The time has come for me to apply
my thoughts to mainstream thinking. I AM Maka K. Taylor, author, poet, parent,
and social entrepreneuer; I need the world to know, I AM not black. I readily admit ebony hued individuals exist; but the generalization for a complete heritage must represent ancestral truth. I do not
state this in a race ridden quest to denounce my heritage; the total opposite
is my effort in this endeavor. I intend to shed light on the “color” concept of
the culture and people in which I identify. I AM taking back the power to
define and the will to apply that which is good and right in my life; with that
I declare that I AM brown and my people are melanated or persons of hue. I find
it high time this distinction is made.
Black as defined
by Mirriam Webster dictionary is as follows: Full Definition of BLACK
1. 1a:
of the color black
2. b
(1): very dark in color <his face was
black with rage> (2): having a very deep or low
register <a bass with a black voice> (3): heavy,
serious <the play was a black intrigue>
3. 2a:
having dark skin, hair, and eyes : swarthy <the black Irish>
4. b
(1)often capitalized: of or
relating to any of various population groups having dark pigmentation of the
skin <black Americans> (2): of or relating to the
African-American people or their culture <black literature> <a black
college> <black pride> <black studies> (3):
typical or representative of the most readily perceived characteristics of
black culture <trying to sound black> <tried to play blacker
jazz>
5. 3:
dressed in black
7. 5a:
characterized by the absence of light <a black night>
8. b:
reflecting or transmitting little or no light <black water>
9. c:
served without milk or cream <black coffee>
10. 6a:
thoroughly sinister or evil : wicked
<a black deed>
11. b:
indicative of condemnation or discredit <got a black mark for being
late>
12. 7:
connected with or invoking the
supernatural and especially the devil <black magic>
13. 8a:
very sad, gloomy, or calamitous <black despair>
14. b:
marked by the occurrence of disaster <black
Friday>
15. 9:
characterized by hostility or angry
discontent : sullen
<black resentment filled his heart>
16. 10chiefly
British: subject to boycott by trade-union members as employing or
favoring nonunion workers or as operating under conditions considered unfair by
the trade union
17. 11a
of propaganda: conducted so as to appear to originate within an
enemy country and designed to weaken enemy morale
18. b:
characterized by or connected with the use of black propaganda <black
radio>
19. 12:
characterized by grim, distorted, or
grotesque satire <black humor>
20. 13:
of or relating to covert intelligence operations <black government
programs>
Now, for the crux
of my argument; I will also share the definition of white as denoted in the
Mirriam Webster dictionary: Full Definition of WHITE
1. 1a:
free from color
2. b:
of the color of new snow or milk; specifically: of the color
white
3. c:
light or pallid in color <white hair> <lips white with
fear>
5. 2a:
being a member of a group or race characterized by light pigmentation of the
skin
6. b:
of, relating to, characteristic of, or consisting of white people or their
culture
7. c[from
the former stereotypical association of good character with northern European
descent]: marked by upright fairness <that's mighty white of
you>
8. 3:
free from spot or blemish: as
9. a (1): free from moral impurity : innocent (2): marked by the
wearing of white by the woman as a symbol of purity <a white
wedding>
10. b:
unmarked by writing or printing
11. c:
not intended to cause harm <a white
lie> <white magic>
13. 4a:
wearing or habited in white
15. 5a:
heated to the point of whiteness
17. 6a:
conservative or reactionary in political outlook and action
18. b:
instigated or carried out by reactionary forces as a counterrevolutionary
measure <a white terror>
19. 7:
of, relating to, or constituting a musical tone quality characterized by a
controlled pure sound, a lack of warmth and color, and a lack of resonance
20. 8:
consisting of a wide range of
frequencies —used of light, sound, and electromagnetic radiation
Reading the variation between the
definitions one can readily assess that “white” is connotatively “good” and “black”
is connotively “bad”. The individual who
identifies him/herself as “black” inherently adopts and potentially adapts to
the denotation of the word. It would be plausible to assume that individuals
who are “black” are—“dirty,
soiled; connected with or invoking the
supernatural and especially the devil, marked by occurance of disaster, or
characterized by hostility, angry discontent,
or grim, distorted grotesque satire.”
While
the individual who identifies as “white” revels in the denotation of “free from
blemish and moral impunity (innocent), favorable, fortunate and consist of a wide range of frequencies—used of
light, sound, and electromagnetic radiation.”
If
we, the Melanated Majority, are to begin to gain a foothold; taking our place
as Creations’ Chosen People, I find the imperative necessity that we come to
the table and reassess what we have allowed ourselves to be identified as, as a
culture. I believe I can state with no backlash that words, EMPHATICALLY, have
power. Following this line of thinking; the aforementioned definitions beg the
question----“What power do I offer myself in identifying as a “black” person?”
I see no power in the denotation;
therefore I see no power in the transference of consciousness into individual
spirit to cause productive change in the minds of the Melanated Majority.
“Black”
is only defined in derogatory, negative ideals that express the meaning of “black”;
while the antonym “white” is defined to be the epitome of clean, characteristically
immune to “black” and morally upright.
I
fail to surmise why scholars and thinkers have not addressed this blatant
misnomer, the oversight, institutional intention and call for change are as
clear, for me, as the defined words
on the page. Thought, conception and
perception automates by identification; relative to definition creating
conception/perception by association. I also site that guilt by association is
by product of identification, is part and parcel to my argument. Once an
individual identifies as “black” the concept, by definition automates thought and
as a by-product greatly reduces the opportunity for an unbiased interaction. This
is true for the antonym “white” as well. The definition, of its’ own accord
negates the broad reality of who an individual is and the broad scope of
individual “I AM(ness). Just as the definition for the word “white” automates
thoughts and feelings of “goodness” and salvation. “If its’ white its’
right---if its’ black don’t go back.”
I
think the point is made---again, it is clear to me that this word “black” no
longer serves us for where we are or where we need to go. I AM not Afrikkan
American either-----the day you show me where Africa America is; this is the
day I will identify as such. From this day forth, I will check other and
identify myself as hued or MM(Melanated Majority). I ask you to open your mind
and review the document; then review your soul and if you can make the leap; STAND and claim your power, sit in the
seat and stake your claim; for together WE CAN DO IT. RISE PHENOMENAL PEOPLE RISE.
