Black is Beautiful - The Next Stage
There are many extremely high-yellow people in the US who have African ancestors. Many of them “pass for “Italian” and “Latino” because they wish to God that they were born such. No controversy there. It is only when one of white privilege wishes to God that they were born something else is there this “trouble”.
I put the word trouble in quotes on purpose, as it is “racial trouble” and as such is not of nature but human fabrication. This could be as COMPLICATED as TRANSGENDERED, and as such it could become as liberating for us all.
We black people have been through our shame, using every skin-lightening and hair straightening chemical possible and the vestiges of colorism are still with us. And Rachel Dolezal’s own story will continue to unfold.
However, there is absolutely nothing wrong with black people being black (born black) or other people who genuinely love black people and our cultures, histories, and struggle for justice and want to be black (trans-ethnic), and work for equality and equity as this woman seems to have been doing. There’s nothing wrong with that, and in fact we don’t have enough of it. The NAACP of Spokane, functioning in historic Aryan Nation strongholds, is correct to elect leaders not by their race but by their record.
I see this as an opportunity to think, and to do so for long-term goals, but Capitalism (racist, regressive and violent corporations and the mainstream media they own) and unfortunate race-fiefdoms may mire us in short-term small-minded play or play for quick laughs.
One thing is for sure. This has brought a new day and the conversation will likely NEVER be the same again. I at least hope so. I hope that we pause and think, think again, and deeply think some more. Real change and freedom might be near.
