Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The Culture Blogs: Shades of Brown (Part 1 of 3)

Bronze, Burnt Umber, Chamoisee, Chestnut, Mahogany, Ochre, Russet, Sepia, Sienna, and Tan are only a smattering of the various shades of brown that exist.  Some of them warm browns and other cold.  Some of them dark and others light.  But they are all brown, and they are all colors that one could use to describe the various hues of the black men below.

This week I wanted to start a short series of blogs on black men.  After hearing so many friends tell me that I'm "the whitest black guy they've ever met" I decided that it was time to educate folks as the various shades of black men there are.  Following are famous black men, with a little of their biographies, achievements and how I see them in the world we have today.

Wyclef Jean
My wife introduced me to Wyclef Jean.  Before I met her I had no idea who this intriguing man was.  Because I didn't listen to a lot of hip hop or rap I missed him.  Perhaps it is because he appears also to fulfill some of the common stereotypes concerning black men.  He looks a like a gangster with all the red he's wearing and the chain too.  But it was when I listened to a song of his that nearly brought me to tears, that I recognized him as more.  It is called Ghetto Religion.  I would share with you a small bit of the lyrics here.

The Ghetto is a part of my religion,
The only thing my eyes can see,
There ain't no man gonna stop the vision,
The Ghetto is a part of me.

It hit home not because I live in a Ghetto, but because everyone around me thinks that Ogden, my hometown, is a Ghetto.  It is a part of my soul.  Just like his homeland of Haiti is a part of his soul.  He ran a charity to make his homeland better and later ran to be President of Haiti back in 2010, all because of his love for his homeland.  He didn't make it, but he's an example of a black man who found success.

Okay, I'll be honest.  I want to be like Will Smith.  He's amazing.  As a young man I wanted to be able to act, sing, and dance.  Unfortunately, I was only blessed with a voice.  But he was a triple threat from the beginning.  To top that all off he's athletic, ripped even.  I couldn't ever compare to this man (in his strengths at least).   But he and I share a gripe about the world.  He's also considered by folks to just not be black enough.  In the song I wish I made that he describes the fact that even though he does great in the movies, for some reason they don't play his music in the clubs.  He hits the simple stereotypes that folks think about black people either needing to steal, do drugs, or shoot people to be black enough.  And the sad part is, he's right.  Often times we define blackness by the violence they speak with, and the violence they live by.  Personally I think this is the new relic of racism that we have given birth to in this country, because when black men started to show the kind of talent they had, our culture unfortunately labeled them as being white attributes.  And we as black folks well we let our culture be redefined by violence instead of the integrity of our families, and the love of our communities.  However I am proud to be "white" like Will Smith.  Strangely, nothing could make me happier.


When I was growing up we listened to a lot of black gospel music.  It was part of the heritage that folks that have known me throughout my life have never been very aware of (even though I often walk around singing the songs of my youth).  One of the artists I came to know back then was Kirk Franklin.  He's cut from the same pattern of blackhood that produced Dr. Martin Luther King Junior, that of following after God.  This is the pattern that so many of my friends are unaware of, that I follow after.  For those who doubt whether or not this is a part of black culture just google "Black Gospel."
I relate with Kirk more than most of the other men you will find in this series, because his life is so much like my own.  One of my favorite songs Let it Go expresses this best, because there is not a line of that song that I can't relate with.  He is an example for black men everywhere as for what it means to rise above the poor choices one makes to become a fine human being.


Each of these men is a musician.  Each of them is a family man.  Each of them fight against the stereotypes that are thrown at black men for what some of their generation has chosen to do.  They remember their roots in Rosa Parks, Dr. King, and Malcolm X.  And every one of them is aware of the sacrifices made for them to have freedom in this country to day.  Yet one is a politician, the other an actor, and the last a holy man.  That is the reality of culture.  Every culture is the quilt of the individual patterns of its members.

And even when you look at the young people who are rebelling, it is the very fact that we have achieved our freedom and are not fighting everyday to make things better that our young people have forgotten the sacrifices of their forefathers.  And in some cases the violence of gangs has to do with providing for or taking care of your family.  As we will likely touch upon in the next segment of this blog.

Another amazing black person is Nora K. Jemisin.  I've been promoting her book about half the month on my blog and I'm really sorry that the month is coming to a close.  She's deserving of far more praise than I can share about her.  And because I want to continue this conversation with you in the comments I'm offering three lucky commenters on my blog a copy of her book, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.  It is the first of a trilogy she's written (and every last book in the trilogy has been nominated for a Nebula Award).  On Thursday morning I am putting all the names of those who have commented on this blog into a hat (more than once if you commented more than once) and choosing three blessed souls to send a paperback copy of her book to.  So this is pretty much your last opportunity to comment before I have the drawing.  And I'd love to hear from you.

Aloha, my name is Jayrod Garrett, and I'm the First OG.  And how do you define black culture?

15 comments:

  1. Lots of good food for thought here, Jayrod. Thanks for posting it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Karen! Your praise really helps me keep going.

      Delete
  2. Interesting post. I like hearing your point of view. I am a huge Will Smith fan myself. I'm glad I'm getting to know you online!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Angie! Knowing folks like hearing what I share, helps me to know what topics folks want to hear more about.

      Delete
  3. Really fascinating, Jayrod. You've introduced me to a few people I hadn't heard of. Love your opinions.

    ~Debbie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Debbie! Hopefully I can introduce you to more folks in part two. :D

      Delete
  4. That book looks amazing! I don't really have one definition of black culture. I've met a few black people in my life and I find them all to be individuals. Of course there are stereotypes out there (which is why I imagine some people call you a white-black person becasue of the stereotypes of white and black personalities) But honestly, I just view people as people. We were all given individual traits by God and skin color shouldn't define someone. Sorry for that rant, I guess I'm more opinionated about this than I thought I was...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jennifer, I wish there were more folks out there who were like you. To introduce folks to their feelings concerning their issues is one of the purposes of this blog, so I'm glad that you are realizing how opinionated you are about this. Thank you for comments.

      Delete
  5. Jayrod, it is only in America that being a successful black person implies you are "white" somehow. Spend some time in Africa, where people take pride in gaining an education and achieving without anyone suggesting it is "white" to do so and USA young black people would have a different perspective. I find it bloody insulting that anyone should suggest that if my children are successful they are, or are trying to be, "white". My husband and by children are Nigerian and while they will become Australian very soon, their background, their heritage, will always be Nigerian. They are intelligent and inspiring. If ANYONE suggests they are "white" for being successful at any time in the future I will personally take that person to task!

    It implies that only white people can be successful, therefore if ..... damn it, I can't keep writing this comment, I am angry!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mrs. O, you are right. I also find it disgusting that folks would think in such terms. It reveals the remnants of racism in our culture. So many folks here believe that they aren't racist, because they don't hate blacks, asians, or hispanics. Racism goes so much deeper than that, that I'm not certain if any of us aren't racist. Thanks for your comments. And anger is okay here. We know it going to happen here. The point is just to be truthful here.

      Delete
  6. I am currently living in Atlanta, Georgia and shortly after I moved here from California I asked my boss why we didn't have MLK day off. (I did in California) He looked at me like I was crazy then said, "Why you aren't black?" It made me angry that he didn't see that it wasn't just a black holiday. I have always thought of Martin Luther King Jr. as a wonderful and inspiring man that I wish could have lived longer to help bring people together. I didn't feel his message was just for black people, I felt his message was for peace for all people.

    Thanks you for holding a safe space for people to speak about their feelings on this issue.

    Peace,
    Morgan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your compliment and support on this Morgan. I pray that as we all continue the journey through the twilit woods (the woods being the issues of culture and diversity of this blog) together we can have more conversations of this nature and while we might not agree, we can always be grateful for the journey through the woods.

      Delete
    2. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s message was for peace for ALL people. :)

      Delete
  7. Wow this is an awesome post and I think you touch on one of the biggest issues of how blackness is defined. I myself am Puerto Rican, and I hate when people, of my own race, tell me I act white. My family is a very mixed race and I was raised to not see people by the color of their skin or what is defined as their race on their birth certificate but by the person as an individual. I have friends of all races, and I could not imagine it any other way. We are all born to greatness, regardless of our ethnicity. We are all equal. Whether we choose to tap into our God-given gifts is up to the individual. Recently I've been working with a handful of youths in my church and it drove me absolutely mad to here them say that going to college or speaking proper English was white. Excuse me?! I love Will Smith and his songs and I'd rather listen to that any day then hear some song degraded themselves and females. I to am from the GHETTO, but where my house resides does not define who I am. I hope as a country we can one day come together to paint a different picture of how we define ourselves. I think that if those who have come before us, to give us, today, a better life, could see us and comment now, they would be sad and outraged. I must read Part 2 and 3 :) Thanks for writing this!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I really appreciate a black man holding up and pointing out the virtues of other black men. Curious to see who else you'll feature in other posts.

    Flashback Friday

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...