Define Black.
Judge Tom P. Brady of Brookhaven, Mississippi, in 1955 gave a speech in response to the federal government’s actions of desegregating schools. In this speech he made it a point to define black.
“Black denoting darkness and terror. Black signifying the absence of light and wisdom. Black embodying grief, destruction and death.”
They assigned a color, with negative connotations, to a people purposely. Meanwhile, let us be clear, Judge Tom P. Brady was not referring to a color he was referring to a race of persons. We exude darkness and terror, we resemble the absence of light and wisdom, we are consumed with grief, destruction and death. None of this in anyway alludes to our humanity.
It is only right for us to bask in otherness, soak in underestimation, thrive in our belittlement. For they will never see us as equal nor will they ever expect greatness from the color black. Instead they will see darkness and terror. No matter if our achievements allow us to enter the same rooms as they do, or if our education allows us to speak as intelligently or even past their understanding. They will still claim we lack wisdom. And when our culture, music, and food, is being stripped from under us to be mimicked, readapted, and called exotic or interesting. They will still see us as embodying grief, destruction and death. To be black is to be despised and loved in the same breath. To be black is to be admired and ignored simultaneously. To be black is to bleed revolution but be called terrorists. To be black is to live life as a martyr, but viewed as a heretic.
“These people [whites] have deluded themselves so long, they really don’t think I’m human. I base this on their conduct, not on what they say. And this means … they have become moral monsters.” — James Baldwin
It is an illusion and a glitch in the simulation, here in America. To, for centuries, live in a state feeling free of consequence. While at the same time oppressing multitudes of persons and simultaneously ethically excuse these actions because of generational criminalization, dehumanization, and hate.
James Baldwin, a well-known black writer and activist, in 1969 stated during a TV interview with Dick Cavett, “If any white man in the world says give me liberty or give me death, the entire white world applauds. When a black man says exactly the same thing — word for word — he is judged a criminal and treated like one, and everything possible is done to make an example of this bad nigger so there won’t be any more like him.”
Highlighted by Baldwin, a nation known for supporting worldwide revolutions, and international underdogs, but can’t stand to support the domestically oppressed that sleep under their nose. It is nature for a cage being to want to be set free so when human nature forces us to act, the only difference that halts acceptance is color.
Black denotes power, elegance and sophistication. Black signifies true strength and authority. Black embodies a rebellion and oozes dominance. Black is a requirement for any other color to have depth.
Now you define black.
“The night is beautiful, so are the faces of my people” — Langston Hughes, a literary genius and social activist.
Recommended film.
I am Not Your Negro. (2016) Directed by Raoul Peck
