I
love my Black people, but I know
this isn’t the case with everyone. I read recently in the Daily
Mail of one minor Black celebrity who when younger sometimes
wished to be white.
She was referring to growing up in Hertfordshire and lamented that she couldn’t get a boyfriend, what with all the
guys being Caucasian – but so what?
Being Black shouldn’t be burden or a source of regret. Let’s
face it, unless you boast a rare ‘unknown’ skin condition,
like plastic surgery, have an outrageous fortune from a lifetime
working in the music industry and have an unhealthy liking for other
people’s children, if you’re born Black you’ll always be
Black. There are no ifs or buts about that.
This whole role model thing sucks. If the current crop of
headline making Black footballers, grinning entertainers and
sell-out politicians are all we as people, have to aspire to then
we’re in deep trouble.
I was speaking to French educated friend of mine
convinced that she’d heard of Toussaint L’Ouverture the Black
self-educated former slave who defied Napoleon to lead Haiti to
independence in the 18th century. She hadn’t.
Now, either she wasn’t paying attention at school or a whole
load of Black world history has been erased or trivialised – take your pick?
I’m
fortunate to have studied Black history albeit from a white
perspective and only from colonisation onwards. Still I’m
shocked that now what little that is being said about characters
like Toussaint. Now he’s depicted as the first of the many
egotistic, self-seeking, corrupt Black leaders. Bizarre no?
I’m not spouting conspiracy or anything but the emphasis white
people place on today's youth finding role models and
the rubbing-out of elements of our history is worrying .
Why idolise famous multi-millionaire footballers, who only
acknowledge they are Black when being racially abused from the
terraces, or appeal for the support of the community when being
vilified in the press over allegations of rape, roasting and other
unbecoming behaviour. Why are our children being forced to believe
that the only way out is entertainment and sport?
I stumbled across a Black British website that labelled a whole
host of Black television personalities as ‘sell-outs’ and
‘coconuts’ – it wasn’t a very long list either as
there aren't too many Black people on the box anyway.
But I’m of the opinion that as a people our history needs to be
taken back and retold and not just when the local authorities
offer October Black History Month cash handouts.
It’s not often we praise the BBC but their Who Do You Think You
Are series was great. BBC newsreader Moira Stuart discovered
her forebears pulled themselves up from slavery to become
teachers, barristers, doctors and Moira. Now if that isn’t
something to be proud of, I’m not sure what is?
The truth is, sometimes we don’t even need to go that far back
to be inspired. Being Black and just knowing the sufferings of our
past, slavery and modern day oppression should be
enough. The mere fact that we’re still here is testimony enough
to the fact that as a people we are, when ready, strong,
resilient and intelligent enough to survive. So who needs role
models, our history however watered down and whitewashed it may be
and the colour of our skin says we’re here to stay.
Proud
to be Black? I know I am.
BH
