To my younger self.
I’ve noticed people are a lot more comfortable being ignorant to racist history. For example there was a public school recently called ROBER E LEE HIGH SCHOOL and people would give the same tired racist argument that “it’s the past” “people thought differently back then” “your just soft”. Ultimately it got changed but it was so surprising how ignorant many Caucasian people were to their own history. I’ve had Caucasians who called me their “friend” and would make black “jokes” constantly but when it came to learning their own racist history or when I would bring it up, they get offended all of a sudden. As time went on and got older it seemed to dissipate until around 2013 with the rise of the internet. Many people would create videos making “black jokes” constantly yet would never make jokes about “ Caucasians joke” about themselves. TO MY YOUNGER SELF. These people aren’t ever going to be your friends, not matter how nice of a face you put on. No matter how smart or good grades you get they only see you as black. DON’T BE AFRAID OF CONFRONTATION, make it just as uncomfortable it is for them as it for you when they bother you with their crap. DO YOUR RESEARCH, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO BE SMARTER, and know more about their racist topics so you can beat them with facts and when they resort to ignorance either report or walk away with your head held high. CONFIDE IN PROVEN FRIENDS & FAMILY, the whole goal of racists is to isolate you and make you think you’re alone, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! BE PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE, again BE PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE, THEY WOULD NOT TRY TO DESTROY YOU IF YOU’RE WEREN’T A THREAT, they insult your looks because you’re beautiful, they insult your intelligence because you’ve proven your smarter them. PICK YOUR BATTLES, not every fight is worth fighting over. I know it’s hard but please CONSUME BLACK MEDIA/BOOKS, I know you live in a majority Caucasian area but remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE! If you have a school friend group it IS REQUIRED to be at least 50% or more black compared to any other race because a lot of kids want Black Friend not a friend who happens to be black and they use it as a opportunity to beat you over the head with “jokes” BE CONFRONTATIONAL DON’T LET IT SLIDE. When you go to work and you’re anxious because of what people perceive because of your skin tone YOU ARE NOT ALONE. From my experience young black kids entering the workforce are more anxious their Caucasian counterparts because now they have to deal pressure from another source, again YOU ARE NOT ALONE. If you find a Caucasian friend who has PROVEN THEY AREN’T RACIST BY KNOWING HISTORY, ( I know that sounds crazy but yes they have to prove that they understand and aren’t racist ) THEY ARE GOLD AND NEVER LET THEM GO. The dangerous part about being Caucasian the ease with how they don’t have to be confronted with the ugliness of racism daily, either through real life or media. So when one makes an effort to understand that person is GOLD. This is to my past self who was tormented by people like this but made it through. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AND INTELLIGENT AND YOU ARE NOT ALONE! YOU ARE REQUIRED TO BE SMARTER AND PUT DOUBLE THE EFFORT THAN THEM THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL.