BEING BLACK
(a broke girl’s diary)
Growing up in a continent where I “Phonsi” came before my
skin color and having the experience of being black in the United States; I
felt the burning need to tell my own broke girl’s black story. I remember just
a few days after visiting the Whitney Plantations; which is a site where slaves
were brought to work on the farm and cater to their masters. An experience that
still breaks my heart and for the sake of this post; I will share a few photos
of the walls in which the slave names are written with the first slave being
from “Congo”, pictures of how heads hung on sticks, chains, torture kits and a
book of the constitution on the “Law of Slavery”. A site I wish never to go
back to and force myself not to think of anymore. I save my tears for happy
moments. Then, the issue of race hit me hard, the reality of it in America came
to life after I read more on Sandra Bland’s case. And let me tell you; that’s
just 1 case in 10 or 15 that we across the globe hear of. There is 50 more
Sandra Blands of all ages and you don’t want to hear about it. Just a few days
after; we had a workshop and I cried my eyes out with pain piercing through my
fragile heart saying; “I don’t wanna be black anymore; I am tired of being
black; I just want to be “Phonsi” Again; I wanna go home” still makes me cringe
with hurt as I think about it. At that moment; I forgot what being black meant.
A few days later, the statement of “Acting black” arose. Often used as a derogatory
statement. I asked: “I still don’t understand what acting black is; if it is
being ghetto; uneducated; uninstructed and all; it still doesn’t answer it for
me; to me that is not “being Black”. So I asked myself what is being black.
What really is being black when in history blacks have long fought to achieve
greatness and played major roles in history? It clicked; That is being black…
but wait;
We then dig dip into history, we think of Nelson Mandela,
Martin Luther king, those black men were the drivers of historical changes in
our world and again, blacks were so smart that they were oppressed into making use
of their knowledge and share their knowledge in plantations during slavery.
Again, most medical drugs derive from African Methods and Africa is where
people go to research and come up with certain Traditional Medecines and more.
The president of the United states of America is Black; Then what do you mean
when you tell me; “I am acting black” How else am I supposed to be great if I
don’t act black?
Chimamanda Ngozi a Novelist is a black woman who publicly
advocates for equality and women empowerement. She is also known as "The feminist". Desmond Tutu
was a prominent figurehead in the campaign against apartheid. After the fall of
apartheid, he took part in the truth and reconciliation process to heal the
wounds of apartheid. Martha Wangari; Kenyan
environmental and political activist, who led initiatives to plant trees and
the green belt movement. Maya Angelou
was a true visionary writer and performer who changed the landscape of the both
the literary, political, and cultural world, whose legacy will forever resonate
with people around the world from all nations. Spectra Speaks (Nigeria) is a queer afrofeminist writer and activist. Tolkien was born in
Bloomfontein, South Africa before moving back to England, where he later wrote
the best selling ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy.
To name some more; Rosa Parks; Michelle Obama The little Rock nine, Samuel eto’o, Larry Doby, Lupita Nyongo, Hariet Tubman, Oprah Winfrey, Beyonce, Akon, Malcom x, Condoleeza rice, Koffi anan, Sadiya gueye, Angelique Kidjo, Adenike Ogunlesi… etc
To name some more; Rosa Parks; Michelle Obama The little Rock nine, Samuel eto’o, Larry Doby, Lupita Nyongo, Hariet Tubman, Oprah Winfrey, Beyonce, Akon, Malcom x, Condoleeza rice, Koffi anan, Sadiya gueye, Angelique Kidjo, Adenike Ogunlesi… etc
Blacks to me represent something bigger than greatness;
certain things only black people can do, certain beats only we can feel,
experiences that only we can testify on, historical changes that happened
despite the blackness of our skin and it is due to the blackness of our skin
that “Blacks never stop striving for greatness”. Come on; tell me again I am “Acting
black” and I will proudly wear the crown on my head made from bamboo sticks and
my grandmother’s raffia made print, sprinkled in Masai beads.
There you have it; My broke girl’s black story. Funny right;
I am broke and I am black! Well… Not really, I am great and gifted. That’s how
it sounds in my ears.
Inspired from Mwende Katwiwa’s book “Becoming black” and my
favorite poems from her called “Too black” and her other poem “Not black enough”. Also a blogger whom I had the privilege to meet here in New-Orleans.
DON'T FORGET TO TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK.
FACEBOOK: R-shan Phonci Shasha
TWITTER: @Rshanphonsi
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TWITTER: @Rshanphonsi
INSTAGRAM: @rshanphonsi
E-MAIL: rshanphonsi@gmail.com
FACEBOOK PAGE: Beauty4brokegirls - B4BG
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COMMENT BELOW
STAY FABULOUS EVERYONE!
Pictures not in particular order. slave kids; slave quotes; masters home; slave homes; slave prison; torture kits; books; slave names engraved in walls. Spikes picture from google.
