I don't post often, but every now and then there's a thread like this and I just can't help myself. There's nothing in the world that someone could give me to make me want to give up being black. That's not to say that I look down on other races, but rather that my conception and understanding of what it means to be black is so deeply intertwined with who I am that to give up would literally be like giving up my arm or my leg. What do I love about being black?
I love the community solidarity that societal oppression has forced us to create. I love the rich and deep legacy of activism that we have. A legacy, if you're willing to research and accept it, that transcends the confines of country. I love the music that my race has created. From jazz, to the blues, to gospel, to negro spirituals, to reggae, to rnb, to hip-hop. I love going on Wikipedia and reading about African-Americans of the past who have accomplished amazing things like Mary Bethune Cookman, Mary Church Tyrell, and Paul Robeson. I love that feeling of joy I get when I see/hear/read about another Black person doing well because I feel like I have a personal stake in their success. I love the heated conversations that my family has at all our family gatherings about how to best move the race forward. I love reading biographies of the activist African-Americans in the 50s and 60s and seeing all of the similarities that we share.
Most of all though I love the feeling of pride and self worth I get by knowing that a significant amount of black people of past generations dedicated there lives to the sole purpose of making my life better. Whenever I'm feeling down I just throw on a old recording of Malcolm X or MLK and my mood immediately begins to brighten.
Yeah, I guess you could say I love being black. Say it loud I'm Black and I am Proud.