For Colored Girls (and Gies) Who Sometimes See Rainbows
“I remember never believing that whites were really real” -- Maya Angelou from “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings”
I, an African-American, remember believing that black people were never really real. This is a true confession. I was always called "black." I knew I was included when people said “Black is Beautiful.” I remember people in high-school quoting a popular saying, “It’s a black thang, you wouldn’t understand.” Although I didn’t understand, I imagined I did. When my “White-acting” [ ???White acting???? ] friend (who dreamed of being an actor in New York) who often acted unique and original, and less "conformist," told me, “It’s a black thang, we wouldn’t understand,” I was a little offended; 'I am black,' I thought, 'I understand.'
This was the same girl-friend I grew up with from Kindergarten to graduation. We both had the same second-grade teacher, a “white” teacher, who shared the class with a tall, slender, female African-American Teacher’s Aid. I remember the day we, six and seven year-olds, asked our teacher why brown people were called "black." It was a question a lot of us kids had wondered about. Our "white" teacher said she didn’t know…which is a good answer. If you don’t know, you don’t know. The tall Teacher’s Aid didn’t have a better response, although instinctively, I felt like she knew more than she was telling. I remember our teacher telling the class to stick out our arms and hands, and come together to form a circle. We did, (with our skin touching) and we noticed all the colors we came in…brown, caramel, yellow, tan, pink, and the lightest brown. Although it was fun; I remember the other kids made me aware of being the darkest person there. I was "black."
In my North Carolina public school, I learned there were eight basic colors…not more. Eight: black, brown, purple, blue, red, orange, yellow, and green. What was/is white (if not a color)? Did "white" people think that white was clear? That the color white was the same as the absence of color? My mind noticed many odd ideas, like strange spellings, and negative numbers…many ideas didn’t make sense to me, but I accepted them (somewhat). To be honest, my mind weaves through a lot of strange ideas…I am thinking of creating a new bumper sticker that many people may want to buy: Education is also UNLEARNING the Mis-education we learn.
There are a lot of things that are confusing to a young person, I think there is much confusion today. When I was in college, I remember telling a “white” person (I think of Jewish descent) that black people did not exist. I was trying to be honest and factual. I told her that most "black" people were actually brown or dark brown people. Since we (dark brown people) are dark, I told her that "white" people probably called us "black", "black" people. In my way of understanding, this made sense. I was "black," everyone I grew up around was "black," and all could clearly see that I/we was/were brown. Of course, I met other people who seemed more confused (in college), for example, a friend told me “Oprah Winfrey and Clarence Thomas are white;” this same person, told me his father (who looked, to me, like an Italian-American) was “black.” Later, he described himself as a brown person (which I agree with. He is brown). Obviously, I think there is a lot of confusion in America.
I watched a Christian program that showed black people. People who could not be described as any other color – but black. I noticed what I may have ignored before, black people do exist. Black is beautiful. People of color are beautiful.
Now, I live in a pre-dominantly African-American neighborhood, (which is in some ways, like the neighborhood I grew up in). Many people in my neighborhood are black. Sometimes, I am very aware of being brown…not in a fearful way... just aware… I don’t want to be accused of identity-theft [which I’ve never been accused of before…mostly, other brown people have pointed out the lighter-brown regions of my body. Yeah, I notice my multi-hued body...I wonder why they mentioned it?] I think I negated “blackness” when I believed black (people) did not exist, and replaced it with the color brown. [And I think I am still confused about how to best express my confusion].
I don’t think such confusion is healthy (for me)…I hope to better describe my reality. I hope people of all colors feel good about their accomplishments, and daily deeds. I am happy using the term African-American. Many people call themselves African-Americans, and identify with a larger group of people who are many colors. At this point, this is who I am, a brown person, who has inherited many features from my black ancestors (and probably, from ancestors of a few other colors); and I am (I think) an America citizen. It’s all good, and Black Is Beautiful!
Peace and Umoja (unity)! C-ritah (talk) 22:08, 2 February 2011 (UTC)
A Link to my "Off-Wikipedia" blog: http://offwikipedia.blogspot.com/
My list of Nine Basic Colors:
| English | English Fonētekā | English Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Black | Bā-lāk(ā) | blak |
| Brown | Bā-rāo-nā | broun |
| Blue | Bā-lu | blu |
| Purple | Pər-pul | pərpəl |
| Red | Rēd(ā) | red |
| Orange | O-rān-jā | ôˈräNZH |
| Yellow | Yē-lo | yelō |
| Green | Gā-re-n(ā) | grēn |
| White | Y-t(ā) | (h)wīt |
| Fonētekā Key: "Sounds Like" | "Sounds Like The Letter in the American Alphabet" |
|---|---|
| Ā - "ah" (Aria) | A - "ae" (Apron) |
| Ē - "eh" (Education) | E - "e" (Easy) |
| ə - "er" or "ur" (Pur-ple) and (gen-der) |
'Another Area of Interest, Math.
I am not an expert...basically, I am interested in certain "un-resolved" questions I use to have in High School. I don't like it when I ask questions and don't get a response, or, the person I ask doubts my sincerity. [In fact, I wrote a short story about computers who talk a lot, and don't answer questions...Remember, in school I use to hear: 'the only dumb question is the unasked one']. Sometimes I question my own level of sincerity...I feel the need to self-educate, so I can answer my own questions...yet, I also value teachers and communicators.
In the above writing, I mentioned negative numbers. I really don't understand what a negative number represents. To me (as I taught myself), if you have seven pennies on the table, you can count, or add each penny together. If you add correctly, or count each penny, then you should end up with the number seven, seven (7) pennies.
For Example:
1+1+1+1+1+1+1 = 7
Now, say you went to sleep, then returned to the table an hour later, and you didn't see any pennies on the table. You could reasonably say: there are no pennies on the table, there are zero pennies (on the table).
Now what is a negative penny?
[I admit, I fear Big Brother...in 1984, a fictional story, people were taught that 2 + 2 = 5]
I visited the "Negative Number" page in good spirits...not to argue, or post original thought, or to write a long article or paper.
I ask a question I am somewhat serious about; (I am serious about the question, but seriously didn't expect an answer...I may be "pre-judging," or just expect certain "defensive" behaviors.) In school you are expected to look a certain way, or act a certain way, or ask questions a certain way if you want them to take you (or your question) seriously...right?
This is what I wrote:
= = = Has a Troll confused me? = =
Please help! I am a math newbie. A woman said (she says that not all women are irrational) that if we added together all negative numbers, the sum would equal zero; because 0 + 0 = 0. Is this an urban myth? C-ritah (talk) 03:30, 3 February 2011 (UTC)
A nice editor replied:
No, just nonsense. Hans Adler 08:54, 3 February 2011 (UTC)
Then, with a "less humorous," more, "let me try to be reasonable" attitude,(because someone took the time to respond to my question), I worked on my question. After much editing, I wrote:
Oh! I have a friend who hopes to get herself out of debt. For instance, say my friend has no money, and lives with her mom, who has used her name to obtain a credit card, then, after using the credit card, got my friend into debt...I thought my friend would not be able to pay her debt...until she graduated (and then found a job)... Should I tell her that there may another way out of her state of debt? C-ritah (talk) 13:23, 3 February 2011 (UTC)
This editors response was:
"Please do not use article talk pages for hoaxing, trolling or general fooling around. That's not their purpose." Then he erased my question.
I think this Editor was reasonable...he said, the talk page is not for "fooling around," and I was kind-of fooling around (I wouldn't advise my friend to seek another way out of her debt), my question is actually based in truth life stories...I have know parents who have used their children's names to obtain Credit Cards. That is beside the point, I was really seeking an answer...actually, I am going to explain it to myself (if I can't get a better understand), then post my answer/response in another "Off-Wikipedia" Informative Blog Post
Question: How do you ask questions of editors without them feeling defensive?
Yesterday, I asked a friend to check out my writing "For Colored Girls (and Gies) Who Sometimes See Rainbows" [Which is above]. She was critical [which helped, after I read her comments, I then Edited my writings a lot.]
She asked me a question..."What does "White-acting" mean [see above]? I tried to answer her question honestly.
Here is what I wrote on my "Off-Wikipedia" Blog:
You question, "What does "white-acting mean"?
My response: To be honest, I don't know. Sometimes, I quote what people say...I never said it. I knew you were (are) intelligent, and brave (non-conformist)...and complex. People said I "acted white," and they didn't tell me what they meant by it. Honestly, I quoted what was said [It is a quote]...not because I understood the quote. Do you think I should write something like [Sic] behind it, or write in brackets ["White-acting"? -- stressing the question mark?]...any suggestions?
Again, I agree with you...it is ridiculous... [In my defense, I never said those things.]
Again, I'm not sure about the proper way to ask a questions? But people who take the time to respond (and not to insult)do seem to care. Most times, I want to educate myself...I am educating myself (which is one reason why I think an Encyclopedia should be factual and Educational).
Peace (and stay reasonable) C-ritah (talk) 16:44, 3 February 2011 (UTC)
Update: I learned (as someone pointed out), that there is a Reference Desk, for asking questions. Cool! C-ritah (talk) 16:18, 6 February 2011 (UTC)
My latest educational contribution ...to be posted in a REAL ONLINE (VIEWED BY THE PUBLIC) BLOG
Dear Cībǝr reader,
I Have 1,000,000,000 dollars. That's a lie!
That is my ANSWER to the 'call' to WRITE A SIX WORD story.
I have enjoyed literary challanges posted by W&R, 'writing&reading' communities in the past.
Writing Challanges are fun.
I think brain teasers encourage people to 'think outside the box', and share.
For instance, my first attempt at creating a six word story taught me a few things about what a story is.
Is a story about people doing things?
Do I need a subject and active verbs in a short story?
This question, lead me to another question:
What is the shortest sentence in the English language?
I actually thought I knew the answer to my question...I remember jumping from the chair in my apartment in great excitement!
ICU!
I thought I had created the shortest sentence in the English language...and I did accomplished this 'feat' in a 'sharp,' 'non-standard' way.
Subject (I), verb (see), object (You)!
I was convinced of my own English 'Herstory,' until I heard a voice ask:
"Why?"
My point: Ri-inventing the wheel can be fun, especially if you enjoy thinking or using your time to enjoy your mind, puzzle ancient riddles, or ancient solutions.
Most people take their time, and learn from others.
A lot like the way you were when your Mah said "peek-a-boo!"
C-ritah (talk) 20:31, 20 October 2011 (UTC)
==================================================================== edit
This is my edited version.
I am interested in Education, and Public safety (including On-line safety).
Dear Reader,
I have 1,000,000,000 dollars. That's a lie!
That is my ANSWER to the 'call' to WRITE A SIX WORD story.
I have enjoyed literary challenges posted by W&R, 'writing & reading' communities in the past.
Writing Challenges are sometimes harmless, fun entertainment.
I think 'Brain Teasers' encourage people to 'think outside the box', recognize complexities in language and share.
For instance, my first attempt at creating a six word story taught me a few things about what I think a story is.
Is a story about people doing things?
Do I need a subject and active verbs in a short story or fictional work?
This question, lead me to another question:
What is the shortest sentence in the English language?
I actually thought I knew the answer to my question...I remember jumping from the chair in my apartment in great excitement!
ICU!
I thought I had created the shortest sentence in the English language...and I thought I had accomplished this 'feat' in a 'sharp,' 'non-standard' way.
Subject (I), verb (see), object (You)!
I was convinced of my own English 'Herstory,' until I heard a voice ask:
"Why?"
My point: Ri-inventing the wheel can be fun, especially if you enjoy thinking or using your time to enjoy your mind, puzzle ancient riddles, or admire simple 'ancient' solutions.
Most people take their time, and learn from others.
Some people enjoy learning from others, a lot like the way small children enjoy playing with their mothers...peek-a-boo!
I have visited (usually by first joining, then posting to) many on-line communities.
I want to create/ support a Poetry On-line Community that:
~ Believes Community is the most important aspect to cherish in a poetry community.
~ Supports 'olde' school print options.
~ Helps new writers develop their skills, and protect their ideas and writings.
~ Encourages writers to seek expert advice.
~ Accommodates people with disabilities
& encourages Internet safety & sharing freely...in a protected, consenting way.
[People should ask consent before sharing or ri-posting another poet, or writer's fictional or non-fictional work.
I believe this makes sense(& We all make mistakes). In the public schools, teachers ask students for permission to share their contributions.]
Believe Community is IMPORTANT!
Community is a reason to support Online Communities.
~ Support 'olde' school print options:
Sometimes, in the interest of safety to other writers/contributors, popular interactive sites, may re-connect with electronic-mail subscribers, or newletter communities.
~ Accommodate people with disabilities:
Illiterate or visually impaired people, or people with other illnesses, may feel inclined to self-expression away from written-textual expressions.
Creative Thinkers have created popular ways to enjoy poetry.
A few new approaches I have heard about are:
Books available in audio format:
For example, "South End Press" has books like "Sisters of the Yam" available in audio format.
[I believe South End Press also publishes guidebooks like "Community Supported Publishing," which sounds POSITIVE (IMOpinion!).]
& Def Poetry Jams.
I Learned more about Def Poetry Jams through this Wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Def_Poetry
I am interested in learning about other Promising sites, such as:
PS-Voices (Poetry Speaks)
C-ritah (talk) 23:02, 20 October 2011 (UTC)