Unpopular opinion: I don’t want to call you “Black”
Dear Someone referred to as Black,
In light of recent events, with all the riots/stands taking place in the USA, over social media, etc, related to the movement on the injustice beyond humane that recently took place with George Floyd and so many more that it has reached a new level of low for humanity, I strongly condemn that injustice, and the ones you personally have faced over the years that it should have been brought to a stop long ago. In fact, it never should have existed. With only support the lot of us can give through the image of a fist colored black, with hashtags #blacklivesmatter or #blackoutTuesday, by writing articles like these, I wish we could do more. I wish we could shake the authorities wide-awake, make the masses of deaf, dumb and blind citizens empathize and act with their eyes, ears, mouths wide open not only until they want to give away comments and forget, but have them there for you and support you like they would their own families and ensure your safety.
I know we have failed you. We have failed to identify you as human and relate your existence through a color. Many of you grew without a privilege of being chosen as first choice. Many of you denied education, jobs that you deserved, perhaps relationships, honesty. Your children have been raised with fear and limitations, and the newer generation just watching history repeat all over again. And for what reason?
You shouldn’t have to deal with racism because of your skin color — or any other reason for that matter. You don’t have to be treated so unjustly because others are blind to see you beyond your skin. You shouldn’t need a hashtag to have the world understand your worth. But for your safety, for your awareness, I now understand we do. I now understand how important giving the identity of the hashtag #Blacklivesmatter is to you. I am unable to openly do it, maybe I am just over my head and unable to agree, maybe I am just another “privileged” person, but I am still find myself unable to refer you as a color, but I will in solidarity.
Maybe it is the way the world has always referred you and your community, embedded into you that your identity now amongst the rest of other communities has become your skin color?
I was born and currently reside in a country where everyone comes together from a diverse background and where their difference is celebrated instead. I am grateful that we never had to witness any misfortune of being divided based on our skin color. As a child, I have grown up with people from your community — let me tell you, not once have we referred to you or have been asked to refer to you as “Black”. We never realized different skin color could make a person more or less.
Because of that, I see every other color in you, on you — but black. I have been able to see your never-ending curls, your perfectly shaped foreheads, ever-smiling, the politeness in you, how gentle you have been raised, your intelligence, your qualifications, your knowledge on different subjects, I also see your big gorgeous eyes and sometimes a flicker of fear in them — of how you may be treated based on the past. Of being judged first for the color of your skin, then anything else. Perhaps that’s why you have been brought up so polite? It irks me that you have to live this way. No human should go through such trials — for some, every single day of their lives.
I condemn the injustice towards you, your families, friends and the people in your community. I openly condemn the intentional or unintentional racism you face. You are as human as any other human. I condemn the way the world has conditioned you to be identified through a color, the way you have been conditioned to live a life of uncertainty and that the younger generations are still witnessing such cruelty.
Sincerely,
Someone not called out by their skin color and wants you to be treated the same.
