Why is it always about Race?

Why is it always about Race? Why is this a reflex statement? What about the "thing" that creates that reflex? WHY IS IT ABOUT RACE? Is this just a contemplative inquiry? Ironically, the black man asks that too. 

To do an internet search for the best actors and actresses of the 1970s, only one African American person shows up within the first 20; that one person was Cicely Tyson. Why? Were there no recognized talented thespians within the Race? Were not we given key roles, same casting opportunities, and treated equally? Why is it always about Race. How about searching for the best businessmen and women? What do you think the result was? ...Were not there recognized talented businesspeople within the Race. Were not we afforded opportunities to earn key business roles, recognized for our talents, treated equally, given the same opportunities? Should I go on...? Should I ask the age-old question? Why is it about Race? How do I answer that question today in 2021? Much less attempt to answer it as a teenager of the '70s. The answer is complexed, but the question is not. 

Again! Recently, I was asked that DAMN question- "Why is it always about Race?"  Milliseconds after hearing the question, I wanted to respond.  However, hearing it today touched me differently.  So I paused time to dig deep for an answer.  What I didn't hide was a facial reaction, which spoke volumes. Eye rolls, a squinch of the eyebrows, and astonishment gave off the physical appearance of realizing that we are still at this place. All while gathering myself in that split second and retracting back to that familiar chameleon...  Letting it roll off the shoulder.  Now that I've thought about it, I'm responding.  I am going to answer the damn question... "why?"

Let me give context while attempting to stitch together my reasoning for my answer to "why."  As eclectic as my backstory is, it leads to a conviction. This will be a long explanation, but at least I'll get it off my chest, and maybe someone will get it and understand the "why" from my perspective. 

I attended a university in Idaho. Yes, you read it correctly, Idaho. The black population in the state at the time was approximately 2600 or 2%. Within the city of Boise, there were less than 900 African Americans. The Aryan Nation took up residency in the 1970s in Northern Idaho and travel south to the campus for visits/lectures once per year. If there was a progressive city within the state during those times, it was Boise. Race data was hard to capture (compared to today) related to today's census. The city of Mountain Home, 30 miles outside of Boise, hosted a military base. The university was increasing in popularity nationwide due to the sports programs, specifically football.  Insert the question - "Why did you pick Boise?".  ...and I respond - "same reason you may have picked it, for the opportunity."

Coming from Oakland, Ca, was a monumental shift in surroundings, both visually and geographically. The snow-capped mountains and the brisk mountain air afforded me an immediate opportunity to consistently wear my first parka. I already had a sweater or two, and the new combination made the weather transition somewhat smooth. What was harder was the adoption of the community. As nice as most people were, it was a significant adjustment to the lack of people of color. Life was so different in Boise, Idaho, as compared to the neighborhoods and schools back home. Young and a teenager 721 miles from Oakland, living on campus hard mentally. 18 combined with homesickness became a familiar feeling, short flashbacks of family far away consistently strengthen the thought of home and escape. Mainly during that first semester. Oakland seemed to be going through it too. There was an exit plan happening in real-time. A revolving door of the likes of an ethnic turnstile was taking place. As astonishing as it was, diversity, although vast, it slightly began to diminish as white people started to leave and move into some of the surrounding bay area suburbs. 

During a typical stream of consciousness in a regular conversation, the last thing I think of is an ethnic category. Let me clarify. My conversations are not segmented verbally by ethnicity. Subconsciously I am aware of black America's plight and subconsciously gratified upon black achievement in any form. This shows up in daily life when we acknowledge each other with a head-knob or a verb gesture, "what's up - How you doin my man." As if to say, "I see you," "you've done us good," or "keep it up." Today's giddiness for giving compliments to my people probably stems from being a pre-teen child of the '60s. Positive images of African Americans within media were minimal—having to hang on the limb of a short clip, stories from parents, family members, and parents' friends. Visualizing success and black achievements through those stories became engrained and hopeful. What doubled as black exclusion was that we felt the fight and knew the achievements as both muted outside. We knew our role models, but you did not. Much like the underground railroad, the pathway of information traveled from adult to adult and ultimately to us, the children. What little media we had access to only confirmed the stories I already told. Even then, the portrayal was not as complimentary as my traveled stories were. To be seen was to wear plenty of lashes, struggles, sacrifices, and perseverance. 

Race as a categorizing term referring to human beings. The word was said to be first used in the 16th century. By the 18th century, Race was widely used to sort and rank the peoples in the English colonies—Europeans who saw themselves as free people, Amerindians who had been aggressively and unfairly conquered, and Africans brought in as slave labor; this usage of Race continues today. 

Race tends to force us to look at a person along with his/her color. But does it? Let us take a step back! For many years, I have worked in Silicon Valley and have never experienced an event, majority white, use the term "Race" or asked the question - "why" is it about Race? Did Race play a part in silicon valley's success? No! Why? Because the classification of Race implies ethnic separation. However, there was not much Race separation due to the lack of Race participation. "Race" was never called out. If it were, it was only about the need for diversity/Race. EEO reports that black men and women make up less than 1.8% participation amongst approximately 177 companies within the corridor. Need I say more? 

We celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Washington's Birthday, Columbus Day, and Thanksgiving. However, have you ever heard a person of color ask, "Why is it about Race?" -when discussing one of the calendar days? Aren't most of those holidays about Race, or are they? It seems that that question only comes up when the calendar change includes the celebration of people of color, specifically the 70's debate over February as Black History month or years of debate of designating MLK a federal holiday. 

I have grown through those arguments, and this shit is exhausting.  So why is it always about Race?

So why is it about Race? Because you made it about Race. Because we now have a chance to celebrate openly, society owes us this right. In a way, we are cashing in because we can. We see this new and unrestricted era being suitable for strengthening the stitches that should be holding us together but divided us due to "Race." It is about us too, Black folks saying -we knew it all alone! Our success is no secret. Words of that success traveled underground from adult to adult, then to us children. We have arrived now, and we are no longer underground. We are going to talk about it loudly. It is about us saying look, and look closely - we made profound contributions, struggled, strived, helped, built, succeeded, were successful, persevered, and now we are here. 

That's why.

Hank Aaron a Childhood Treasure

One of my national treasures died today.  Henry Louis Aaron, nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank," died yesterday, Friday, January 23rd; he was 86 years old.  Wow!  yes, wow!  Before the newscaster finished her words - I was overcome with emotion.  

Hank Aaron was mystical.  I got to see him on one of three bay area channels we had at the time, primarily during the news at 6 pm. My favorite Bay Area sportscaster Jan Hutchenson would provide the sports highlights and end his show with his closing quote, "the body is the temple of the spirit, take care."  The only other global sports update option was Wide-World of Sports on Saturday's. Most of the updates were just enough to enhance my stepdad's stories about our great black sports athletes, now legends. 

I pause after hearing yesterday's breaking news.  In the midst of it, I flashed back to the early '70s in Oakland, CA.  A time when my only problems were not cleaning my room and forgetting to do chores.  Yet, I was aware that while baseball was branded as pure and American as apple pie, it was not like that for everyone.  Right outside lived monumental issues of strife and racism.  Many of those issues felt and worn by our great role models.  Hank was one of those who bore the burden of so much of that to include discrimination.  Can you imagine your home team fans being indifferent or hostile during the season you were chasing Ruth's record?  Can you imagine receiving death threats daily by mail and or other?  Can you imagine being a black man who plays baseball for a living yet has to hire guards to protect his family?  

1974 - Things are happening.  Coleman Young is elected as the first Black mayor of Detroit.  Frank Robinson is named the Cleveland Indians manager, becoming the first black manager in major league baseball.   Muhammad Ali beat George Foreman and regains the Heavyweight Championship of the world.  Shirley Chisholm, a New York Democrat, is the 1st African American woman elected to Congress.  As African Americans struggled for civil rights, major league baseball persisted as America's "happy game" despite less than 17% being African American.

Hank Aaron had a large community/fan base that rooted for him.   My community rooted loudly and eagerly waited for him to disrupt the game with that one home run.   In sports, the most covenant record was the baseball's home run record, held by Babe Ruth at 714. Close your eyes, take your mind back to the era of 1974. Imagine that record broken by a black player.  Many didn't want that to happen, but the many rooting for the 17% did.  The one person that blatantly didn't want to see it was the MLB commissioner Bowie Kuhn.  He chose not to attend the  Los Angeles Dodgers and the  Atlanta Braves game to witness Hank Aaron hit number 715 the night of April 4, 1974. Wow! another wow!  But I saw!  I saw it on my TV, and I was elated.   

I think Hank Aaron was well aware of how the kids in the neighborhood like me, Tony, and Ira would look to him as one of our champions, and that we did. Completing my chores allowed me to go outside and spend the rest of the day pretending to be like Hank Aaron. We'd play strikeout on Tony's steps and always encapsulated and dramatized Hanks' home run swing, either striking out or pounding the neighbor's roof with the Wiffle ball.  So when I paused earlier yesterday while hearing the news of his passing, I immediately reverted to my childhood and thought of that bat swing.  Hammerin Hanks' swing met that ball, lifting it high and long, breaking not only Babe Ruth's home run record but raising hope and giving me strength as a young black boy.  He was more than a baseball player to us.  He was a model that represented strength, eloquence, humility, power, and future.  That home run lifted the spirits of people and a race of people.  Hank Aaron was a symbolic celebration of hope when given a chance.

I deserve to get a trophy or a participation certificate too!!!

Like most of us, I would assume that you have become a taxi cab/dealer for your child's endeavors. Specifically his or her athletic ventures. Since when am I suppose to be the one that gets my kid to practice, wake my kid up to go to practice, and remind my kid to practice? Why should I put forth more effort into getting my kids to practice than they do? I actually feel like I'm the one signed up 

for the event.

Today during these politically correct times, parents have become enablers. They/we have created an expectation to the public that supports these bad gestures. Society actually frowns on us parents who say no to our child. They even are appalled at the sound of a parent saying, "I'm not going to give you a ride" or "you need to work- it- out and be accountable."  I actually think that a boy's brain implodes between ages 15 - 17.  If it doesn't implode, I don't know what the hell is going on in their little minds because they are all nuts.  I should know; my mom said that I went through some (only some of what these kids are doing!) of that too.   But the difference between my generation and theirs is we "worked things out," we " were lead to believe that it was up to us to be good or be the best" when we complained, we were given the option of continuing to blame others or do something about it, we went to practice, and we didn't bother our parents about always giving us a ride.  I remember being a part of teams where if we got an award, it was because we took first, second, or third place (not fourth, and we didn't even want the second or third place award; we only wanted to win).  It was because ONE of us was the Most Valuable Player, All-Star, etc.  We didn't get prizes for participating or just showing up.

Today, coaches can't discipline or, much less yell at a kid.   Heck, parents don't punish or yell at their own kids.  And don't give me that crap about yelling or spanking.  Before you say (in defense of your kid receiving a participation award), look at our society.  We wake our kids up, we mentally prepare them for the day/practice, we fix their breakfast, we wash their clothes, we buy the requested clothes that allow them to style on the field, track, or court, we run back home to get the thing that they forgot, we take them to practice, we pick them up from practice, we wait until they are finishing practice, we go to their games, we stay unit the game is over, we pay the fees associated with the team and the games, we pay for pre-game and post-game meals, we are asked to pay for a portion of the coaches gifts, the team mom works harder than most of the coaches, and we wake-up early in the morning, and start all over again.

Here's what I think.  We (parents) should get a trophy!  We (parents) should get a medal!  We (parents) should get a certificate.  Why?  Because we/I work harder, and I'm more vested.   I'm not even sure if they workout while on the field harder than we do.  They certainly can't say that they do more.  Ok, maybe they can, but I shouldn't have to even question or compare that! This didn't happen in my day and yours, and my parents couldn't say these things about me. Having said that, I enjoyed having my parents participate in giving me a ride every once and a while.  I also appreciate that they came to some of my games.  But I tell you this for sure, I took accountability for my actions; thus, I got the awards, the real trophy.  This is why we/I (parents) deserve a medal, a piece of acknowledgment...Something!....Oh yeah, that's right, our kids "PARTICIPATED," and they are the ones that need to get the award...Yeah right!... What they need is a better attitude!

Swagger or Swagga...Either way, he has it !!!

I'm about to talk to you like I talk to my boys! You all know what I'm talking about.

Does the boy have swagger or what? He's got a little sumthin sumthin going on. He's got that "What" behind him. He's got that "Yeah" "Yeeeeah" with his walk. Can you imagine the conversations he must have with his boys? It might go something like this.

_______________

His boy – Do you feel like the man B?

Pres B – I do. I'm just doing what I do. You feel me?

His boy – I feel you. But does it get hard when you get attacked from the front, the back, and every other direction?

Pres B- C'mon man! It's been hard for us from day one if you're looking at it from that perspective. I don't see it any worse than growing up with an assumptive target on my back. You know that target. The target of people saying that I'm going to fail, he's from a broken home, so he's definitely going to fail, blah blah blah. Listen, I'm trying to change the game. I can now affect the game, and more importantly, I'm going to keep my word. And if you think it's cocky, then it's what it is. I look at it as being confident with what I do and how I do it.

His boy – I hear ya bra!

_______________

Ok. I took some creative liberty on the dialog, but I believe that that's how it goes. President Obama has that Swagger. He also has the "IT" thing too. However, I'll talk about the "IT" thing in my next blog (Not everyone has the "IT" factor) because only a few have that "IT" factor. Ali had "IT.," Lena Horne had "IT.," Ella Fitzgerald had "IT," Joe Namath had "IT," Dr. King had "IT," Jordan has "IT." Denzel has "IT," Collin Powell has "IT," Tom Brady has "IT"…and come on, you know Bill Clinton has "IT." Again, we'll handle the "IT" factor in my next blog.

Let's talk a little bit about swagger.

Swagger – Definition: Swaggering manner, conduct, or walk; ostentatious display of arrogance and conceit

The swagger is not over-rated, and a lot of people have it. I say that because in my community growing up, it was prevalent. While playing sports, it was so prevalent that you wanted to sometimes knock it out the person who had it because sometimes they couldn't back it up. I certainly recognize it when it's in my face; I think we all do. We all talk about these people. I'm not sure if you need substance, credibility, or a track record for success, but you need confidence. Having said that, President Obama has the substance, credibility, and track record to back it up (at least he has that somthin somthin that allows us to think that he has all of that).

Let me give you an example of some people in the media that has that swagger. Kanya West, Puffy, Lil Wayne, Britney Spears, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Beyonce, Kid Rock, just to name a few…you get my point, right? Some are worthy of the swagger, and some aren't.

President Obama is certainly worthy of the swagger. I can really identify with him and how he conducts himself in public. It's a trip how easy it is to recognize the ways of another brotha in oneself. I notice how he addresses the common folk, politicians, and international partners. He invites them in. I see him being inclusive in many as many cases. Inclusive seemed to be a natural gesture within my community growing up. I recall always being able to expand friendships and gatherings based on including all who were present, who may have been Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, etc. They all were welcome. This was especially true with my parents and parent's friends. Thus, I see that thing in President Obama, that inclusive thing.

That swagger he has is just how he rolls (stealing a phrase from the younger generation). My man even got his swerve going-on when he walks down the step of Air Force One. C'mon…you'll know exactly what I'm talking about! Democrats, Republicans, Independents, whatever your party affiliation, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

A Brand New America…Perception is Everything

Question- What do you see here on the left? Let me assume some of the answers: 1) A Football Player (s) 2) A strong young man 3) An African American football player 4) A spoiled football player 5) A non-student Football Athlete 6) A non-student Athlete Football Player that probably gets money under the table.

Are you starting to understand the exercise? If not, let me paint the mental picture. Answers- 1) Student-Athlete 2) Top of his Class academically as a pre-med student 3) Community volunteer creating an opportunity for underprivileged kids

Florida State safety Myron Rolle won the Rhodes scholarship just hours before he returned for the second half kick-off of the game against Maryland. During my normal short glimpses at college football, I failed to get the news! I did however receive updates on who is injured, the over-under via the betting line, which kid got suspended/kicked off or jailed, and of course the lead candidate for the Heisman Trophy. Seems like the baseline for achieving that all-mighty goal of viewership is the tantalization of drama and not the feel-good stuff. I also have to mention that it is disheartening to hear all of the heavy negative stuff involving our young African American college athlete, and at the same time have to go to the back of the newspaper in the third column between an article on the local auction, and the dog that won the city's dog of the year award to find this type of positive information. Yes, I am sensitive. I have kids. And I understand that the re-tooling of America starts at home. My hand goes out to the parents of Myron Rolle, it also goes out to those parents that are doing comparable things. Keep it up, because eventually, it will get front-page news! Cut&Paste this link: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/12/06/lemon.myron.rolle.cnn?iref=videosearch