Last Wednesday in Black History Month. Here’s what’s on my mind.
My friend Julie would phrase this so much more poetically than I but I want to say it simply “I am tired of this shit”. As Black history month draws to a close, I find myself wondering why we still need such a thing. History is History, it cannot be changed. It just needs to be reported correctly. Why does it seem that we have to beg for acknowledgment?

Why in 2016 does the deeds of one black person represent every black person? Why are we lumped into the same basket? Your environment has a lot to do with who you are. My parents were not rich but I also did not grow up in a ghetto. I don’t know about drive-bys or walking over crack needles to get to school. I had food every day, I was happy as hell and get this, I had a great childhood. Don’t tell me my story when you have not lived it.

Why does the term “visible minority” apply only to people of color? When you go to a country were the minority population is Caucasian, is the term applied to them?
I have often heard that Black people are overly sensitive. Does anyone stop to think why?

There was a time in my (really) younger days where I did wish I was anything but black. Simply because I didn’t want to deal with the stereotypes. But now I love it!!!  I love being black, I love the culture, I love the vibrancy, I even love the hair (except on those days but we all have bad hair day, don’t we? ? ). Braids and corn rows on anyone not black is often referred to as cute, yet we are degraded for it. It apparently means we are in a gang to some people. I love the options our hair gives us. Kinky or straight. Braids or ‘fro, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s almost like we need permission to wear our natural hair.

We don’t all play basketball. In fact some of us have never actually played basketball. It’s something we see on TV. Why do my children have to answer questions about why they don’t like basketball. I grew up with cricket and football, the real football not the North American version. I don’t speak Ebonics, each Island has its own dialect but guess what, we all learn the Queens English. You get one illiterate black person on television and guess what, we are all illiterate. The same is not true of a white person. In that case, it’s that individual. He is the illiterate one.
Because I walk by your car does not mean that I want to steal it. There is no need to lock your car as I pass by. I actually have more important things to think about than stealing your car.
I’ve never smoked weed. You mention Jamaica to the average person and one of the first thing that pops out of their mouth is “ganga mon!”, with that knowing nod and smile. News flash, we don’t walk down the street smoking weed. WE WILL GET ARRESTED!!! Children in North America are more likely to have tried weed in elementary school than children attending primary school in Jamaica. Just pole your own children, you’ll be surprised to know how many of their friends (if not them) have tried it already. I dare you to find a West Indian parent that will supply marijuana to their child because “They will get it from somebody else”.

Africa goes green.
In 99% of all television references about Africa, you generally learn three things:
1) Practically EVERYBODY!!! in Africa is starving
2) The few that are not starving live in remote villages you can only access by some a small plane.
3) You can go on a safari there.
Most people don’t know anything else. They don’t see the knowledge. They don’t know about the culture, they don’t see the vibrant cities. They don’t even know that there is actually green in Africa. There is actually a history before and after  the slave trade. At one point, I was also that ignorant. Years ago I was put in my place by an fellow student who saw the look of shock on my face when she told me her country exports coffee. Just like anywhere else in the world, including the great America, Africa has its good and bad parts, its rich and poor. And yes people, there is green in Africa!

Genes – Oh what you’ve made me.
The hypocrisy continues even to genes. Genetics makes us all, we have no control over it. A specific combination of dominant and recessive genes makes an individual who they are. It explains why a non-colored family can have different eye color, hair color, hair textures even differences in skin hues. Yet you put a family of color together see the same differences and it’s baffling that they can actually have the same mother and father. Why?

Dance with me.
After Miley’s infamous performance on the VMA’s, black women were reamed about twerking. Fast forward to Canada’s own Justin Bieber, “is it too late now to be sorry?” Have you seen the video? If I am not mistaken, this video has over 9 million views . Change the skin color and guess what, it is an awesome video, awesome dance moves.HUH!!! Does no one see the problem here? I feel I should also point out that not every one in the black community is a fan of twerking. We don’t all go around twerking!

Our world was built by contributions from all races, not just blacks, not just whites.  History tends to be skewed depending on the teller, they voice partial truths in some cases. They should reflect what actually happened. I don’t believe that the accomplishments of my ancestors are better or more important than anybody else’s.

They are all equal and should be celebrated equally!

Follow more black history facts at @ethnicceleb. You’ll be surprised at what you didn’t know, you didn’t know!

Have an amazing day. May you have lots of Joy in your Spirations.