When you were in school, what did you want to be when you grew up? A fireman, doctor, lawyer, superhero? And why did you want to be this? Was it because it looked cool; your parents were in that profession; or was it just something that came natural to you? Well, while on your way to achieving your childhood dream, did anyone ever tell you you were not cool enough, or smart enough, or even cultural enough to be in that profession? That question may sound “strange” but in many ways our perceptions of what people do certain things and what things are suppose to be done by certain people shapes the paths in our lives. All through history as it has been presented to us, White people have been in charge and Black people the dogs on a leash, so it would be fitting if we always saw African Americans working low-income jobs and Caucasians resting in their high-rises correct? You have never seen an Asian where a turban so how would you respond if you did? Only Middle Eastern and Indian people do that correct? If you saw a raunchy country music video consisting of white women shaking their booties all over the place, would you be appalled or not fazed at all? Raunchy videos full of nudity are reserved for the hip hop videos consisting of Black and Hispanic women right? We have our perceptions of how things are suppose to be in life, like we are suppose to marry our own kind and Bill Gates is supposed to be the richest man in the world (when he lost the seat it was a shock; being defeated by a Mexican was even a more shock). But when we let these perceptions impede our aspirations how can we overcome obstacles or defy expectations if we just prolong dubiety?
What do you want to be when you grow up? An engineer. An engineer? But Black people don’t do that, that’s for them white folks. A ubiquitous mein in the Black community for decades has been that certain professions or activities are only reserved for White people and that by partaking in these activities an African American is
WHITEWASHED,
SELLING OUT THEIR PEOPLE, or
TURNING THEIR BACK ON THEIR PEOPLE. Why when it comes down to opening your mind or being creative, countless African Americans have felt that something is
NOT BLACK ENOUGH for them to participate? This perception on things such as professions and leisure has made the African American population excluded out of many sectors of society that are vital to having influence. How many African Americans are there in the Senate, Congress, or the Supreme Court? How many African American curators of museums and galleries are there worldwide? How many African American engineers are there in the fields of innovation? A terribly faint number, mainly because African Americans’ perceptions of these occupations is that Black people are not inclined to be in these positions and that all of them are something that White people are only in to. But why do many African Americans feel this way? Why do they feel that California’s suburbs Brentwood, Westwood, and Beverly Hills are suppose to be preen and South LA, the Crenshaw district, and East LA are suppose to be a haven for filth? What images have been embedded in their minds to make them believe that only White faces are suppose to walk down Wall Street wearing suits and Black faces are suppose to walk the street in city uniforms? Four qualities that have plagued and empowered the Black community may be the key.
Is the reason why many African Americans believe that being a scientist is only for White people is because of some
ATAVISTIC QUALITY that has been implanted in them since the world’s inception? Maybe
AFRICAN AMERICANS WERE NOT BUILT TO APPRECIATE OR PARTICIPATE IN MANY THINGS THAT CAUCASIANS FIND INTERESTING. Maybe some ancient quality in African Americans has held them from
GIVING IN to European society and accepting their leisure. Maybe many African Americans not only feel complacent by staying in their little bubble but also feel they are staying true to their roots by not taking up scientific, mathematic, or innovative positions. Maybe this quality nesting inside of them is keeping the Black state of mind alive and resistant from the European invasion.
Maybe the reason behind many African Americans choosing to work inside of the box instead of outside is because of Hip Hop music. Hip Hop is raunchy, hardcore, blunt, seminal, and commanding. Hip Hop’s influence over the world has become a force to be reckoned with, and its power only seems to be getting stronger and stronger. The youth of the world listen more to Jay-Z than they do their parents, and if Jay-Z said go to school and receive an education in his lyrics than a bulk of his listeners would probably take heed. But Hip Hop’s premier message is money, power, and respect, and not through the means of a college education. So maybe the message that Hip Hop conveys is leading countless African Americans to commit violence, drag to the employment office, and wave off a college education. Maybe if Jay-Z did tell his listeners go to college in his lyrics instead of “Money, Cash, Hoes,” then maybe there would be a higher Black college enrollment rate.
A third reason behind African Americans feeling that
BEVERLY HILLS IS SUPPOSED TO BE FILLED WITH WHITE FACES is that many African Americans do not see enough Black faces in certain areas to feel that Black people are wanted or even qualified to occupy that space. If you never saw an alien would you believe that they existed? That is the same belief with believing that African Americans can be in venerated positions without the image to prove it. Maybe African Americans are not seeing enough Black engineers, marketers, scientists, or architects to even aspire to be in those positions. Maybe only seeing White people in these positions makes many African Americans believe that these positions are only suited for Caucasians. Sure African Americans are teeming in the NBA, NFL, and music industry, and maybe this is due to the fact that these three industries are
BROADCASTED to them everyday. But if this is true, then why do African Americans not take this opportunity to fill in the voids where they are missing? Be a pioneer in a world unexplored. Or have they not witnessed that as well?
The last reason that can come to mind is that
AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE LAZY. What other term can you use when there is a paucity of African Americans enrolling into college (13%), in the engineering and computer field, and living in the high rated suburbs of America? Or are they not inspired to achieve these feats? It could be that African Americans are spending their time and money else where, like revitalizing their Black populated hamlets? But what about the soaring unemployment rate in the Black community? Without Black faces in the engineering and computer industry, where do you believe Black inventions are going to come from? If no one is inspired to step into realms that African Americans have not made settlements in (which is none since
BLACKS HAVE BEEN INNOVATING SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME) then how do African Americans plan on having some type of cultural influence or even significance in society? That is like saying, “I don’t like spaghetti,” and you have never eaten spaghetti. You will never know how anything works, spawns, or influences unless you aspire to try.
African Americans must become more open-minded and dwell into fields they have never been exposed to to stay current, creative, and influential.
NONE OF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH SELLING OUT. There is no decree stating that Whites are allowed to do this and Blacks are allowed to do that. Everything is open for everyone to indulge into and perfect. All of this comes down to three aspects that have yet to be identified by many African Americans.
ADAPTATION. Over the past decade since 2001, we have transitioned from mp3 players to IPods, DVD to Blu-Ray, Hi-Def to 3-D, and from laptops to IPads. All of this was done with a continuation of education and aspiration to innovate. Where can there be innovation if
AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE CHOOSING TO LIVE INSIDE THE GLASS BOX, VIEWED DAY AND NIGHT BY THE PASSING CAUCASIAN WHO IS DEVELOPING THE NEXT GREAT IDEA. Where can African Americans claim fame or pride when they had no input whatsoever on anything that has impacted our lives over the past decade? To succeed you must adapt, and to adapt, you must educate yourself.
CULTIVATION. When you adapt you grow. You become a better person, sometimes a new person. You have gained new knowledge which has taken you to new heights. Your old shell has shed and the new one has caught the eye of exceptional magnates who want to utilize your talents. But without knowledge none of this could have been done. If African Americans are settling for the same low-income job that has stereotyped their community and not opening their eyes to broader horizons, what shell can they shed if they like keeping the old one on?
ASPIRATION. You adapted to the new trend and kick started the wave of new technologies everyone is gunning for. You have grown as a businessman/woman and now are ready to command your own suit. But none of that would have been possible if you did not have a vision. A vision that inspired you to become greatness; a contributor to your society. A vision that would never exit your mind even after it was accomplished. Your growth was contributed to you
WANTING TO SUCCEED. And it is this aspiration that many African Americans must embrace, and through all fields of life.
Things are not just
BLACK AND WHITE. Black people are not suppose to just do this and White people that.
SUCCESS HAS NO COLOR. What makes something Black enough? Does anyone know? What makes something “something only White people are into?” Does anyone know? Scientist, lawyer, doctor, architect, judge, race car driver, and hockey player. Are all these professions reserved only for White people? If Black people venture into these professions will they be ostracized and kicked out? African Americans must open their minds more and embrace a world that is free to roam for everyone. Whether majority Asian people do something, Hispanic people do something, or Indian people do something, that does not mean that Black people cannot partake in the festivities as well. African Americans are lacking behind and many of the reasons are incredulous beliefs towards society’s occupations, opportunities, and leisure.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, NOT WITHIN IT.
