Your Not Black Enough.
I'm sure everyone, atleast the black people, that visit this blog have gotten this so much that they are tired of hearing it. The termonology used to describe a black person into alternative cultures beside 'black' culture (whatever that is)-'oreo'. Or have heard phrases such as 'You talk/act white', 'you listen to white music' (again whatever that is). You've tried to explain and rexplain why this is or maybe you have gotten to the point, like I have, where your tired of explaining why you cannot be into whatever your into and not be held back by the social or cultural boundaries that bind you to your own. I'll go into that in a much later blog.
This specifically is about an incident that happened to me recently and was acted upon so bluntly that even though its been weeks, I'm still in a bit of shock. I'm involved in theatre in my school and we had a friend of my director's stop by to give us some positve pointers on an upcoming show. So we performed and afterwords he was giving us notes.
I have a solo in this musical we happened to be doing and even though I never asked for it, I got the 'gospel' esque song even though EVERYONE who really knows me-knows that I am anything but gospel-esque. (I have an inkling she gave me the solo because I was black -_-). To make a long story short the guy asks me to come to him and then he says I have something to tell you. So he precedes to whisper in my ear 'You need to be more black' and I was suddenly transported to all my middle school memories of those exact words told slightly by different from various people that have come and gone in my life. I was embarrassed and perplexed. I didn't know what to do so I just laughed and fumed back to my seat where some of the fellow actors had heard and were laughing, completly oblivious to my disdain.
My question is-since when has just being black in general not good enough? Hell, my father is African-isn't that pretty damn well black? I performed the next time around and did the things that they wanted me to do-which was dance while singing, put more 'soul' into it, gyrate, and pratically obtain the 'yes massa' mentality by doing what they wanted for a successful show.
Anything to make society happy, right?
Comments
I feel you pain. I've never had something that awful happen but I used to be in theatre in highschool and we did a Moliere play and I was the main character's baby daughter and had to wear a nightgown and bonnet. When a couple of the other kids and their parents saw my costume they immediately demanded I be given a better looking costume instead of a plain nightgown; since I was black and the rest of the family was not, to avoid any confusion. To this day, I don't know how to feel about that one. All through the performance were "slave revolt" jokes bounced off me backstage by friends who said it'd be cool if I got to shoot everyone in the audience who just ASSUMED I was the main characters' slave just because I was black and he was white.
I see you like Finntroll, Wintersun, Faun. Do you know these bands use traditional european instrument (for instance Faur and Finntroll) and draw inspiration from legends and folklore Celtic, Scandinavian and more on the whole European?
Why a black girl could to be interested to these culture ?
That you like Gorgoroth, Mayhem, Keep Of Kalessin (listen Profundi : http://www.myspace.com/profundi) i can understand... but bands like Tyr or for instance Windir (the best band of Pagan metal ever http://www.myspace.com/windirfantribute - http://www.windir.no/images/valfar01.jpg ) or Bran Barr, Kroda, Obtest, Theudho, Waylander, Helrunar, Fimbultyr, Moonsorrow, Heol Telwen, Falkenbach, Numen etc which uses European traditional elements, listen these bands for a black girl, it’s curious and funny.
PS : Sorry for my english : i don’t speak english very well.
Why does it surprise you? Tons of people around the world (who aren't black) listen to rap, dancehall, african music, etc and have adapted aspects of that culture.
Why should it be any different with black people?
And I'm confused because I can't figure out if your mocking me or just really perplexed.
@Hellcat-yep, it is the worst kind of racism-the unconscious kind.
“Why does it surprise you? Tons of people around the world (who aren't black) listen to rap, dancehall, african music, etc and have adapted aspects of that culture.”
Yes true but for black people, it’s not common. Proof : your blog isn’t very visited.
“Why should it be any different with black people?”
Proud probably and will not to be linked to whites. Asians don’t have this problem.
What is interesting for you in European culture and its legends ?
Anyways-I enjoy most of those bands you listed.Thanks for the feedback.
We still are ruled by a white patriarchy. And racism is embedded within this capitalist system.
White men, think they own the world, and that everyone should stay in their places. Especially a black woman.
It's complete bullshit, listen to whatever music you want.
I'm a black anarchist girl who loves crust, punk, and hiphop.
I think its utterly retarded when anyone claims the country isn't racist because of Obama (who they either forget is half white or they only mention when it suits their agenda). Sure, he was elected but racist people still live in this country and the older generation is still here.
And I'm very happy for anyone (including you) who wants to break out of the suffocating box that we (black people) are tossed into to make other people comfortable. As long as white patriarchy rules, the standards by which we live by will always be questioned.
Honestly, its tiresome.
But it is very interesting how what you listen to can define who you are to other people, and if your black-what your supposed to listen to is raphiphopr&bsoulneosouletc.
But I personally, am more than just my choice in music.
Good comment.