Trying to explain Black Identity to my kids

Trying to explain Black Identity to my kids

Join me as I (try to) explain to my kids how personal identity and social identity connect to black identity. The other night I went out to eat... I brought home a doggy bag for you guys but mom must've ate it... Moving on, I was with my white friends - or friends who are white, anyway I got frustrated because I screamed "Im a playa..." And no one followed it up with "from the himalyas!" On screen: [What's the point of going out to eat with my white friends if I have to pay for my own meal?] Because... of course they didnt. My black friends more than likely would have known what I was talking about... Maybe... It's part of what makes me, me! My identity, my perspective and how I perceive things, my world view comes from being black in America. The experiences of being in this body and having this skin color has shaped me almost more than anything else... [On screen: memory theory, body theory with sources] My memories are of black things like the food we ate, 90's sitcoms featuring an all black cast, and me being in love with Janet Jackson. It is the one thing that has remained constant in my life - from birth till now, including all the examples I gave in the beginning of the video - I am black, which is why I identify myself as such. Well I am, and have always been, a male this entire time too, although once upon a time I was a boy, now I'm a man... Being a late bloomer, I dont really know when I became a man... I assume it was later than everybody else... People identify themselves in many different ways... Job title, credentials, how much money they make, status in society, and even their race... And If I were to describe myself, I would of course mention that I am your dad, and a husband to your mother. But I am also a part time athlete, a full time employee, a Buckeye, a son, a brother, and well... a brotha... As you know, I was raised in inner city Columbus by my mother (your grandma) and with my sisters. We were poor and everyone around us lived similarly, and looked similar to me. We were the sum of racist policies and/or terrible circumstances and/or bad choices This is seen as part of the overarching black experience... I guess there's a notion that black people from the suburbs or from rural areas don't understand. But me, I was singing the inner city blues... Just not in prefect harmony; which should be fine, I was in the Hood, but not necessarily of it... I am still a product of my environment... Our bond should be in the struggle to maintain and preserve our identity in heritage, traditions, and culture... A culture that's scoffed at, dismissed, and destroyed before becoming mainstream, then used by those who tried to destroy it for profit.... The unique hardships from being black in america gave us style, fashion, music and even African american vernacular... With that said, I have been told, by black people, that I talk white bc I. Sound. Like.  This. In some ways, I wasn't black enough... No matter how many FUBU shirts I wore... Oh... There's this thing called a black card. Its doesn't really matter and its not a real card but I got mine taken all the time I was fortunate enough to go to a predominately black high school AND later, a mostly white high school (which is why your dad acts like people cant tell him nothing). But, I had the same concerns at both schools... Maybe I was just insecure, but feeling like I wasn't black enough for one group and too black for the other will do that... So if I thought, "Man I am really looking forward to Fiona Apple's follow up to Tidal... She's really going to come into her own..." I certainly wouldn't say it... Out loud... With my mouth... At either high school I went to That aint representing. That aint keeping it real So not being black enough, which is the subject of the next video, and being called white are different sides of the same coin. Which could lead one to being... Token... Baby... But you, kids, I want your life and how you express your identity to be different. I want you to be free to be your black. Down to how you wear your hair. Picture of the Laveque Tower: Tyler Tuthill https://instagram.com/tylertut?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=1ithn2h5b6w91 Videos courtesy of: COUMBUS OHIO HOODS / DRIVE THROUGH STORE CISIT CharlieBo 313 https://youtu.be/rh-QV01rRY0 ON THE STREETS OF COLUMBUS OHIO MOBAY 876 RC https://youtu.be/rh-QV01rRY0 Martin: The best of Jerome (Part 1) Kylee Mary https://youtu.be/g-BS8nCWyaE Chris Rock "Kill The Messenger": multi-racial friend... HBO https://youtu.be/g-BS8nCWyaE

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