The qualifications of being considered “black”: #3. Must have lived in the hood
This is a very common misconception and very self-explanatory. I think that most of us have plenty of stories where someone (maybe even you) was made to feel “less than” because you have never experienced the “hard life” of the inner-city. Inner-city life is seen as a rite-of-passage if you are to be considered to be “black”. Miss this opportunity, and you may as well be wearing your argyle socks and checkered shirts in the tradition with Steve Eurkle to some. Simply put, if you were raised in suburbia, you are soft.
For the many black Americans that buy into this ideology, this is used as a way to eliminate the possibility of parity with other races (i.e. the image of struggle must always synonymous with blackness. Take away struggle we have lost our chance to put “whitey” under our foot. Our very blackness may be at risk as well). When you look at past history in this country, white people have walked on the moon, built great industries, developed ways for us to travel faster from city to city, developed vast communication networks, etc. The one thing that many whites have not been able to accomplish is to survive in the inner-city of today. In fact, they have a name for it, it’s called “white flight”. For people who carry this “rite-of-passage” ideology, surviving inner-city life is the one experience that we can honestly say that we have greater ownership than whites.
In the America of today, there is an increasing amount of black Americans that are born and raised in the suburbs rather than the inner-cities across this nation, however, this rite-of-passage ideology still exist. One place you will see it of course is in much of hip-hop music. Entertainers will boast about their “hard-knock life” in the hood while at the same time spend 12+ songs on their Cd’s trying to convince you that they are still “keepin’ it real” in their million dollar mansions. One of the worst yet amusing examples I have seen this was with my friend’s younger sister. This girl always prided herself on being “down”, however, this one particular day she took it a little to far. One day, all of a sudden this girl from NORTH CAROLINA began to use dialect as though she was from Brooklyn, New York. AND SHE WAS SERIOUS (Yikes)!!! Being from New Jersey myself, I quickly pick up on how she pronounced the word “talk” “Tawk“. Needless to say, I had to tease her about this for days.
Why was this young girl so carelessly willing to trade in her southern dialect for a northern one? Did she feel that she could not be accepted acknowledging her “rural” roots? Now granted, this was a very light incident, however, this is something that is played out in many suburban communities: Kids trying to be “inner-city” on Mockingbird Lane.
There is nothing wrong in acknowledging where you came from and/or being proud of it. Unfortunately, we set up OUR race for further inter-divisions (if that is a word) when we equate “blackness” with a person’s place of origin.
Because the “hard knock life” is glorified in hip hop music kids see it as an anthem of their time and not as a warning to not live that way or a heads up to do better for yourself. I don’ t know being from Ohio I guess I am not an expert on the life, but I know all about wanting to escape it.
Comment by Blu | February 23, 2005
“Inner-city life is seen as a rite-of-passage if you are to be considered to be “black.” - TBI
I don’t think that it’s necessarily “blackness” that is in question within your theory. I think it is more an idea of “masculinity.” It is truer when you say, “Simply put, if you were raised in suburbia, you are soft.” This is especially true as I was recently on the HBCU campuses of Morehouse College, Xavier University of Louisiana, and Clark Atlanta University last week and noticed the trend of Hip Hop or ‘Hood couture. While some college students are and can be from the inner city, I seriously doubt that ALL of the ones I glanced at with their XXXL white tees, Tims, faux gold/platinum regalia, and Hip Hop dialect were from Cabrini Greens or Bankhead Courts. ‘Hood is considered masculine and masculinity is considered hip in our culture. I honestly do not believe that an inner city black youth would deny a suburbanite black youth’s ‘blackness’ per se, but I am sure that toughness, realness, or “Wanksta†(see 50 Cent and Ja Rule battle) status would come into play. And all of that is rooted in the skewed identity of black male masculinity.
And I don’t believe that the young NC girl was trying to be more black by changing her Southern dialect to a more Northern one. That’s a rural vs. urban argument. As a 27-year-old Southerner, I know that it has always been considered better to be ‘citified’ than ‘country’. To be ‘country’ has always been erroneously perceived as being unsophisticated.
So when did Brooklyn become frighteningly ‘inner city’ anyway? Fort Greene? Park Slope? I love those neighborhoods!
Comment by HypnotiqOne | February 24, 2005
Please elaborate on the “masculinity” deal. Women do this too.
Thanks for your comment!!
Comment by Duane | February 24, 2005
My opinion: I don’t believe the “masculinity†that I speak of necessarily has a gender. The idea of having street credibility is innately “masculine†to me whether it comes from a male or a female. Even an inner city female who fought, hustled or educated her way out of the ghetto has masculine qualities to me. Winning that battle, be it physical or psychological, gets her respect. And that idea of respect is masculine to me.
In the end, it’s problematic to see the inner city struggle as a prerequisite for being “black†or even “masculine/hip†(dependent upon how you look at it). Bottom line, there is a class system within the black community whether people want to accept it or not. But it’s ironic how value is placed on one class over another. In a sense, both the black bourgeois and the inner city want each other’s value to gain acceptance.
I thoroughly enjoy reading your posts. I often don’t agree, but enjoy the read. Thanks!
Comment by HypnotiqOne | February 25, 2005
thoroughly enjoy reading your posts. I often don’t agree…
Now I know how to pray for you
! Just kiddn’
Thanks for making that clarification. I thought that was what you meant, but I did not want to assume. Yes, I definetely agree with you on your point. Not only have I seen this in my own childhood, but in the many young people that I have worked with in the past–both male and female.
Comment by Duane | February 26, 2005