How To Read Into My Blackness

“If you don’t vote for me, you’re not Black.” — Joe Biden (Me — Middle Finger)

“To be born Black is an extraordinary gift bestowing access to an unbelievably rich legacy of joy. It’ll lift you to ecstasy and give you pain that can make you stronger than you imagined possible. To experience the full possibilities of Blackness, you must break free of the strictures sometimes placed on Blackness from outside the African-American culture and also from within it.” — Touré

For me, 2020 has been about examining what it means to be a Black man in a world that doesn’t know what to do with us brothas. It has been a profound journey filled with a tidal wave of emotions, internal conflicts, and major revelations. As a result of this experience, I can honestly say that I’ve never felt a greater sense of freedom and sovereignty in my entire life. 

In the book Who's Afraid of Post-Blackness?: What It Means to Be Black Now", writer and cultural critic Touré explores the concept of Post-Blackness: one’s ability to be rooted in but not restricted by their race. Based on his personal experiences as well as those of 105 luminaries, he argues that racial identity should be viewed as a fluid, organic, self-directed process riddled with immense complexities.

As an ardent individualist whose life is undergirded by Taoism, Libertarianism, and Chinese Medicine, I certainly don’t fit many of the common perceptions people have about Black men. Consistent with the views of Touré, however, my construct extends far beyond race. It reflects a commitment to be my own person despite whatever prevailing perceptions exist about who Black men should and ought to be. 

For the first time in my life, I can honestly say that I love being a Black man. And Touré’s book has been a fascinating one on my continual road of discovery.