Part II: What is the Prize for Blackness?

In celebrating Black History Month this February 2012, various urban radio stations in the Greater New York area aired programs to discuss ‘all things black.’ One such show featured a beautician, a black man who wanted to keep things black and a doctor who’d been brought up in an all white neighborhood, gone to white schools and ended up at Yale, an Ivy League university. This doctor, while at Yale, started a new trend: She stopped doing those things she’d grown up doing and started to hang with the black kids, do black things and even shun her white roommates. As one listened to her, they’d, undoubtedly discern a sliver of regret, and it seemed as though she was asking herself: Why did I put myself through all that? Out loud, she told her audience that the pressure to be black did not come from white students but from the black ones who urged her ‘stick to her own.’

Without being overly simplistic, this ‘stick to your own’ theme is probably one of the most misunderstood and especially detrimental aspects to being a minority. Somehow, many of those who march to its beat believe that safety is in numbers. Understandably, before 1970, it was only right and fitting to hang around in groups. And yes … To this day, minorities ought to be careful in certain areas since there are still a great many racists around. However, things are much different than before and we ought not to do the things done a generation ago.

The doctor we mentioned earlier only understood the essence of race after she left university. She learned that one needed to look for the benefit to one’s blackness. For instance, if a racial quota in a company needed to be filled, black people ought to take advantage of this benefit. And if one is the only black person in a white company, they had better do all the things their white colleagues are doing. It does not help anyone to stick out like a sore thumb.
The logic from Ms. Doctor was that with all due respect to those who have benefitted from acting and being exclusively black in a white community, it is simply a matter of math: expand your circle and you will catch more.

On the other hand, like we started out earlier, there are cultural justifications for sticking to your own. Why would you want to sit down with people who want to take the very little you have away from you? Many Republicans say many a racially insensitive statement. They also maintain condescending attitudes towards minorities. And because they are in the public eye, they can, ostensibly, come to represent every other white person. But we all know that there are too many exemplars amongst these white people – too many in fact to be called the exception. White people, like blacks and other races can be good and want the best for others. Unfortunately, the media, at times, makes it seem as though its really hard out there for a black man. The reality is that if black people keep ‘self excluding’ from white activities, there is a chance that the gap between races will grow even wider. Black children discourage others from ‘acting white,’ doing white things and basically trying to get ahead in their lives. Ambition is sometimes frowned upon and one cannot deny a general black apathy towards the system. And this is not necessarily the black people’s fault. The system has been bad to them.

For example, there is something called ‘redistricting.’ This is, simply, a redrawing of district borders done by either Democrats or Republicans to include those who will most likely vote with and for them – and exclude those least like them. The same goes for those districts that are white and those that are black. Somehow, what happens is that eventually, black representatives look after the interests of the blacks and the same goes for whites. This is happening today – as it has happened for a long time – and this phenomenon is at the heart of America’s economic and racial inequality. With it comes an issue of funding. High Schools in white districts are mostly doing much better than those in black districts. Property values in black districts are usually lower than those in white districts. If one looked at the benefit of being in white district versus a black district, it would start to make sense. Redistricting, taken to another level is also called gerrymandering.

So … What is the prize for blackness? Simply, there is no prize. And honestly, there is no need to be black when it already shows on your face. If one went about their lives as oblivious to race as they could, there is a chance that something good would come out of it. Asians have perfected the art of adapting to their environment. Why can’t black people do the same thing? I was reading a story of a black Harvard educated bankruptcy lawyer who was passed up for promotion over a period of more than 5 years. He was moved from legal duties to menial aspects within the law firm. His billable rates were torn down to smithereens. This tale is basically one of woe. But wait … What was a Harvard educated person doing in this awkward position? Could other aspects have contributed to these extenuating circumstances? If you look at the rate of employment amongst Harvard [or other Ivy League] graduates, its not high at all. Were there elements of racism in the actions of his white bosses? Maybe. Or alternatively, there were good reasons to keep reducing his responsibilities – just like they would white person. If you watched ‘Office Space,’ you will understand what I am talking about. At the end of the day, the sooner we realize that there’s no treasure at the end of this black rainbow, the better it will be for us all around.

Dennis Matanda
Editor – [email protected]