What does "Being Black" Mean?

Today, we finished our focus on black families in reality tv. We watched Coolio’s reality show Coolio’s Rules, and compared his family to Snoop Dogg’s and Rev Run’s. The differences are obvious compared with Rev Run’s family. Coolio’s raps are about his life his in the streets. He admitted on his show that he used to be a womanizer, and just recently he was arrested for cocaine possession. Rev Run is a reverend; his music is positive and suitable for all ages. Coolio and Snoop share a lot of similarities; they are two rappers trying to show the world, they are trying to raise their kids to be better than them, and not to make the same mistakes or have to struggle like they had to. I don’t know if this is true, but from watching his show, I get the sense that Coolio wasn’t always the father figure that he portrays. His kids have no respect for him, and it seems that he hasn’t always been an authoritative figure to his kids until now. His kids are all grown, and he’s basically talking to a brick wall when he tells them to do chores. You can’t talk to an adult like a child, but the problem with his kids is that they are spoiled and disrespectful. They don’t want to work, but they expect everything to be handed to them. Coolio’s family does not seem true to reality. I believe his kids are living with him just for the show, the connection he has with them seems distance, not like he’s a father.
Self-reflection was the main highlight of the day. Everyone had something different, from oppositional gaze to autoethnography. My self-reflection starts with the question what is being black? Every since, I was a child I was always told that I act white. In high school, I’ve witnessed many black kids who worked hard academically or had a lot of white friends thrown in the white category, for not acting black enough. But what is being black? Do you have to listen to rap music or talk in slang, are you from a predominantly black neighborhood, or do you embrace your African heritage by wearing your hair natural or in braids? Why do black people scrutinize each other for being different, and try to create a standard image of blackness? The beauty of being black is that we are all different. We are able to change our appearances and achieve many different looks. You will never see two black people that look alike. We’re all different skin tones, have different hair colors and textures, and our facial features vary from person to person. How do you act black? If a black person hangs around a lot of white people, and speaks in non-slang, or if a black person chooses to listen to rock and pop music, rather than r&b and hip-hop, are they not acting black. Do I need to shop in stores like Citi Gear and Citi Trends, and go to all black events and clubs? What exactly is being black? You know what, I don’t know. I interpret blackness as a culture full of diversity, and rich heritage. It expands to different countries, each with its version of blackness. How do you interpret being black? Can you even interpret blackness? Do you find yourself pointing at the black person who listens to Green Day or Led Zeppelin, and say they’re not black, or do you embrace any black person as they are?

By: Ashley McCants