What resonates most for me, Black, African American, or Person of Color? I’m a Black man. Ironically, the only time I’ve been called an American, was in another country. It may be easier to put lump people of color together, but it leaves room for Black people to still be acceptably left out. This being said, I’m not offended when someone gets it wrong. “It’s not what you call me that matters, it’s what I answer to.” Black is the strength of my ancestors who sacrificed their life for freedom. Black is a community of shared perseverance, overcoming an entire country of laws, policies, and business owners knowingly oppressing us. Black is undeniable beauty that every community imitates. Black is music, dance, and creativity that transforms culture globally. Black is a love and reverence for faith and humanity in spite of the evidence of being hunted and killed without regard for our life. Black is a forgiveness that chooses peaceful protest over riot and civil war, regardless of the political narrative that twist our words and intentions to keep our nation segregated. Black is the struggle of unlearning historical trauma that contributes to crime in our communities and an unwillingness to help each other succeed. Black is the lifelong healing from our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, and friends being raped and dehumanized, while our fathers, grandfathers, sons, and uncles attempted to regain power in ways that were harmful to self and others. Black is the confidence that from nothing I can create something world changing. Black is a hope that one day my white brothers and sisters will realize we are not the enemy, and that together we could change the world, but house divided will not stand. Black is the prayer that everyone who comes to this country would benefit from our Civil Rights fight, regardless of their language, partner, religion, etc. Black is the soul of America, built with our bare hands, walked by our bare feet, earned by our sweat, blood and tears, fought for in wars, and nurture by an unrelenting pursuit of justice for all. I’m proud to be a Black man, and I’m proud to be an American! It’s really a both/and scenario, not either/or! https://www.instagram.com/p/CpNy2MgOtiG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=