BREAKING CHAINS; A BLACK MAN’S LIBERATION
I see life in dark places, I see love and not races, I see God in our faces.
Not too long ago, I embarked on a journey with Target. It’s been a truly amazing experience serving as a guest advocate at the beautiful store in the West Loop.
However, amidst the diverse array of customers from all corners of the world — Asians, Europeans, Africans, Americans, Hispanics, etc. — I couldn’t help but observe the nature of people and the cultural tapestry that unfolds before me. Growing up in Africa ingrained in me a natural sense of observation.
But what caught my eye? Why does a pang of disappointment hit me when I see an African American entering the store smelling of smoke and weed? Why does frustration well up when I hear stories of how education wasn’t deemed for them? And why does the white man in the grey coat exude more responsibility than many who share my skin color? Where did we go wrong?
I used to proclaim, “Do not define me by the color of my skin, for who I am resides beneath it.” Today, however, I question that statement. Can we place blame on society for the impressions it casts on black people? According to a survey by Pew Research Center, stark disparities exist in the perceptions of black and white adults regarding life for blacks in the U.S. Notably, blacks are more likely to believe in workplace unfairness, biased treatment in various sectors, and major obstacles like racial discrimination, lower quality schools, and lack of jobs hindering progress.
Yet, do we inadvertently embody these stereotypes? We utter profanities, live immorally, struggle with proper English, stigmatize those who stand out, resort to substances to suppress trauma, sag our pants, and struggle to finish high school. We often settle for menial jobs, becoming content with the “baby mama” narrative, lacking control over our desires, and succumbing to a destructive path. Do I truly have the right to assert, “Do not define me by the color of my skin, for who I am is the person that resides on the inside”?
I believe I do, not because I’m special, but because we are all special, though we may not fully grasp what that entails. Studying the lives of great figures like Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Martin Luther King reveals that societal and familial expectations need not dictate our destinies. Backgrounds and situations don’t have to define our futures. If Mandela, once a farmer’s child in a village, could ascend to become the first black president of South Africa, then personal value knows no bounds. Sometimes, it takes drastic decisions to alter our situations. Our limits are often self-imposed; we are not lost as a race. We’ve fought hard to have our voices heard, so let’s not falter now. Reject mediocrity, challenge the royalty within, realize our full potential, and break free from societal expectations of African Americans.
And so, with unwavering conviction, I repeat:
“I see life in dark places, I see love and not race, and I see God in our faces.
Be a model for your race to look up to, not a disgrace other races look down upon. You can be black and be confident, black and be smart, black and be full of integrity, black and be respectful, black and be responsible, black and be resourceful, black and be caring, black and be a representation of Christ in a man. We are all from one man, and there is no separation between a black man, a white man, a Chinese man, an Indian man, a Hispanic man, and an African American man. We owe it to future generations to live out productive lives.
In essence, you are not to be defined by the color of your skin; let your light shine from within and be a part of the people who live to break the cycle society has on those with darker skin.”
I tend to write out of a place of love and joy, this piece is no different, out of love for God’s people I offer my thoughts on what I think we can do better as a race to become better humans. Please leave at least 50 claps and a comment if you like this piece❤️.
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