As an African American woman, I believe that we are free in the Constitutional sense of the word, but this freedom comes with consequences. Today's African Americans are capable of getting jobs, homes, and educational advantages that African Americans in the past were denied, but this comes at a cost.

In order for African Americans to succeed in the corporate world we must conform to what the Caucasian community expects from us. For example, if I wore my hair naturally and went to a job interview I would be less likely to get the job than if I relaxed it and wore it to fit a more Westernized style.

African Americans also have to make ourselves comfortable being in places and situations where we are the minority. We are more likely to attend schools or work in places where we may be the only African American, whereas Caucasians rarely ever have to put themselves in these situations.

Of course, everyone has to conform in the corporate world to some extent, but not to the extent of African Americans. The conformity of other races is based more on appearing clean cut and traditional. African Americans are not considered clean cut and traditional until we become as assimilated into Caucasian style and tradition as possible. For example, a Caucasian man may cut his hair and wear a suit when entering the corporate world, whereas an African American man may have to cut his dreadlocks, which many see as a part of their culture. Cutting and shaving your hair is not comparable to having the texture of that hair being judged and considered unprofessional.

African Americans even have to consider this phenomenon when naming our children. Many African Americans prefer not to name their children traditional American names, but many of us do so for fear that when that child becomes an adult and has to put his or her name on a resume, he or she will not be granted a chance because their "untraditional" name may be looked at as weird or silly.

So, with all of that being said, are African Americans free? The term "African American" represents the answer to that question. Yes, we are free because we are Americans, but our blackness will always precede our Americanism. We are free to vote, read, attend school, and work, but people will always judge who we vote for, what we're reading, where we attend school, and what we look like when we come to work more than any other race.

Learn more about this author, Shannon Rayford.
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