uncovering Black life and culture have made far-reaching contributions in the lives of all people, but that does not mean we cannot look outward to find inspiration. We have produced the best contributors in the fields of science, medicine, and performing arts, so it’s known that we have the range. But sometimes we may want to step out of what is created in our image and enjoy things simply because we like it. There are many enjoyable things created by non-Black cultures. It may be hard to love, because of historical implications, but we love the things they create. Humans have the intrinsic need to connect and engage with a common thread, but if every master narrative seeks to tell us that only certain people are fit to like a certain thing, we are shunned. Despite societal norms, there is no universal law that says that we cannot enjoy these things. It’s natural for Black women, men, and children to like music from other cultures, but we have to do in a way that makes sense to us. In these spaces, we have to show what being Black means to us and how can we apply that to who we already are. You may feel alone, but everything you love that is wholesome and good is a safe space and you deserve to be there. As a Black woman, I grew up at the intersection of my Caribbean heritage and African-American upbringing. I loved musicals, popular music, and family-friendly television shows, which often were not considered popular with my peers. They were more interested in rap and hip hop. I was only marginally interested in those things. It would take some time for me to actually love it. Evidently, I was teased. After I got over not having something in common with my peers, getting older, I realized that the spaces I moved in were dominated by more non-people of color. I started to doubt my passions; maybe there was something not great about these things and my people knew why.
Renegade Magazine Fall '19 Issue.indd 26
12/11/19 3:17 PM
