Often times, many, have suggested that my blackness, being tainted by American slavery, yields me no culture. I rebuke that premise. I am "Black, Black."
For me, being "Black, Black" in America is more than just the color of my beautiful skin. It is in fact my culture. It is a series of conditions that have changed the trajectory of who I would have been, had it not been for the capture and enslavement of Africans and the perpetual effects of systemic racism in America.
"Black, Black" to me, is a call to action, for those who have questioned the authenticity of the Black American experience and its attachment to culture as it relates to being anchored in roots. And for those who question, they are often other persons of color whose life journey has taken them on another journey, also rooted in the transatlantic slave trade. The difference between the African American Black and people of color throughout the transatlantic diaspora is that American Blacks after receiving partial freedom still had to live with the oppressor. Others fly a flag of conquering. They possess a sense of freedom. Yet, just as they can look at me, and see my trauma, I too, can also look at them, and see the affects of slavery, classism and colorism perpetuated on the islands many call home.
"Black, Black" for me, like I have said is my culture but also my race. Stripped from my natural homes origin, I must acknowledge and merge where I should be against my current reality. The truth should not bring shame, at least not for the stolen Africans dwelling in America as non-immigrants. America is home because blood built it: the blood of the slave running through the veins of those it still tries to subdue. So glad the awakening is happening. I will save that premise for another post.
I am the daughter of those enslaved in the America's and with that comes a rich history of bloody brutality, brain washing, new normal's, freedom fighting and one of the best things about being black for me, the ability to make a way out of no way. The ability that struggle affords, is an innate creativity, that allows us to use the world of whatever is available to make ANYTHING. I am not ashamed of that. The conditions that placed us in the role of survivor were not our own doing, but we made the best of it even in the midst of all of trauma caused.
Now it is time to open our mouths, speak our truths, raise our bodies and connect to our greatness and our power. Our freedom did not come with a flag or land. Crazy how the losing side of the southern confederacy used it flags to assert its white supremacy on free blacks to maintain a system of racial servitude.
Systemic racism, plagued us and stripped us of the ability to create a community by engaging in literal Psychological warfare.
Psychological warfare, also called psywar, the use of propaganda against an enemy, supported by such military, economic, or political measures as may be required.
Psychological operations (PSYOP) are operations to convey selected information and indicators to audiences to influence their emotions, motives, and objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of governments, organizations, groups, and individuals.
One of those tactics was segregation. It created envy and made many blacks believe that whiteness was rightness and that success was the acceptance or mimicking of whiteness. I believe there is a difference between fighting for the right to Be great at your own table vs. the right to be assimilate at someone else's table.
I am proud to be, "Black, Black" because we are moving forward in truth that American Culture is "Black, Black" culture. I make the assumption that EVERYTHING rooted in traditional American customs are customs infused by those who were once thought of as property. So their inventions and African traditions are also rooted in the literal fabric and foundation of America.
The contributions of Black, Black's in America are countless. I encourage you to spend some time discovering our culture.