Yesterday was my first day at my African-American Art class, and the professor was catching me up from what I missed last week and discussed what we are going to learn about art and how we interpret that art and also, the history of black art. Also, we are going to learn how black people were looked at the past and sometime present time. In class, we are to present what we have read in our books and also bring something in that "black." One young lady, who was Caucasian brought in quote by famous black people like Bill Cosby, Maya Angelou, Arthur Ashe, and many others. I was wondering what is "black"? How is something "black"? I supposed to bring something "black" and I wondering what should I bring??
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MsBradford07 posted on Feb 02, 2007
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Comments
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silverwhisper said on Feb 02, 2007....
well, what does it mean to you to be black, ms bradford? it seems to me the professor is trying to get a sense for what the students think blackness is.
you could bring in a copy of the movie guess who's coming to dinner, although having said that, that's more about race relations than about being black.
i mean, strictly speaking, being black can be defined 2 ways: physically and culturally, right? physically, to be black means that one has kinky hair and a certain skin tone, but culturally, it means different things and i'm not sure i know for myself what it means to me, either.
some critics of barack obama argue that he isn't "really" black. he certainly meets the physical criteria, but i guess the critics are talking about the cultural ones.
ed -
MsBradford07 said on Feb 02, 2007....
I thought about what was black to me. So, I'm going to bring picutres of my family. I feel that my family symbolizes black culture 'cause of we have been separated from our families and family means the history to Africa. So, what do you think "black" means to you. -
silverwhisper said on Feb 03, 2007....
i'm not sure. obviously, as w/ any culture, family is at the heart and for blacks, being denied your heritage for as long as that, some desire to reclaim it is understandable and is, IMHO, laudable.
but it seems to me, as an outsider, there's so much in african-american heritage that's also about the history of discrimination and injustice, i wonder sometimes how possible it is for an outsider to have a reasonably accurate grasp of it.
i've just spent the last 5 minutes trying to figure out whether that makes sense.
btw: good call on what to bring in. i think that's superb.
ed -
tbs230 said on Feb 04, 2007....
Black is the inclusion of every color possible. To ask someone to be "Black" is like asking someone what they think would be the perfect utopia. For some being black is being consciously connected to Africa, or it's the constant struggle for true equality. To others it's the way you walk, talk, dress. And yet still for others it's about history and culture and certain beliefs.
Being "Black" is a state of mind. There is no right or wrong answer. The fact that I love sugar cane can be why I'm Black. Or the fact that I love the sun, hate the cold. Have strong beliefs, question God...you name it, and someone can spin it to be about being Black. Black can be coming from Africa, or it can be the inclusion of every black country.
From an insider who sometimes feels like an outsider, being Black means nothing and everything at the same time.
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mom said on Feb 04, 2007....
I wish I could add something but I am drawing a blank. I love the fact that you are willing to put that out there for others to comment on. I read your question and realized that is a very deep question and only a person who is black can answer it. It is kind of like asking a man what childbirth is like. He can only answer from what he has seen or thinks but to fully understand he would have to go through it.I deeply respect you for your thoughtfulness.Sometimes I want to ask questions but am afraid of offending that person so I don't ask. I love the fact that you are opening the doorway to bridge the gap.Now to answer your queston from my own ignorant view is that form where i stand, black is a culmination of everything that the black culture has gone through or goes through today. -
MsBradford07 said on Feb 05, 2007....
Thanks for the comments and I can understand where you are coming even though I am black. It is hard to ask question about something that you want to know, but you don't want to hurt people's feelings. -
husbandhater said on Feb 05, 2007....
Ms.Bradford Maya Angelou's Phenominal Woman answers it all. At least from a black woman's point of view B. So dig it up and take a look. Maybe it'll help you down the line. And your comment on tbs's post 18minutes ago reminded me of it. You are it. -
tbs230 said on Feb 05, 2007....
"black is a culmination of everything that the black culture has gone through or goes through today"
mom, I love this...would you mind if I stole it and put it up somewhere else, maybe as my away message on AIM?
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mom said on Feb 06, 2007....
:) Sure, did I say something profound? Woohoo, if you really like it then by all means it is yours. :)I said that at the tiime because it was the only thing I could think of to say. LOL Maybe I might be smarter if I didn't think? -
MsBradford07 said on Feb 08, 2007....
HH, that poem is my favorite one from Maya, and thanks. Thanks goes out to tbs and mom for your comments. And silver, too. -
mom said on Feb 09, 2007....
No problemo Ms. :)