Lovely Blackness

In honor of Black History I’m going to discuss that beautiful word that has so many negative connotations to it. Connotations that have given the word Black a bad name. Without a second thought those words become seared into the back of the subconscious mind. Black cats are bad luck, wear black to to a funeral, even the very definition of black in many dictionaries has a negative connotation. Well, one must inquire of themselves with deep thought whose idea was it to ensure that society would have it impressed upon the minds of individuals for centuries to come, passed down from generation to generation, that Black skin, Black People, and Black things were bad? Who would stand to gain from it, for the sake of their posterity? Well, I let you mull it over in your mind, as I proceed to convey to you why I love Black so much, and why it is so special to me. Black is beautiful, period. From my Black People, and the various hues of our complexions, to the gorgeous night sky filled with luminaries for our enjoyment. I especially love the contributions made to the world by Black People.

Black is infinite, Black is the genesis of humanity (yes, it’s scientifically proven). Blackness influences culture no matter where Black People are in the world. We’ve been taught throughout history via the vehicle of slavery, and white-washed History Books, that Black is lazy, inferior, and cursed. We’ve been sold that Black is less sought after in media, film, and music videos. Moreover, it has been impressed upon us that the antithesis of Black is superior. I think not. 

I would hope by now, that there would be enough folks wise enough to stop believing the nonsense, and those with Black skin would stop running from their Blackness, and embrace all that it is, because it is so beautiful. We’ve been taught that Black is so ugly that we should try and whiten our skin, and this is happening all over the world, and it is very painful to witness. I truly hope that one day people all over the world would rise up, vote with their dollar, and stop believing that life would be better off, if they weren’t as dark. Possibly putting all the skin whitening companies out of business. I shall not  continue down this path, but I won’t, because I could go on all day about it.

I believe it’s time-out on the normalcy of vilifying all that is Black. It’s time to redefine the word Black. It’s time to uproot every foul seed that has been planted about black, and dark things. It’s time to move beyond the idea that life would be better for all if everyone was white. It’s time to celebrate in Black, instead of mourning in it. It’s time to celebrate dark skin instead of trying to whiten it. It’s time to realize how deep anti-blackness goes, to have real conversations about it, stop only posting about it, and putting BLM signs in yards. We need to recognize that Black Lives don’t just matter, they are matter, they are essential, and they are the very genesis of humanity. It’s high time to tear down every caste system, systemic racism, and deconstruct it for the good of humanity.

My final thoughts are simply this...Black is gold. Black is the foundation of American culture. Black is ingenuity, Black is music, Black is science, Black is creativity, Black is, that it is, that it is, and it is infinite, and the world wouldn’t be the same without it. So, I choose to celebrate Lovely Blackness 365 days a year, and not to wait on the approval, or permission of anyone to do just that.


Always with love,
April E.