Beyonce did something during the Superbowl halftime performance. She allegedly performed a new song that paid tribute to freedom fighters for African Americans back in the days. I haven’t listened to the song so I don’t know what it is about.
But it hit a nerve with some people who weren’t happy with the message; sympathy, empathy, and encouragement for the African American community.
Some called for a Beyonce boycott. Others lauded her courage.
Beyonce? She dropped her single quietly then left the drama to the haters.
Last week I said something that garnered raised eyebrows and minor criticism. While talking about passive-aggressiveness and Minnesota nice, I said I’d rather support someone to raise holy hell than scream bloody murder myself. The comments that came after that was that I am manipulative.
Now, I am a pretty straight-forward person. But my society doesn’t have a lotta love for straight-forward, African-American women. I’ve tried it every time and these are the results:
–– I get kicked off study groups in a nonviolent way; people don’t send me things or cc me in emails.
–– A professor asks why I’m angry when I talk, and tells me that it’ll bode negatively for me as a professional.
–– I come up with ideas in meetings. They are met with dead silence and deadpan fish eyes. A white colleague comes up with the exact SAME thing…said in the same or harsher tone. He or she is hailed as a god-sent creative.
–– I bring visibility to racism and privilege. I get called a racist person who is not appreciative of the things I enjoy.
…and so on. When you experience these things on an almost daily basis, you have two options: brand yourself as a Black Lives Matter activist or resort to using people to get things done.
I do the latter. But it’s not because I’m scared; it’s because I’ve learned that some voices carry more weight than others, and if they are calling for the right things, they need to be supported.
I am not by all means immune to oppression. However, like the kingmakers who search for and groom the next kings for succession, I choose to ride in the passenger’s seat on some issues while influencing others to act on them.
So what? Learn from me. Or Beyonce.
Your decisions are your decisions. Your biz is your biz. People don’t like you or your guts. Actually, they shouldn’t. Your guts aren’t meant to be cuddled.
Over to you. What are some decisions you’ve made lately that has people wrinkling their noses at you?
Share them with me below! 