’t see me. You do not see my face. You do not see my thick juicy lips. Nope they do not look like yours. You do not see my cheeks, they are thicker and more pronounced than your maybe but they are just as important. You do not see my eyes, they may not be green, blue, or Hazel but they are a lovely shade of brown. You do not see my color. My dark chocolate complexion that I have come to embrace and love. This color MY color that I adore. When you do not see me as Black you say you do no see me. There are many things that make me the special person I am and it has nothing to do with wanting to be or trying to fit into your mold or expectations you have for me. I looked at that thing and broke it. I will take my own thank you very much because my mold helped created three wonderful human beings. All of them special and BLACK. My lovely daughters have thick hair, big hip and a luscious butty. I have taught them to be proud of these things. My oldest is dark and would never dream of putting on bleach to make her skin any lighter. My baby looks at herself everyday and admires herself…every inch…she is so self absorbed , but that is for another post. My son does not wish he were anyone other than who he is. He Values his worth. Just as you should value yours.
So the next time you want to say you don’t see me as a black person and mean it as a compliment ….BITE YOUR TOUNG; and say I admire your blackness, or I respect you and value you for who and what you are. I promise you it will mean so much more. Because I know and see your color and to say other wise would insult you so please do not insult me.
I agree
Maybe they were just saying that, because they understand the true importance of who we are, that which is within (Heart & Soul), not that which is on the outside. I do agree though, there is a lot of prejudice, but only because we pride ourselves on the outside, and very seldom does this world teach the importance of that which is within. Even in schools we teach about separation, separating children based upon their intelligence, financial ability, religion, and color. So yes prejudice is there, because that is how the system teaches, and that is solely because we all allow it to be. It’s not a matter of color, it’s a matter of where you find yourself to be, within, or out. But the human body, no matter what color, is indeed a most wonderful creation I must say, but what makes it beautiful, is that which is within.
SoulD
Some people just don’t have it ingrained to think before they speak. Imagine if someone said: I don’t see you as a woman; or I don’t see you as a Muslim. It simply is who you are. It’s ignorance to look at it any other way.
Love,
PM
Asalamalaykom Chica,
LOL! I didn’t know you were black! LOL! You were only the color of the words on the page to me…which were black on blogger but…LOL…now are white!
Hey, I always get bugged by that stupid phrase, “I don’t care if you’re black, white, or green.” Green? Ya, you SHOULD care if a person is green! And to talk like that ignores the real experience of race. Race is part of a person’s heritage. It is not grounds for discrimination, but it is a portion of who the person is. I am white. I’m way white. To ignore that part of me is on the same line as ignoring I’m a woman.
“I don’t think of you as a woman,” sure isn’t a good statement, eh?
OK, so I get you…and now I know you’re black, even if you, “look” white on the page
I have many friends of different races and when I am hanging out with them, talking with them, goofing off with them… I don’t see eny of our colors. I see women, I see friends, I see our hearts. Our personalities are as different as our skin color, and it is our personalities that draw us together.
If I were to say to one of them that I don’t see them as black, red, yellow, white or whatever color, I know they would also understand that I do not see my own skin either. I think it just means “We are the same”
Now, however, seeing how upsetting it can be, I would NEVER say that to anybody. Thank you for that lesson!
Diana, I understand what you mean but the fact is we all see color UNLESS we are really color blind. When I see my friends I notice every detail about them. The way the look when they laugh or are upset. this is how you get to kow a person. When we love or care for a person we notice EVERYTHING. So to say Oh I dont see you as black is to say somthing is wrong with it. The fact is there is NOTHING wrong with it. not in my eyes anyway.