This resonants with me so much! Before I read this article, I wrote a Facebook post in response to the usual White male superior made even more heinous by “ there are different species of animals, and some are higher than others”. My rebuttal started with I am an older Black woman who sounds like a thirty something White woman on the phone (once a White guy I went to meet to interview him for an article even assumed I was a blonde, which pissed me off even more), and I am so sick of having White people stare at me as if I betrayed them because I didn’t inform them about my Blackness by sounding “Sheniqua”. I have DON’T have a problem if my people sound so called “ghetto”. It’s just difficult for me to do it. Let me explain.

My parents were part of the Great Migration out of the Deep South by the way Moss Point, Mississippi for my father, and Leesburg, Florida for my mother. Mom used to pop me in the mouth if I even vaguely sounded like I was “talkin’ country.” She tried her best to get rid of her Leesburg accent, but it would still show up, especially when she was angry. And she wanted us, meaning me, my brother and sister, to a chance at a better life than she had growing up; one that wouldn’t have the negative stigma “talkin’ country”.

But my news broadcaster sounding California accent presents a huge dilemma for White people. I don’t fit in their convenient little boxes of stereotypes. And I DON’T CARE! I’m tired, y’all! (Sorry Mom, but I don’t feel like being proper right now!) I’m so SICK of making things easy for White people!

I’m 58 years old, and I REFUSE to do take care of your “precious” feelings anymore! Oh, I’m the angry Black woman, now? Am I disturbing your delicate sensibilities? Guess what? My place on this Earth doesn’t revolve around making sure you aren’t feeling uncomfortable or frightened by me! I. DON’T. GIVE. A. F**K!

I am much more concerned that my two daughters and my son, who all have successful careers, have never comitted any crimes (unless you consider parking tickets a major felony) and are by their friends and colleagues’ accounts are “good people”, could be next targets for the Oakland (California) police department!

And don’t try to placate me and say, oh, I’m sure that would never happen; they are such good people…. Please, White people, try to understand this: It doesn’t MATTER if they’re good! They are BLACK!

And I’m out!