The Black Experience In America: Readings
The Black Experience in America has not been easy! As a result of the civil unrest that we are currently facing, I decided to pull together some books to shed light on this topic. These protests largely brought on by the murder of an unarmed Black man in Minneapolis over a week ago.
I have to say that as a member of the African-American community, it’s been a time of great mourning, anguish, and rage at yet another such incident spanning less than a two month period. In light of these troubling issues surrounding race and human rights here in the US, I feel it’s necessary to provide a helpful collection of books and resources to educate others about the Black experience in America as well as the importance of diversity education in our society.
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A Brief Recap of the incident that led up to this
The Black Experience in America has historically not been an easy one. George Floyd is just one of the thousands of black men, women, and children murdered by racist forces within this nation, over the years. From state-sanctioned killings, alleged lynchings in the South, etc, it’s safe to say that African-Americans are tired. What’s playing out in the media is simply the Black Community crying out, enough! Joined in solidarity by nations throughout the world who have witnessed this latest atrocity in horrific detail, millions of Americans and countless many others world over have risen up in civil disobedience. The Black Experience is full of these sorts of accounts and people are done!
Things are due for a change!
The bill is finally “coming due” on America’s history of systemic racism and discrimination. It’s 2020 and we’re still facing this century’s first global pandemic and this too happens! We are all shocked and dismayed at the killing of yet another unarmed African-American at the hands of “law enforcement”. Yet again, seemingly allowed to take lives both recklessly and without consequence!
Why it’s necessary to discuss the Black Experience right now
To say the stress and uncertainty of the COVID 19 pandemic played a role is an understatement. Without going too far into the woods, most African-Americans will tell you they saw this coming. The Black experience in the United States has been one of slavery, “Jim crowism”, segregation, racial profiling, and outright discrimination. While most Caucasians prior to the killing of George Floyd would say much has changed since America’s past racial atrocities, few can say that with a straight face today.
When we take the time to learn about each and embrace diversity, we learn about ourselves and our shared humanity. Each group has its bad actors but one thing we can all agree on, we are all human and deserve dignity. No one group is better than the other, and COVID 19 has proven to us, that we are all in this together.
Some questions being asked right now:
Many people have asked, how have we come to this? Again, most of us who share in this Black experience will say, why did it take so long to get to this point? To the place where millions of people and hundreds of nations around the world are finally taking action on years of trauma inflicted by a government on a segment of its population? It’s safe to assume that many who are reading this post right now, are feeling uncomfortable and even offended. The good news is that if this makes you uncomfortable, it means your mythological bubble of an “equal” America has been shaken up!
The uncomfortable truth America needs to face regarding the Black Experience
So what’s the solution? Here’s the thing, REAL CHANGE is rarely if ever, about being comfortable. Until America owns the fact that it was built on the backs of Black Africans brought to these shores, brutalized, raped, and sold like chattel, very little will change. Let’s not forget the hundreds of Native Americans who have also been disenfranchised and marginalized with a history that is equally as horrifying as that of the Black experience to date.
This is not to say that things have not improved from those nightmarish days of slavery. However, these same destructive structures that existed then, have yet to be dismantled and restitution made. Needless to say, that is something that needs deeper discussion! We can all agree there’s work that needs to be done to address these grievances and a good place to start is to learn about the black experience in America. Through our literature and discourse, others can share our experiences and listen to our stories and so much more.
Black America’s anger and hurt are justified
America is long overdue when it comes to doing right by the descendants of those stolen from their homelands to be slaves in a foreign land. Nearly 50 years after his assassination, Malcolm X’s words ring even louder in 2020. Back then and even now, White America has struggled with these issues. Malcolm X’s words are true when he said: White Americans to cling to the myth that ” American society is essentially hospitable to fair play and steady growth toward a middle-class Utopia embodying racial harmony. But unfortunately, this is a fantasy of self-deception and comfortable vanity.”
My final thoughts and recommendations
I could say so much more about the gut-wrenching emotional roller coaster I’ve been on; the praying and yes, my rage that MY PEOPLE are still fighting for equality and justice in 2020. I take little solace in the fact that in other parts of the world, Europe included, POC continue to fight similar battles for equality and basic human rights.
The Coronavirus has stripped the United States bare of its masks, platitudes, and wilful blindness. I remain hopeful that the US will seize this opportunity for meaningful change during this dark time in our history. Change is inevitable and if we are to grow and evolve into the best version of ourselves, we must do the work both individually and collectively!
Time for a re-set?
This is a re-set; a time for meaningful progress and creating pathways towards healing the trauma suffered by those who have been discriminated against and marginalized in our society. It’s truly time to tear down all of the racist and xenophobic structures that have brought this nation to its knees. Healing begins with acknowledgment, structural change, and yes, restitution.
With that in mind here is a list to help you begin to learn more about the Black Experience
- The Fire Nex Time, by James Baldwin
- Freedom Is a Constant Struggle, by Angela Y. Davis
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism, by Robin Diangelo
- Women Race & Class, Angela Y. Davis
- Between The World And Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- Fierce Angels, by Sheri Parks
A few things before you go
I’m always adding to my collection of recommended must-reads so stay stunned for more right here!
To further help you along, here’s a link to my ever-expanding virtual bookshelf where you can grab your copy of all or some of these insightful books right here!
Expanding our mental horizons makes us all better humans and at the end of the day, we should all strive toward that goal. While you’re at it, don’t forget to read my must-have women’s book reviews for 2020 right here!
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About the author
Tonye Tariah, Holistic Health Strategist and founder of Freedom at The Crossroads Blog, helps free women from inaction and unhealthy habits so they can get fit, healthy, and live free. Her approach is “the cookie-cutter method only works for cookies,” meaning she helps each person in a unique way helps them transform their lives from the inside out. She’s not about helping you lose weight quickly. She’s about changing your habits and helping you fall in love with yourself so you can live a life with pure joy.
