I Am Black in America
Last week most of my co-workers learned that I was Black. It apparently created quite the chatter. I have been told fellow educators were asking and confirming my Blackness.
I was asked, are you mixed? Why is your skin color that way? Your eyes - do you wear colored contacts?
I work in a very rural town in Louisiana and my co-workers are totally in disbelief.
Yes, I respond I am Black, my parents were Black.
One of your parents must be White? No, both parents were Black
There is no way you are Black! And on and on.
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As this was my first iReport I did not complete my story. My entire life I have had to educate others on the varying shades of Blackness. What has been the most interesting of my experiences is when White people assumed I was White and share their thoughts, opinions, comments on fellow Blacks. Then the day comes when my Blackness is revealed, though I never "passed" for White, I never thought it was necessary for me to say hello my name is Mary and by the way I am Black. I digressed, it is most interesting to me when White people shared their negative thoughts and comments on fellow co-workers or classmates (whatever the environment was at the time) and they learned I that I am Black. I watch them as they recount mentally the comments they made or share and then attempt to blame me for allowing them to share their [as I term it ] uncensored, uncut and honest and feelings/thoughts about Black people. I never defend my physical characteristics for their truthful statements made when they thought they were talking to a fellow White person.
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