by Jonathan Henry

Created on: August 21, 2008

Apparently my eyes have been deceiving me for some time. I find it intriguing that years of experience as a black male in a black family can be so easily dismissed by four simple words: "You are so white." Because of the blood of Jesus Christ, I have many white brothers and sisters whom I consider to be closer than family. The church is my true family, and it is not inhibited by color or culture lines; however, I am not one to disown or disregard my heritage. Thus, when I hear someone tell me that I don't fit in the realm of being "black," I am deeply hurt-maybe more than I should be as a Christian, but hurt nonetheless. I am hurt for a myriad of reasons, only three of which I'll articulate. The statement dismisses my life, downplays my family's struggles, and disrespects blacks everywhere.

First, the aforementioned statement dismisses my life as a truly black experience. I went to predominantly white schools throughout my life. I always felt a division between me and most of my classmates because of our cultural differences. We didn't like the same music; we didn't have the same historical views; we often differed in political views. When I was around my immediate and extended family, I felt truly at home. (It's a shame that I feel the need to emphasize that during these times.) I saw people who looked like me and had the same experiences, including a loving home with at least one professional parent. Both parents always had much wisdom, whether they had completed higher education or not. You must understand that this was black to me. It wasn't the only black experience in my eyes, but it was by no means excluded.
Second, the statement downplays my family's history of struggles. I could spend the rest of this space recounting the struggles of the preceding generations of my family. My family was never above being pulled over by policemen because of racial profiling. Their circumstances demanded perfection of them because they were often denied opportunities because of their race. My grandfather, for example, still has a letter from West Chester University that explains that his acceptance to the University was a mistake because the admissions office did not realize he was black.
Finally, to call me white because of my demeanor disrespects all blacks by relegating them to the stereotypes that are found in movies, music videos, and other media. Do some play into the stereotype? Of course they do. You'll find the same to be true of all cultures. But are little black children supposed to look at somebody rapping about his "chain hangin' low" and say, "That's what I'm supposed to be"? I respect the skill, determination, and savvy of those in the hip-hop industry, but, to be honest, if my future children were to believe that they were supposed to be rappers, to speak a certain way, or to dress a certain way simply because they were black, I would believe I that I had failed them as a father.
I've only really treated this subject superficially in comparison with what I could and probably should say, but I'll end by posing a question and allowing you to draw your own conclusions. If the definition of black has truly been narrowed to what we see on television today, then where do we place the likes of Medgar Evers, Ben Carson, Colin Powell, Martin Luther King, Coretta Scott King, Marian Anderson, Paul Robeson, and the people of "Black Wall Street"? They don't seem to fit, do they?

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