For Black History Month, I’m going to write an article centered around my blackness and things that make me happy. I’m only doing my top five so this article doesn’t become a rant.
1. Seeing other Black people in non-Black spaces.
When I go out into a space or place that is predominantly White or not Black, I always feel alienated. I feel like I shouldn’t be there, and when the spaces are predominantly White, I often feel uncomfortable or like I'm being watched. So when I look across the room or stumble across another black person in a space where I thought it was only me, it makes me happy. I almost feel secure and at rest, because I know that there are people that look like me that I can talk to. An experience I had with this is when I went to Wisconsin and met this girl at the waterpark in the line, and we bonded by making fun of the White people. It sounds bad, but to be fair, they were being really loud. To the point of this paragraph, though, it made me feel a lot safer and seen.
When I go out into a space or place that is predominantly White or not Black, I always feel alienated. I feel like I shouldn’t be there, and when the spaces are predominantly White, I often feel uncomfortable or like I'm being watched. So when I look across the room or stumble across another black person in a space where I thought it was only me, it makes me happy. I almost feel secure and at rest, because I know that there are people that look like me that I can talk to. An experience I had with this is when I went to Wisconsin and met this girl at the waterpark in the line, and we bonded by making fun of the White people. It sounds bad, but to be fair, they were being really loud. To the point of this paragraph, though, it made me feel a lot safer and seen.
2. Making my two white friends do stuff for me during black history month.
There is this running joke amongst a lot of Black people my age that during Black History Month we make our White friends do things for us to serve as reparations. Again, it’s a joke, but there is very nice personal gain. I don’t ask for money or anything, but it’s very nice to be able to not have to get up or ask for food and just get it because it’s Black History Month. It also builds conversation with a bunch of my Black peers, and we can say what we got. So, for example, this month my friend Gus got me my Chromebook, got the door when I didn't feel like it, and did a bunch of other random tasks.
There is this running joke amongst a lot of Black people my age that during Black History Month we make our White friends do things for us to serve as reparations. Again, it’s a joke, but there is very nice personal gain. I don’t ask for money or anything, but it’s very nice to be able to not have to get up or ask for food and just get it because it’s Black History Month. It also builds conversation with a bunch of my Black peers, and we can say what we got. So, for example, this month my friend Gus got me my Chromebook, got the door when I didn't feel like it, and did a bunch of other random tasks.
3. NOT HOSTING THANKSGIVING!!
I think a universal experience with Black children is having to wash dishes after a get-together or cookout. It’s draining because nine times out of ten, there was a big pot of spaghetti, a bunch of pans, and all types of other dishes. However, when your family doesn’t host thanksgiving, you don’t have to help cook or clean afterward AND you get free food. This Thanksgiving I didn’t have to do any chores (thank god), and it was just so relieving. I came home, ate the plate I packed, and watched Netflix with my mom.
I think a universal experience with Black children is having to wash dishes after a get-together or cookout. It’s draining because nine times out of ten, there was a big pot of spaghetti, a bunch of pans, and all types of other dishes. However, when your family doesn’t host thanksgiving, you don’t have to help cook or clean afterward AND you get free food. This Thanksgiving I didn’t have to do any chores (thank god), and it was just so relieving. I came home, ate the plate I packed, and watched Netflix with my mom.
4. Cookouts
I love cookouts. Mostly because I love food, but I love the togetherness as well. You got the grill going on a hot summer day, oldies, little kids running around with juices, and maybe a kiddie pool. It’s just happy. The energy around being in that space with your family, enjoying the sun, the food, and the memories is just an overall great time. I’ve been to too many cookouts to pick just one experience, but my favorite thing is probably burnt hotdogs and playing in water.
I love cookouts. Mostly because I love food, but I love the togetherness as well. You got the grill going on a hot summer day, oldies, little kids running around with juices, and maybe a kiddie pool. It’s just happy. The energy around being in that space with your family, enjoying the sun, the food, and the memories is just an overall great time. I’ve been to too many cookouts to pick just one experience, but my favorite thing is probably burnt hotdogs and playing in water.
5. Positive Black images in the media
I cannot stress enough how much I love seeing Black joy and love in the media. Like in rom-coms where the Black main characters are happy. Normally all of the Black characters in films are struggling or unhappy in some way, and it always makes me happy when I see other images of Black people being portrayed. I think my favorite all-Black movie where they aren’t struggling is Let It Shine. It’s such a great movie and it’s a number one Black movie for me. It’s so wonderfully written and still shows Black creativity in shows and positive images in films and pieces of media.
I cannot stress enough how much I love seeing Black joy and love in the media. Like in rom-coms where the Black main characters are happy. Normally all of the Black characters in films are struggling or unhappy in some way, and it always makes me happy when I see other images of Black people being portrayed. I think my favorite all-Black movie where they aren’t struggling is Let It Shine. It’s such a great movie and it’s a number one Black movie for me. It’s so wonderfully written and still shows Black creativity in shows and positive images in films and pieces of media.
Trey sherrod
