A Message from the Average Black Person
To Whom It May Concern:
Greetings. My name is Elon James White. I'm Black.
I write this letter on behalf of a lot of people that fall into the category of Average Black People. (Yes, I capitalize it, as if it were a title.) I do not claim to represent them because that would be absurd. I really, truly don't. I don't even represent my circle of friends. At any point in time one of my Black buddies will, in fact, tell me to go to hell when speaking on concepts of race, politics, or religion.
I do, however, qualify as an Average Black Person. I am neither a part of the Black intelligentsia, nor do I fall into the category of your garden-variety street Negro. A lot of folks see Black people in one of these two categories. Normally, let's be honest, it's the latter.
I don't qualify.
I do come from "the Hood." That's right. I am a born and bred Brooklynite raised in the middle of Bed-Stuy. If you aren't familiar with Bed-Stuy, perhaps you have never listened to gangster rap. You're probably also unfamiliar with Jay-Z, Biggie Smalls, or the thousands of songs that yell out "Brooklyn!" and then give a shout-out to Bed-Stuy. It's fine. Just understand that Bed-Stuy has a primarily negative connotation and for many years was used in boasts to gain respect or fear because it's an incredibly violent environment.
In other words, you could get shot, son.
Speaking of which, I am the son of a single mother. My father is in prison. My grandfather was a pastor and I grew up in the church. I, without shame, also enjoy fried chicken, watermelon, ribs, and orange soda. I can have an incredibly in-depth debate on the best five MCs ever. My credit isn't great and I've been shot.
With facts like this I qualify as a stereotypical Black person right?
But I am also a computer programmer. I've been known to quote Nietzsche. I, on occasion, host dinner parties where I serve five-course meals, including a specialty of mine, White Truffle Tilapia (it's delightful). I have the entire John Williams discography and wear a backpack that is emblazoned with the Thundercats insignia.
Those with one half of that story shake their head at the sheer mass of stereotypes I carry. Then those with the other half question if I even understand the Black experience at all. Some refer to me as someone who "made it out." I currently live in Crown Heights. Some say "You're not like the others." Most people I interact with are very similar to me.
I am an Average Black Person.
So, as an ABP, I have a few requests:
Media.
Please stop referring to blacks as a monolith. I can't possibly express to you the different types of Black people that exist. We neither move as an entity, nor do we move as three or four entities. For every Sharpton, there's a Steele. And for every Sharpton and Steele there are a hundred folks in the middle. What we share is a past, which on occasion helps shape our view on things. Also? Obama is not a unicorn. Please stop acting like Obama and his family are magical in the Black community. Just because some of you may not have seen a Negro like this doesn't mean they don't exist. Lots of smart black folk living with their smart mates and their cute smart kids. So please remember. Obama? Not a unicorn. Black people? Not one voice: I don't care what the supposed Black leaders try to claim.
Supposed Black Leaders.
Please stop speaking for us as if we were a monolith. This is not the 1960s. We don't need a Martin Luther King, Jr. or a Malcom X. You speak for yourselves and your view on what's happening. You also can't police black people. There isn't an us. Are there issues within the Black community? Absolutely, but it's not everybody as much as it is certain groups, most time classes that are in need of help and focus. Hence you can't speak for "Blacks." There are people who need your help and don't want you speaking for them. Oh, and for the love of all that is holy, could you please stop critiquing Obama simply to show you aren't drinking the kool-aid? I get it. You're sugar-free. Got it.
Critics Of Obama.
Hey, um...guess what Black people are not? A monolith. We are not holding Obama on a pedestal. Some critique him harshly (and personally I feel unjustly) and others love him. This is the case with every president. Obama is not the spokesperson for Black people. He is a symbol of hope. He is a symbol of opportunity in a land where opportunity for us seemed nonexistent. He's a symbol of a fight where people cried and died and sacrificed in order for the opportunity for him to exist. But his actions are his actions and have to be judged. Just not four months after he walked in the door with one of the worst clean up jobs in the countries history. You may critique him without critiquing Blacks' ability to critique him.
The hypocrisy of saying we are not One, and yet speaking for the exact group for which I just emphatically denied exists, is not lost on me. Perhaps there are Black people who absolutely want to be spoken for and referred to as if we were one big team. I acknowledge the possibility, but if this was the majority people like Dyson and Smiley would be way more important, and let's be honest: they aren't. I hope that my message is clear. After reading this, the next time you talk to a Black person you can feel comfortable in now knowing with every fiber of your being that you have no clue what they think or feel based on their skin color.
But if they're wearing a Soulja Boy shirt you may disregard this essay and judge them immediately.
Follow Elon James White on Twitter: www.twitter.com/elonjames
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There is absolutely nothing average about getting shot!
LOL...GREA
I don't know how many times over the course of my adult life I've had to state that blacks don't share one brain. During college, if another black person did something stupid, everyone (or rather most people) looked to me to explain THEIR actions! I constantly tried to state that I don't expect whites to answer for everything stupid another white person does, so why expect that of me? Some people got it, some didn't.
But also, I've spent a fair amount of time trying to tell other blacks that just because another black person may have grown up in the 'burbs and have white friends doesn't make him/her a "sellout" (a word I don't like at all, as it assumes once again that all blacks behave alike and anyone who roams outside of the 'keeping it real' realm are deemed less than black).
My absolute favorite, though is how Sharpton and J.Jackson are STILL the "voices of the black community". LOL My response is typically: Really? Because I didn't know anyone in Gary, where I grew up, who quoted either of those two...but I digress...
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Oh theres definitely an issue with how we look at each other and how some expect certain actions to prove your blackness.
And personally, I feel as long as we just roll our eyes and don't state EMPHATICALLY that these people DO NOT speak for us, they will continue being the voices. The line must be drawn HERE.
Hi . . .my name is Koren.
I'm an average black person.
I grew up in the south aka the dirty south.
I learned I was inferior in a public school classroom by observing the conduct of my teacher.
I have a JD from Georgetown.
I attended an HBCU for undergrad.
I like wine (not the kind in a box) . . .and olives . . .but am not getting my hair wet at the beach.
I'm as comfortable in Bed Stuy as I am in rural Alabama, my home state.
I'm as comfortable around poor black folks (my blood family) as I am around wealthy white men (my legal family
I wish Al Sharpton, Jessie Jackson, Tavis Smiley Corney West and Eric Dyson got the memo that they aren't really that relevant (at least not for all black folks).
I haven't forgotten where I come from, but don't think everything is the white man's fault.
Institutional racism is alive and thriving.
My philosophy on race: when you see danger ahead you neeed to rethink your strategy; thats how I got out the hood.
Thanks for the post Elon.
Thanks for writing this.
Are you my twin?!?
Aside from the JD from Georgetown (MS from DePaul), you are me!
Hey Elton, The point you make is so necessary, and well done. Being a San Fran Bay Area girl myself I was raised to think the folks around me were oh, so much more enlightened than in other parts of the country. Funny, though when I became that "white woman" in love with a black man I saw a different side.
Many of my friends asked if black women were mean to me -- and nope that never happened. Then there were my other friends and family members that claimed there is no more racism --at least in the Bay Area. It's just a pure social class thing.
I see alot of parallels between him and you. Grew up in the 9th Ward of New Oreleans and raised by a single mom, but knows tons about world affairs and teaches at the University. Worked his way through college, just like I did. The more people who start talking and expressing their authentic selves the way you have the better off we'll be
You know who I found so easy to talk to after dating a black guy? black women... and men too. It was like loving a black man put a sign on my forehead "yes I'm open to seeing you as an individual. dont' need to worry that I'm going to put you in a box or start saying something totally clueless and out of line." I just loved having these conversations.
Thanks!
His name is "Elon" not Elton
--I've been known to quote Nietzsche.
Please don't do it in the house.
Elon you and I have been fortunate enough to see the world through experience and have allowed that to shape who we are. You were able to embrace a life outside of Bed-Stuy which has shaped that experience and your person, the same with most of the folks responding to your smart and irreverent post. These experiences allow me to drive down 271 singing the Dixie Chicks at the top of my lungs and to confess that I've seen every Harry Potter movie at least 20 times (and the new Star Trek rocked!) But isn't that the reason why we need a Black leader? We need someone to step up to the plate and relieve Rev. Sharpton of his duties to represent a more multi-faceted and open-minded version of who we are as a people. We can be a collective "we" without being a monolith. We can have a collective voice and still be a collection of individuals. Though I am still pretty young, my parents are in their 70's and when I hear them talk of how "we" used to be I long to be a part of a people who know and understand their history and love each other because of that shared past. We need someone to help us love being Black again, Barack can't do that alone.
Top 5 lyricists of the last 5 years: 1. T.I. 2. Ludacris 3. Jay-Z 4. Kanye West 5. Andre 3000/Big Boi (as individuals).
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I think the key is not a leader, but people who speak about the issues and can shine a light on it but don't feel the need to speak on us as whole. You can enlighten with out being the sole representive.
I can't do just the past 5 Years! I grew up with Biggie! My current list? Biggie, Jay Z, Redman, Eminem, Andre 3000. Don't make me post my disertation as to why this is IN FACT law ;)
Wouldn't that be great if someone on HuffPo could write an intelligent article on the joys of hip hop! Anytime Russell or anyone posts a thing about all the liberals come out the wood work talking about the horrible effects of it all. Real buzz kill. So, I would certainly welcome any type of intelligent conversation about the modern day griots.
But after this last CD (and admittedly I've only heard the singles) how could you possibly include Eminem on that list? He might be a good lyricist but his repetitive content clearly knocks him out of the running for being current. Come on, what's the formula celebrities, baby mama, and Mariah Carey - it's old and tired! My brother said the other day that even Dre's beats are tired. T.I. and Ludacris kill him on content and lyrics. Thoughts?
Sole representative? Sez who? If there were any representatives worth talking about otherwise, what would all the fuss be about? Sharpton has his constituency, and if you are not part of that, if what the National Action Network doesn't do it for you, so what? Ain't that what average is all about? It's the Black people who don't get over the Sharpton fixation that you wrote this for, right?
Was Amadou Diallo an average brother? Sean Bell? There's two reasons Sharpton is around. Who else spoke for those average brothers? When they crunch the stats of stop and search incidents, you find that there is really no average at all. It's always you.
I have to admit, as a European I'm baffled that Harry Potter is 'white'? and Star Trek? 'White'. Fine, Harry Potter is quite bleachy, but what about Lt. Uhuru then? Sure, token, but it's token we like, innit?
Me no understandy.
Elon, it is not "you could get shot, son", as you put it, and you should know that spelling of that word is "Sun", if you know anything about its origin. You could ask a local Five Percenter, they would be glad to inform you on that matter.
Dear Elon,
Wow! Thanks for opening my eyes. As a regular person, it was a shock to find out that the blacks are mostly just like us. Who knew? I never had to really be around them before, so I guess I just assumed that they were like Swedes, only darker and louder. Now that I know how neat they are, I want to be around some of them. Where can I get one (and one for each of my friends)?
Signed,
The guy who wants to be able to say he has friends that are black
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Well long as 1 regular persons eyes were open then I've done my job.
We can totally hang out. I have a couple of friends I can bring along and we can do a black friend double or triple date. It'll be amazing.
lol. Sounds great. I'll bring an Asian to mix it up. I already have one. He's a DJ too.
Seriously. Good article. It think its such a simple point but it must constantly be reinforced; vive la différence mais il n'y a pas de différence.
I'm a black female, who has been teased by other black folk, for my love of Star Trek, politics and listening to the country group, Rascal Flats, and thinking it's okay to speak correct english without being told i'm talking proper. Some how all this makes me a oddity, my hood card is invalid, i just do'nt fit into the angry black woman who belittles her man and puts her hands on her hips, with neck rolling and finger pointing, ( remember the media tried to paint Michelle Obama in that light). So i say to all, what ever color creed or national origin, express yourself as you see fit and if your are white and like Swahli Jazz, kool-aid, and fried chicken, go for it differences makes the world go around.
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Indeed! (The new Star Trek movie rocked.)
Loved the new Star Trek. I also understand what you are talking about.@Gha
Here! Here!
Hello, Elon-
You know what King and X did really well? They mobilized people, nay, individuals into a greater consciousness: an "us" if you will. That "us" included members of the Black elite (professors, doctors, etc) and everyday people like teachers, sanitation workers and seamstresses--hell even folks who were considered hooligans got down. All of those very distinct individuals understood that crafting a community of solidarity did not undermine the things that made them unique. Why should Black folks care how other folks see them? The point is how we see ourselves. Why are you attempting to deconstruct stereotypes by reifying them? Is that how you see us? Is that how we see ourselves? Sigh. Yes, I understood the article. Unfortunately, it's effect is one of a feeble attempt to shake free from the shackles of being lumped in with those "garden variety street Negroes" you mentioned. Newsflash you are that dude and so am I. (As an advanced degree holding Black woman hailing from a hood in the South). Ideally, we are a part not apart. Unfortunately I fear you may be correct: there is no longer an us SMH. Divisions for diversion, folks.
Oh, and isn't history a funny thing? Here I was thinking X and King were community organizers NOT spokesmen.
You said it so much better than I could have. His article is great, but why is it wrong for us to come together as a people? What's wrong with knowing that you belong and therefore represent something greater than you! I don't want to be like everyone else, our differences are what make us special. Why can't you celebrate the differences and appreciate the similarities, it ain't that hard. We need a voice that will unify us as a people and that can't be Barack since he is the President for ALL. Thank you for saying what I was thinking!
Know what's more funny than history? Perception.
There is nothing wrong with us coming together as a group. I believe he is asking others to approach us as individuals. Separate and distinct from the stereotypical assumptions that are usually made.
I am black as well. With respect to Star Trek it all comes down to who you are around. All of my closest black friends not only like Star Trek but can literally recite lines for the original Star Trek. In fact hear in the DC area Kirk's name has become part of a slang term as in... Yo, that dude started "Kirkin" or he "Kirked Out" as in being overly dramatic.
monolith or no blacks answer to several truths that make a whole from the parts that is greater than the sum of those parts. They share condecention from one group to the others, they share disenfrachisment, they share inequity in punishments and some share the burden. To talk about and agenda or prority for blacks one should acknowledge what they are willing and able to do in reguards to recogonition of obsticles and aliments for blacks. many blacks have bad credit. so when I say blacks I mean the recipiants of the chronology of disparagement such as predatory lending practices, gentrification and all the justifications that allow these caractures of sportsmanship as in playing house with other peoples' livelyhoods.
You have to watch out for pseudo-psychology may of the self ascribed ABP'ers will not heed to the dissonace they accept in taking on the we're all in this together stance many of them undoubtedly harbor.
If I cannot assume the asumptions that give rise to the paradigm of black people then I cannot accept the continuity of this thing I call life; If I could not validate what is outside of my vision I would have been stuck playing peek-a-boo my whole life, in other words the whole of life necessrily involves things outside our capacity to intuit and validate simulatenously. Instead we have an understanding which includes a great deal of what we don't know about what we know,
I was thinking I know families and they exist, and then I thought Why don't black people exist. The common denominator is a tie that binds. blacks have those. they have similar health concerns, family structures (of a few varieties), a defunct heritage, segregation, a struggle to identify the self, a struggle to be free of oppression and repression, collective acceptance as per status quo, shared fears and doubts, strength in numbers, part of the same marketing group, recipiants of legitmate righteous indignation, the bareers of many histories of trama and arbitrary/selective victimization. development of culture and trend, coming of age, skewed conflict resolution, specific ownership trends, intuitive, deliberated maturity
I think you can express everything that you just said as follows: most dark-skinned people in America have been racialized as "black." This is true regardless of whether you were born and live in America or are visiting for one day, whether you are rich or you are poor, tall or short, fat or thin. It does not matter: you are simply black. Now, how or whether you choose to deal with that is up to you. Some have taken the bait and actually believe the lie: I am black. These people start manifesting the opposite of what is ascribed to whiteness with pride. It seems perverse because it is. Stop playing their game. If dark-skinned people accept their so-called blackness, how is it that they expect to one day overcome the inherent limitations that this characterization presents? Can we overcome racism and racialization by using the very language of a racist and racialized society? Or is there something more to what we call ourselves and whether we accept the frame of reference that has been imposed on us by whites?
"Oh, and for the love of all that is holy, could you please stop critiquing Obama simply to show you aren't drinking the kool-aid? I get it. You're sugar-free. Got it."
Bravo!! Agreed.
I see this all the time.
Especially some TV and Radio Personalities. What they don't know is that folks can see straight through that.
Excellent post, Elon.
It seems that it should be unnecessary to be reminded that Pres. Obama has only been on the job 5 months now (156 days today), let alone to address the massive amounts of problems he did inherit (sorry republicans, but we ain't forgetting that).
There are issues where I firmly disagree with him, yet I am a strong supporter of Obama, and I do have hope. Not necessarily for my issues to be resolved, but for moving in the right direction.
Also, I am a black man who thinks John Williams "The Empire Strikes Back" soundtrack is one of the best movie soundtracks ever made...Jus
"I, without shame, also enjoy fried chicken, watermelon, ribs, and orange soda. I can have an incredibly in-depth debate on the best five MCs ever. My credit isn't great and I've been shot."
With the exception of being a shooting victim, you sound like an average young person to me.
I, without shame, also enjoy fried chicken, watermelon, ribs and Diet Coke. I can have an incredibly in-depth debate on the best five heavy metal guitarists ever.
Does that make me an average suburban black guy? Or just another cracker?
And black folks, don't talk about white people as it we're monolithic.
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To imply that those aren't stereotypes of black people would be disingenuous. Listening to rap, fried chicken, watermelon? Yes, in a perfect world this would not be connected to a race, and frankly i know TONS of Black people who don't like a bunch of those things. But The stereotype remains.
I'm not sure why you asked a the "surburban black guy" or just another cracker thing because 1) This article did not try to define what was black or white and 2) really had nothing to do with "White" at all.
I'm afraid you may have misunderstood the article.
I will give you that what you wrote is indicative of a stereotype some have for blacks, but by the same token, it also needs to be pointed out how putting people down for their choice of food and what they listen to is so absurd as to be laughable. Yet, instead of making fun of idiots who insists on trying to use what they see as the eating habits of black folks (in fact, the southern half of my family eats a heck of a lot of fried chicken, ribs and watermelon and I love all three of those things myself) as a way to degrade them, the usual response to the enunciation of that stereotype is usually just anger that plays to the stereotype of the "angry black man." Turn this stereotype around on them. Humiliate them with their own weapon and you will see less willingness by them to endeavor to employ it.
I also realize that the article didn't attempt to define blackness or whiteness. What I was saying is that some stereotypes are indicative of the habits of many different segments of humanity once you actually scrutinize them more carefully and not just one particular group.
this article was not about white people. We see that white folks are no monolith through media images all the time.
As a middle-aged, midwest white guy I thought this article was a great read and tweeted so. I don't care what "group" society says you must be a part of not every memeber will think or behave the same way. Hell, I should probably be a rednecked Republican cheating on my wife. Not, not, not (of course I wouldn't fess up to the latter even if it was true). I think the lesson here is one our country (yes, as a monolith) is still learning, we all are different and we should celebrate it.
Awesome! Thank you! I love rap, but I also love Handel's Water Music, and Amy Winehouse, and house music, and Blur, and Jamiroguai, and Morrisey, and the Clash, etc. I am a former criminal prosecutor, not a defense attorney as one might assume (just because I am black). I now stay at home with my kids, am married to "my baby daddy" (before we had kids, instead of reverse order which has become so popular with the celebs) who I've dated since we were in college (going on 16 years now) but can't wait to shake my booty at a club (once I lose the baby weight and am done nursing). But, I also love pilates. I love to read. I have an intact family. Everyone in my family has gone to college. I love Tyler Perry movies, but I live for 16 Candles, and AbFAb (have the whole series). We as blacks are just as diverse as any other racial or ethnic group. I am so tired of seeing the media and our so-called black leaders, speak for and to one segment of us, which unfortunately is the most stereotyped segment of "us" that does not represent "us" well. I know more blacks like me, than the "blacks" the media and TV depict. I related more to the Huxtables than "The House of Payne" or "Good Times". Thank you for putting this out there. Hope other read it and think about it. Love, another Average Black Person .
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