Iz U Blak Enuf? or Are You Black Enough?

"The reason I mention all of this, is because a female I was sort of dating a few years ago, basically told me I wasn’t black enough because I liked soccer. Needless to say, I was dumbfounded. I’m not black enough because I like soccer? Last I checked, soccer was the number one sport on the continent of Africa. And there are waaaaaaay more blacks there than in the US.

"Her statement just shows the continued ignorance that we black Americans still show. Never mind that I went to two HBCUs. Never mind that I volunteer with black youths. Never mind that every day I wake up and look in the mirror, I see a black man. I’m not black enough because I have some interests that are mostly shared with white people in this country. And yes, I even sound 'white' because I have a college education and speak all proper. Here’s a secret for you….most educated people speak proper. It has nothing to do with race.

"It’s this attitude that is holding us back as a race. We’re too worried about our 'blackness'* and 'keepin’ it real.' I mean, who needs the Klu Klux Klan when we do more harm to ourselves. Instead of being color-struck or jealous of what the next guy has, we need to start working together. There is more than enough for everyone. Who cares if Omar has more than I do. I’d much rather ask Omar how he got to where he is and could he be a mentor to help me get there to. But remember, at the end of the day, to a lot of people out there, no matter how successful we are, or how much money we have, or how great an athlete we are, we’re already 'black enough' in their eyes. We’re all just another n*****."

Go to http://simmeringblackman.wordpress.com/2007/01/08/are-you-black-enough/

See the post on "Black-ass Blackness" at the very bottom of this blog.