Saturday, January 29, 2011

"For Colored Girls (and Gies) Who Sometimes See Rainbows

On my Wikipedia User (profile) Page (user name: C-ritah)


'''For Colored Girls (and Gies) Who Sometimes See Rainbows'''

“I remember never believing that whites were really real” -- Maya Angelou from “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

I, an African-American, remember believing that black people were never really real. This is a true confession. I was always called "black." I knew I was included when people said “Black is beautiful.” I remember people in high-school quoting a popular saying, “It’s a black thang, you wouldn’t understand.” Although I didn’t understand, I imagined I did. When my “White-acting” [???White acting????] friend (who dreamed of being an actor in New York) who often acted unique and original, and less "conformist," told me, “It’s a black thang, we wouldn’t understand,” I was a little offended; 'I am black,' I thought, 'I understand.'

This was the same girl-friend I grew up with from Kindergarten to graduation. We both had the same second-grade teacher, a “white” teacher, who shared the class with a tall, slender, female African-American Teacher’s Aid. I remember the day we, six and seven year-olds, asked our teacher why brown people were called "black." It was a question a lot of us kids had wondered about. Our "white" teacher said she didn’t know…which is a good answer. If you don’t know, you don’t know. The tall Teacher’s Aid didn’t have a better response, although instinctively, I felt like she knew more than she was telling. I remember our teacher telling the class to stick out our arms and hands, and come together to form a circle. We did, (with our skin touching) and we noticed all the colors we came in…brown, caramel, yellow, tan, pink, and the lightest brown. Although it was fun; I remember the other kids made me aware of being the darkest person there. I was black.

In my North Carolina public school, I learned there were eight basic colors…not more. Eight: black, brown, purple, blue, red, orange, yellow, and green. What was/is white (if not a color)? Did "white" people think that white was clear? That the color white was the same as the absence of color? My mind noticed many odd ideas, like strange spellings, and negative numbers…many ideas didn’t make sense to me, but I accepted them (somewhat). To be honest, my mind weaves through a lot of strange ideas…I am thinking of creating a new bumper sticker that many people may want to buy: Education is also UNLEARNING the Mis-education we learn.


There are a lot of things that are confusing to a young person, I think there is much confusion today. When I was in college, I remember telling a “white” person (I think of Jewish descent) that black people did not exist. I was trying to be honest and factual. I told her that most "black" people were actually brown or dark brown people. Since we (dark brown people) are dark, I told her that "white" people probably called us "black", "black" people. In my way of understanding, this made sense. I was "black," everyone I grew up around was "black," and all could clearly see that I/we was/were brown. Of course, I met other people who seemed more confused (in college), for example, a friend told me “Oprah Winfrey and Clarence Thomas are white;” this same person, told me his father (who looked to me like an Italian-American) was “black.” Later, he described himself as a brown person (which I agree with. He is brown). Obviously, I think there is a lot of confusion in America.

I watched a Christian program that showed black people. People who could not be described as any other color – but black. I noticed what I may have ignored before, black people do exist. Black is beautiful. People of color are beautiful.

Now, I live in a pre-dominantly African-American neighborhood, (which is in some ways, like the neighborhood I grew up in). Many people in my neighborhood are black. Sometimes, I am very aware of being brown…not in a fearful way... just aware… I don’t want to be accused of identity-theft [which I’ve never been accused of before…mostly, other brown people have pointed out the lighter-brown regions of my body. Yeah, I notice my multi-hued body...I wonder why they mentioned it?] I think I negated “blackness” when I believed black (people) did not exist, and replaced it with the color brown [And I think I am still confused on how to best express my confusion]. I don’t think that is healthy (for me)…I hope to better describe my reality. I hope people of all colors feel good about their accomplishments, and daily deeds. I am happy using the term African-American. Many people call themselves African-Americans, and identify with a larger group of people who are many colors. At this point, this is who I am, a brown person, who has inherited many features from my black ancestors (and probably, from ancestors of a few other colors); and I am (I think) an America citizen. It’s all good, and Black Is Beautiful!

Peace and Umoja (unity)!

My list of Nine Basic Colors:


English............. English Fonētekā............ English Pronunciation (Dictionary Version)

Black....................... Bā-lāk(ā).................................blak

Brown..................... Bā-rāo-...............................broun

Blue.........................Bā-lu.........................................blu

Purple.................... Pər-pul.................................... pərpəl

Red..........................Rēd(ā)......................................red

Orange....................O-rān-................................... ôˈräNZH

Yellow.................... Yē-lo......................................... yelō

Green......................Gā-re-n(ā).............................. grēn

White...................... Y-t(ā)......................................(h)wīt


My Fonētekā Key: "Sounds Like"................... "Sounds Like The Letter in the American Alphabet"

Ā - "ah" (Aria)..................................................... A - "ae" (Apron)

Ē - "eh" (Education)............................................E - "e" (Easy)

ə - "er" or "ur" (Pur-ple) or (Gen-der)

6 comments:

  1. Interesting... I'm not sure what to make of how I'm depicted here. For example what does "white-acting" mean? I could write a book on how this label was applied to me through-out my childhood. It's ridiculous then, it's ridiculous now. And, I won't wear it. When I look into the mirror there's a black woman looking back at me. She doesn't have to answer questions or qualify to, or for anyone her "blackness". She just is. I can't recall every using the "It's a black thang..." phrase to you. But, let us remember this was during the time where "Do the Right Thang" and Spike Lee films were just being introduced. While I may not be a fan of Mr. Lee personally, I recognize the importance of his films. Hmm...perhaps, then, due to my "uniqueness" and "non-conformist" ways--you guys truly didn't understand. The truth is, African Americans do have different experiences, within our own community, and than of our various counterparts. I'm fine with it--it's one of things that makes us all unique. To make this about simple colors, to me, is an oversimplification. It's about history, community and culture. And, while color may be used to signify an expression of a people and their beliefs--that isn't the point. The point is to see the differences in people, respecting them, honoring them and sometimes finding them beautiful. The color wheel has less than 9 colors in it, but, the way these colors can be expressed is endless--much like ourselves. And, that to me, is what's most beautiful. Namaste.

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  2. First, I Agree with you...

    Second, my page is about including everyone; all humans are persons of color. And I am not a racist (I am a multi-faith person, all being are important...this is a basic tenent of Buddhism...all being are "precious." Racism is TAUGHT! We are all people of color...human beings come in may colors.)

    I don't understand how a part of our reality (a factual part) can be ignored.

    I recognize the complexity of Life, the complexity of people and culture; this is true, and I also value "true" representation when we are talking about people. I don't want to tell anyone how to think, or what to call themselves. You can see yourself as a beautiful "African-American," or a brautiful brown woman, or a beautiful black woman...I will not argue with you, nor will I pretend that I don't see a beautiful brown woman when I look at you.

    For example, I had a male transgendered friend who wanted me to call him "she," and I did; but I also recognize the simple ways we humans are grouped into gender...male and female. I think it is fine to know this.

    If it is not factual, and true, I will try to find (and embrace) a better education! I think Encyclopedia articles should try to be factual and educational.

    This is my attempt to be "honest" and factual about how people appear...and we all come in beautiful colors, and there are people who may want to know about genetics, and skin pigmentations...why would this be a problem?
    (I was a Biology major, and when I was younger, I wanted to know about heredity, and human diversity.)

    This simple article is not intended to speak about human "experience" and how we feel, or how we think, vote, or how we express love and describe ourselves.

    It is a simple article about the many colors people come in, and why...(I will try to base the "why" from a scientific viewpoint...discusing heredity and skin pigmentation).

    Do you have any ideas about how I can make this clear? It is suppose to be a simple, inclusive article...

    Can you help me understand why my outline is not clear?

    Thanks for reading, I appreciate the time and effort you gave me, I will try to answer every question you have posted!

    Love (lah-vah) and light!

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  3. You question, "What does "white-acting mean"?

    My response: To be honest, I don't know. Sometimes, I quote what people say...I never said it. I knew you were (are) intelligent, and brave (non-conformist)...and complex. People said I "acted white," and they didn't tell me what they meant by it. Honestly, I quoted what was said [It is a quote]...not because I understood the quote. Do you think I should write something like [Sic] behind it, or write in brackets ["White-acting"? -- stressing the question mark?]...any suggestions?
    Again, I agree with you...it is ridiculous... [In my defense, I never said those things.]

    My response to over-simplication...the page I directed you to was my "personal page," so the interested reader could better understand my personal history, and why I have interest in writing certain Encyclopedia articles.
    The article itself is designed to be less complex -- I don't intend to write a book...the article (IMHO) should be factual, and inclusive of all people.

    My response: The color wheel...I'm not sure what you mean by that. I wanted to include every color (and each color is defined as a color in the Dictionary...I can use the Dictionary as a reference...yes, these are considered colors.)
    I called the colors the "basic colors" because I think this is a good starting point, [One Dictionary definition of Basic is: Of, being, or serving as a starting point or basis...]. I know there are many, many color variations, but this is a basic list...did I leave a color out?

    I thank you, and hope I have answered your questions. Please feel free to direct me towards good information, or clue me towards possible "offensive" or "un-reasonable" material in my article.

    Namaste

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  4. Namaste Monica!!!
    Your comments are brillant!!!
    Thank you. *bowing*

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  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. This is of interest to me (So I am including this in the comment section):

    Found in Essence Magazine:

    No Love For Chocolate?

    "It's upsetting to be described as chocolate...for all Black women and Black People."
    -Naomi Campbell, after a Cadbury ad compared her to candy. Cadbury apologized (though not all Blacks mind being called chocolate.)

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