Black (yes, the name is "Black")

I think that many people are missing the idea of what is happening across America when it comes to the empowerment of Black people, or African Americans since basically every non-Black person feels that is the “politically correct” way to label this group.

There is this HUGE uproar about the Superbowl Halftime show saying that Beyonce was basically trying to glorify and praise the Black Panther party, start a riot and show superiority of the Black race over other races.

Some of the things I read and heard are absolutely mind boggling. I wonder how they even came up with it. Why is it that an artist can dress in a pin-striped suit and chain handing to their knee reminiscent of a mobster but they aren’t berated with the idea they are supporting Mafia families of the 20th century and organized crime? How they are not considered to be anti-government or anti-law enforcement? Is it because the Mafia was all about having fun and in no way harmful or hurtful to society? I bet all of the people that were tortured and murdered by those Mafia members would say otherwise. Having an anti-prohibition party isn’t threatening to American lives? Or dressing like at 19th century slave owner doesn’t bring offense, but can bring an Academy Award nomination? But for some reason that’s okay and dressing like a Black Panther member is sooo scary! These characters can be represented on film because it’s “acting” but a musical performance which is essentially the same as far as being an “act” suddenly can be interpreted as unacceptable? What, natural hair offends you?

As my mom would say, you all need to get a grip!

They dressed like the Black Panther party. And, so what? I was a vampire for Halloween, now I guess everyone needs to be afraid of me because I might attempt to suck out all their blood and terrorize their village. They wore all black leather. If any other race was to do this for a performance, it would be sexy or punk. Was there any violence that took place as a result of their outfits? No. And in a month such as this, come on people lets be cut a little slack. Whether or not you want to admit it, the Black Panther Party has made large contributions to where we are and gave us the courage to be Black and proud. No one can take that away from us.

And to compare the Black Panther party and the KKK is like comparing apples and racists. The Black Panther party was created to take back the voice of our people and break through the barriers created by others for us. The KKK was created based on intimidation and hate. It’s like people totally forget the reason the Black Panthers formed; like they were this pugnacious group of people who decided to riot and rebel against social standards (that were deemed as normal or appropriate BACK THEN, but not NOW) for no reason at all! They were TIRED of being fifth class citizens, being harassed and abused and even murdered!! People act like the Black Panthers are the ones who rancorously kidnapped thousands and thousands of people from their homes and forced them into slavery for centuries and then proceeded even when slavery was over to suppress the ancestors of those people, excluding them from certain neighborhoods and forcing them into ghettos… yeah, please remember, that WAS NOT the Black Panther party… and please remember what group of people DID do that. Black rebellion is brand new in comparison of how long they have been suppressed.

I support these Black women because they did a fantastic job putting on a great show and in my opinion represented our group well.

As a biracial woman who is indeed half Black, I have and will always supported Black people and women in particular. Some might think I’m a sellout to my Italian heritage or a self-loather but I am far from it. I love being Italian, or what most people just classify us as White. I love my dad, I love my family and I love our history. But here is the thing—White or Italian women don’t need an advocate. They have already been given a platform to voice their equality and independence while proving their worth to the shallow minded nay-sayers in this country. White women are respected, praised and recognized for their contribution to their respective industries.

For Black women, we have so many amazing pioneers who have sacrificed every ounce of their being to prove every stereotype placed on us as invalid or obsolete and I appreciate them for it. We owe them immensely. Cicely Tyson, Phylicia Rashad, Maya Angelou, Dianna Ross, Michelle Obama, Serena Williams, Oprah, Tyra Banks. The list can go on and on. But even with all of the progression we have made over the last century, when a person tells me they think I must have an attitude because I’m Black I know that there is work that still needs to be done. When people think that I can twerk on a handstand or do other trendy dance moves, never met my father and my mother probably was strung out on drugs, or that I grew up on the rough streets of Ghettohood, USA having to sell my body to feed me and my family all because I’m Black, there is still a problem. When a non-Black person automatically says I look/sound like/ remind them of/can sing, dance or act like Beyonce or Alicia Keyes because I’m Black and those are the only Black women they know to compare me to, there is still a problem. If a person is surprised that I have a degree, grew up in a nice neighborhood, have a great job that serves the community, or that I can actually have an intelligent conversation even with the use of colloquial terms that represent my culture, there’s a problem.

Cicely Tyson, Phylicia Rashad, Maya Angelou, Dianna Ross, Michelle Obama, Serena Williams, Oprah, Tyra Banks (yes, I meant to repeat this list!). These are not unicorns; these are Black women who do not fit the social stereotypes. But, why is it that they aren’t seen as normal? Yes, these women are absolutely amazing and I am in awe of their accomplishments and I am in no way shape or form negating their attainment, but there are a ton of Black women doing their thing in their careers and communities that should not be overlooked by America as a whole. Why is it for Black women or people in general, socially we are grouped more with the super sexualized, combative, belligerent and crooked stereotypes that are seen on websites like World Star or the hundreds of pages on Facebook promoting violent videos of a selected few? WE ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT! When you think of a White woman, your first thought doesn’t go to someone like Janice Dickenson or Mama June from Here Comes Honey BooBoo, so why are Black women assumed to be a version Sweet Brown or Felicia? And don’t think this is just a Black and White thing because I used White women as references, but unfortunately because they are probably the most easily identifiable I used them as an example. That in itself is another problem of privilege. Black women used to be well represented in the media, but where did that go?

So, if you wonder why Black women need advocates, it’s because we clearly have yet to be recognized as equal. And I think that it happens so often and effortlessly that people are unaware they are even stereotyping us. Like, don’t be amazing with my average accomplishments. Don’t act like that’s the best I can do because I’m a Black woman. Be amazed by me when I do something that defies the laws of nature, not the laws of Black nature that people have created.

Until we can no longer say “First African American Woman to X, Y or Z…” because there are so many Black women who are being recognized that we can no longer count and it is no longer something that is completely noteworthy because of how uncommon it is for a Black woman to accomplish it, I will continue to advocate for Black women.