OPINION: The Duality of Black Skin
COLUMNIST BIANCA GREGG WEIGHS IN ON THE DOUBLE STANDARD OF BLACKNESS
For as far back as many of us can remember, Black people have been the coolest people on Earth.
From our dominance in sports and entertainment to our innovative discoveries and inventions, we have played a major role in making the world go. Today, it’s impossible to turn on ESPN without hearing the names: Lebron, Serena or Tiger. All three dominate in their leagues, and are already considered legends. Blacks account for over $17 billion in revenue just last year from the NFL and the NBA alone.
In entertainment Black women have been the taste-makers of modern day music. From chart-topping accolades, to making history in developing inclusive businesses — Black women have been breaking down barriers.
We. Are. Beautiful. People.
The things deemed “Ghetto” have become style aesthetics for the younger generation of suburban whites. From the Jordan/sneaker craze, long colorful nails, box braids, fades, to urban-wear — we have set the tone for years.
As celebrated as we are, as influential as we are, as innovative as we are, it does not change the skin we are in.
he crossroads comes at the point of being tolerated or feared and many of our people become victims of the latter. We all know fear can make you do crazy things — that term fight or flight comes to mind.
What happens when just living creates fear among people outside of your diaspora?
Many Blacks are falling victim to the fear white people have of us. Not just fear but also envy, pride, and the thought that they are somehow losing their power because of us. Such was the platform Donald Trump ran on (and won).
We live in a world where because of our skin, we are dehumanized in every action we take. The duality of our skin is an ultra thin line between being hated and being tolerated.
Read that again.
Our line is not drawn between love and hate but hate and toleration.
We are tolerated because of the gems many of us have to offer and the money it can generate for others. If we dare speak on being worth more or speaking on what impacts our people, the shift is quick. The most daunting thing is; there isn’t much of anything we can do about it.
Innocent Black death is a part of this country’s history.
From the day our ancestors were shipped to this land to build something that was never meant to be for us, to the days of us being told by our parents to work hard and get an education — we still walk around every day fearing that someone will not care for our walk in life because we are viewed as sub-human.
The duality of Black skin is engulfed in beauty and a long history of pain.
What’s next for us?
Change?
Will systems that were never established for us, change? We can only hope.
