Passing
Have you ever felt like you were invisible? Like people aren't interested in embracing and honoring what makes you you?
People of color in this country live with that reality every day.
This week, I watched FX's new documentary "Black.White". The two families spent the first day or so planning how they would teach one another how to assimilate into the other's culture - how to pass. The Wurgel family brought some interesting ideas to the dinner table about how they would walk, how they would talk, and how long it would take before someone called them nigger. They had lots of questions and were very eager to get to the business of acting black.
I wonder, where did the adult Wurgel's get their ideas about how to act black? Did they poll their black friends? Do case studies on all of their black co-workers and neighbors? Did they spend several hours a day watching reruns of "The Cosby Show"? Did they aquaint themselves with the films of Spike Lee, John Singleton, Melvin Van Peebles and Gordon Parks? The writings of Toni Morrison, Walter Mosley, Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Wright, and Michael Eric Dyson. The plays written by August Wilson, Ntozake Shange, Ruben Santiago Hudson, Lorraine Hansburry, Amiri Baraka, and George C. Wolfe? The poems of Phyllis Wheatley, Countee Cullen, Gwendolyn Brooks, Langston Hughes, and Nikki Giovanni?
I kind of doubt it. Frankly, the Wurgel's were painfully clueless about black culture on any level.
During this dinner-time conversation, Mrs. Wurgel asked her black housemates, "Is there anything we need to teach you about how to blend in?". Rene Sparks responded by saying "No, I have to do that every day."
And she's right.
Black.White
TV
People of color in this country live with that reality every day.
This week, I watched FX's new documentary "Black.White". The two families spent the first day or so planning how they would teach one another how to assimilate into the other's culture - how to pass. The Wurgel family brought some interesting ideas to the dinner table about how they would walk, how they would talk, and how long it would take before someone called them nigger. They had lots of questions and were very eager to get to the business of acting black.
I wonder, where did the adult Wurgel's get their ideas about how to act black? Did they poll their black friends? Do case studies on all of their black co-workers and neighbors? Did they spend several hours a day watching reruns of "The Cosby Show"? Did they aquaint themselves with the films of Spike Lee, John Singleton, Melvin Van Peebles and Gordon Parks? The writings of Toni Morrison, Walter Mosley, Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Wright, and Michael Eric Dyson. The plays written by August Wilson, Ntozake Shange, Ruben Santiago Hudson, Lorraine Hansburry, Amiri Baraka, and George C. Wolfe? The poems of Phyllis Wheatley, Countee Cullen, Gwendolyn Brooks, Langston Hughes, and Nikki Giovanni?
I kind of doubt it. Frankly, the Wurgel's were painfully clueless about black culture on any level.
During this dinner-time conversation, Mrs. Wurgel asked her black housemates, "Is there anything we need to teach you about how to blend in?". Rene Sparks responded by saying "No, I have to do that every day."
And she's right.
Black.White
TV
posted by Piscean Princess at 1:10 PM
4 Comments:
Hey Girl,
I have been wanting to watch that black/white show ever since I saw Ice Cube on Tavis. I will definately TiVo it because it should teach us alot. I am soooo feeling you on your comments on what it means to "act black". Non 'people of color' usually have no idea what it is like to be black "on the inside". They see our exteriors and think us strong, mean, indifferent, or they just don't think of us at all. They have no idea what it is like being on guard everytime you walk out of your house. They just don't know about the daily dilemma of "Am I going to educate this person on how to treat people of color like human beings, or will I just let them act ignorant and keep it moving". They don't know about the pain of racism some of us had to first encounter at a very early age. And few can relate to institutionalized racism; they actually think that anyone can work, live, and go to school anywhere. Mostly, you can, but then there is the bitter sting of alienation.
On the inside, the pain and stress of discrimination cuts deep. Fortunately, going through those trying times defines our character, gives us mental fortitude, and evolves our compacity for empathy (among other things). Still, wouldn't you love to live without the drama??? Today I am dealing with more classism then racism. You know it's very hard out here for an educated sista from the hood!! My solution for all of us, treat people how you would like to be treated, drink herbal tea, breathe deep, and stretch everday. Seriously, then your conscience and body can be relaxed and in sync :) Mik
The daughter has way more of a clue than her parents. Didn't they say the White mother was in the Civil Rights movement? What happened along the way, LOL!
You're right, Rachel. The daughter is the only Wurgel who seems to have a clue. So far, she has approached this exercise with honesty & humility and a clear understanding that she will never be black. She also understands that she is dangerously close to crossing a line. I'm curious to see if it is her respect for that line that promtpts her to reveal herself to the poetry group.
As for the mom, she was not involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Her mother was.
Hey LaLa
Just wanted to say I say them when they were on Oprah! In some ways I feel that we are all the same and in other ways as far as culturally we are so opposite. Renee is so right as African American it is our duty to blend in and not be noticed as African American...our hair, clothes, language. Face it, we have to blend or receive starnge looks!
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