Dark Matter II

After some interesting discussions in an MFA seminar about Blackness, our notes about Glenn Ligon, Kerry James Marshall, and so many others became more relevant. Pushing the number of shades of black- mixing to make the darkest and brightest blacks I could was the mission. The idea of race being a social construct is ironically supported more frequently by those who also (often) act in ways that tend to reify the notions and aspects of race, particularly in the United States of America. Many are treated a certain way based on preconceived notions focused on coloration, whether others want to acknowledge it or not.

I have often been teased for "talking white" by people of many backgrounds, without them realizing the value of communication on navigating an intensive world, or simply not comprehending the importance of education in several households in my family going back multiple generations. How simple one must actually be to assume sounding like you're educated means you aren't "talking black." Why does the stereotype prevail that Black has to be devoid of things? There is often a surprise when some hear of my academic or life accomplishments, and I wonder if people cannot match the intelligence with the face, and why that may be. Why is it so rare for some? I am the one in this body, doing the work, so perhaps I need to change my perspective at times as well...

So when you examine Blackness, properly, or happen to shine a bright enough light on it (as you always should be doing), you may find layers of hidden colors, or a magic glimpse of sparkle that reveals Black isn't as dark as you thought it was. The hidden beauty you discover was only hidden due to preconceived notions. There is space, and depth to blackness, you know. We can do absolutely anything, yet sometimes impose boundaries and limitations as defined by others upon ourselves. If you would just sit with Blackness long enough to recognize the intricacies, you may find something special.