EVERYTHING IS NOT ABOUT YOU.
Assuming that everything should include you, is the most basic form of White Privilege. Pro Black does not mean Anti White. Black Lives Matter, does not mean that White lives don’t matter. Beyoncé performing a song with a message specifically to Black people, does not mean she is racist. I know this was probably the first time you felt excluded. Imagine having that feeling every day of your life. Turning on the TV and not seeing anyone that looks like you. Going to buy makeup and not finding anything that matches your complexion. Having to go to a teeny little section within a store just for hair products that will work on your texture. Opening up your history book, and not seeing anything about your ancestors besides Slavery.
Beyoncé’s video does nothing but portray the reality of Black America, and encourage Black people to stop holding each down, and come be successful together. Yes, slavery ended in 1865. Well at least on paper it ended. And even 100 years after that, African American’s were STILL fighting for equality during the Civil Rights movement. And here we are in 2016, and you expect us to be suddenly be on an equal playing field, when we haven’t had access to the same resources? We still continue to fight—for recognition and acceptance. I pray for a day when Black History Month and channels like BET are not needed. Sadly, I'm not sure that day will ever come.
So, did Beyoncé singing on top of a sinking police car offend you? What you should be offended by is the treatment and the conditions of Louisiana during and after Hurricane Katrina. Did the little black boy with a hoodie on, dancing in front of police with riot gear offend you? What should offend you is the countless number of young black men and boys that have been senselessly killed by police because their Blackness posed a threat. Beyoncé’s video was unapologetically Black. I’m working on being unapologetically Black as I possibly can. Unfortunately I’m not a millionaire, so I have to continue to care about how society views me. My bills aren’t going to pay themselves. But I’m a work in progress.
Now please don’t confuse Blackness with being ghetto, dangerous, uneducated, poor or any other negative connotation that comes with the word. It's Black people embracing our heritage, our culture, our innovativeness and ingenuity. If that offends anyone ... You might be part of the problem.
#GetInFormation #Beyonce #BlackPower#WhitePrivilege
