When I was growing up, I was often bullied and accused of not being Black enough ::mumbling:: whatever that means. According to some, I talked White and thought I knew everything. As an adult, I now understand that talking White means I speak standard English and knowing everything means I did well in school. *Shrug* Such is life.
And while high school and college both seem so long ago, the whole not being Black enough issue popped up again recently when someone asked me "Where the hell are you from?" when I posted a picture of grits on my Foodspotting page and declared that I didn't like them (as I have previously). For the record, eating grits doesn't make you Black. #duh
It's National Caribbean-American Heritage Month!
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On June 1, 2012, U.S. President Barack Obama declared June National Caribbean-American Heritage Month via Presidential Proclamation and I must say that I am thrilled. To recognize what to many is Caribbean peoples obvious contribution to American society warms my heart whether those people are White, Black, Pink, Purple or Brown. And while I've never been big on choosing just one month to celebrate any culture, I can't help but have a little twinkle in my Caribbean-American eyes.
OBG®'s Interesting Cultural Facts (ICFs) are back! No longer lost on OBG®'s Twitter feed, Multicultural Mondays celebrate culture and diversity worldwide by posting an ICF and corresponding photo from OneBrownGirl.com® and/or a multicultural blogger we love...
5 comments:
Dominican
I am beaming at this recognition. I am happy to be the product of Bajans by way of Panama...Panamanians have too long been overlooked in this category and i proud to be a first generation American-Bajan-Panamánian #teamebonylatina
Thanks so much for posting this! I thought I was the only one to experience these things! Lol! I love being a Vincy girl! (St. Vincent & Grenadines) It was a challenge, explaining that I was "not acting white" but speaking the Queen's English; I don't eat hog maws (still don't know what they are!) and I like grits, prepared by others!
I'm happy that you wrote about this and it would be wonderful, if people in the USA, would realize that not every Black person in the USA is not from the South or had a southern experience! I can't tell you the arguments, I used to get into!
Oh, well, let's just keep educating them! :) I love your blog! :) :)
Bravo to you for writing about this!
A big shout out to my Caribbean peoples!! I didn't know you had Caribbean roots, T. I never really liked grits or some other Southern foods as well. That being said, I feel lucky to have grown up in New York City where it's hard to not trip over another Caribbean person. :) I think Indigene is right that the U.S. still has a hard time understanding the idea of what it means to a Black immigrant/being Black and not culturally American. I didn't even know that June was Caribbean American Heritage Month. Nice!
Love this! All of your comments resonate with me, except I just recently started liking Okra ;-). I am a decendant of the home of Reggae music, Bob Marley, and the only country that correctly calls the dish "rice and peas". Com'on folks, there are more rice grains than peas in the pot! Lol. I am an American born Yardie, a born JaMerican. I am Jamaica, and I am Jamaican.
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