The idea that black is "bad" and white is "good" is a harmful and racist belief that has been perpetuated by centuries of systematic discrimination and prejudice. This belief is rooted in the historical legacy of slavery, colonialism, and segregation, as well as the ongoing effects of institutionalized racism.
In many societies, people of color, particularly black people, have been historically marginalized and oppressed, and this has led to the development of harmful stereotypes and negative perceptions about these communities. This belief system has been reinforced and perpetuated through media, education, and other cultural institutions, and has resulted in the systematic discrimination and unequal treatment of people of color.
This belief system can have a significant impact on children's perception of people and the world around them. Children are shaped by their experiences and the messages they receive from their families, communities, and the media, and when they are exposed to harmful and racist beliefs, they are likely to internalize these beliefs and view people of color in a negative light. This can lead to the development of implicit biases, which can influence their behavior and interactions with others, and can also contribute to ongoing discrimination and prejudice.
It's important to work towards challenging and dismantling these harmful beliefs by promoting equality, diversity, and inclusivity in all aspects of society, including education, media, and cultural institutions. This requires a commitment to understanding and rejecting racist beliefs, as well as an ongoing effort to promote greater understanding and respect for all people, regardless of their race or ethnicity.
I am trying to deal with being black as an older adult. I never had to believe that being black affected my life but unfortunately now it does and even though I am very positive, I can get very depressed.
I remember — I found joy in my hair, my eyes, my face, my smile. Everything that I needed in this world was already there to connect him to every person or every place he had ever been. I can live inside yesterday's pain. I can't live without it. My power is in my maddens and my colored contradictions.
But now it affects my life. And even though I am very positive, I can get very depressed. This is not a failure of being positive. This is the weight of the world still showing its teeth. This is the road getting harder again — and the body walking it is older now, the weight heavier, the road longer.
This is why I built the gallery. Because I know what it does to a person when the world shows them its teeth. And I know that a person can still find joy inside it. Nana found joy in her heart while living in hard days. I'lon found joy in giving even when she had nothing left. And I found joy in my hair, my eyes, my face, my smile — in everything that the world tried to take from me.
The gallery is the place where a person stands before what they cannot control. And through the standing, they change. Not because someone told them to. Because the standing makes it possible.