I just wanted to share a couple of thoughts I’ve been having lately with you all.
As I was growing up, in a predominantly white area as a black girl, I always felt like I didn’t fit into the ‘black stereotypes’. I didn’t like rap/grime, I dressed emo, I wasn’t loud. People at school used to call me an oreo, say I was black on the outside and white on the inside because I didn’t fit their stereotypes of what being black is! Of course, it’s outrageous and there is not one way of being black, just like there’s not one way of being a woman. I, coincidentally, also felt I was different to other girls, a total ‘not like other girls’ kinda girl.
What’s preposterous is that in this day and age, I know if I grew up how I did then, I’d be able to identify out of being a girl. I think all of this confusion in the name of progressiveness would have made me excited to show how woke I am and how not like other girls I am! Guys look, I’m non binary! That would so be me.
But I could never ever ever identify out of being black. Yes, both my race and my sex have negative stereotypes and the world will not be as kind to me all of the time but isn’t it interesting how we look down on Rachel Dolezal and Oli London as total idiots? Why on earth is gender now allowed to be a costume how those two have put on different races as a costume? How Rachel took a black woman’s role is reminiscent how these TiM’s are taking women’s trophies in sports and other opportunities from women.
All in all, bottom line is that I’m terrified for the future generation that are currently growing up. I’m angry that instead of rejecting stereotypes of how they should be they are instead rejecting womanhood. There isn’t one way of being anything; we’re all vastly complex people with personalities, thoughts and feelings… embrace the hand you’ve been dealt and be proud of who you currently are, THAT is truly embracing your authentic self! NOT pumping hormones or getting double mastectomies as a teenager. How could that be the true you?!
Love to you all!