MELANATED MAJORITY

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

6.      4: dirty, soiled <hands black with grime>

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>

4.      d: lustrous pale gray : silvery; also: made of silver

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>

12.  d: favorable, fortunate <one of the white days of his life — Sir Walter Scott>

13.  4a: wearing or habited in white

14.  b: marked by the presence of snow : snowy <a white Christmas>

15.  5a: heated to the point of whiteness

16.  b: notably ardent : passionate <white fury>

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.