So recently a Buzzfeed video came out about if black people said to white people what white people say to black people. (still with me?) I watched the video and thought it was hilarious! Reading through the comments it was clear I was one of few who did. There was an abundance of anger from white people, saying the video was racist and race baiting... Interesting.
It's interesting that a video, made to tell the experiences of others in a comedic way, was turned around to be made a vicious attack on white people.
It's interesting (and sad) that people have made themselves the victim when others have lifelong experiences of the examples given. It's also interesting how easy people are able to jump into the victim role by turning something about others into something all about them. Just goes to show how truly self centered some people are.
Allow me to open your eyes as to why the examples in the video are so silly:
- When you tell me I talk like a white girl/guy, you're telling me that you have made the assumption that all black people can only speak one way and that way is unintelligible. (hardly the case)
- When you tell me I'm whiter than you because I don't listen to such and such rap artist, you're telling me that you believe all black people listen to rap and rap only, and to listen to anything else is just unheard of.
I could go on, but I think you get the point. If you feel that this information being pointed out to you in a light hearted way is racist... Then you must be mad at all the people who think this way because otherwise it makes no sense. When we hear these things, most likely we don't get upset, we laugh it off because well.. We expect it. This is how we are represented in mainstream media.
We are "expected" to act a certain way and do certain things and any stray away from the stereotype all of a sudden makes us a different race, how telling.
Nobody is thinking that ALL white people say these things, but I'm willing to believe that most of the people who haven't actually said it, have at least thought it. Here's the thing, though.... It's NOT A BIG DEAL! Seriously, how dare people get offended by something that we have dealt with for so long and are rarely even bothered by it most of the time. Take this video and take from it what it is giving you, another outlook. Open your mind and see outside of your bubble.
It's NOT always about YOU.
Some of the comments I read, people were disgusted because they felt that the video was generalizing the entire white population... Really? That's actually what the examples are proving from the other side. Black people are not just an ongoing rap video, we're not all drug dealers, we're not all on welfare, we don't all listen to rap, we live amongst you doing pretty much the same things you do, but unfortunately we are not given as much credit.
At this point in my life, I have been called a white girl, asked about my "nappy" hair, been told I sound nothing like the voice on the phone and how surprising I am black, been told how "articulate" I am, been called uppity, etc., more times than I like, but that's life, that's how it goes and all I can do is laugh it off. Could you imagine what I would be called if I got offended?! Is our community represented diversely in media... not so much, and because of that we do have specific stations and websites and such dedicated solely to us, because we DO want to be represented as more than just the stereotyped norm. Why is that wrong?
Stop letting anger be the first emotion to take over when you're confronted by something you don't understand. That goes for everybody. Try understanding, empathy, at least curiosity. I considered the video to be a funny joke, but after going through the comments, I realize it can be used for so much more if people allow themselves to open their minds about it instead of automatically be offended.
Have a seat and breathe. Everything will hopefully be OK.... hopefully. Don't expect me to be your stereotype, I won't do it to you.
Thoughts on this, let me hear from you in the comments!
