I want to talk about being Black
I want to talk about being Fat
I want to talk about being a Lady
I want to talk about Art
All four of the taglines in that header represent my points of view and what you can expect to find highlighted in my art and writing. Is that all of me? Of course not, but it sums up my identity in a nice and easy to identify package. It’s taken a long time for me to be able to be ok and shoot, PROUD to even describe myself as any of those qualities, let alone all of those together as each one carries its own bias and prejudices attached to it. Through my blog post I mainly talk about the steps I’m taking towards making my comic, but I also talk about my experiences, inspirations, and motivations. This is me sharing my life and experiences. I’m breaking down these tags that I use to describe myself and how they relate/impact the other over the next few post and want to discuss what they mean to me.
On being Black.
I remember there was a time where I wanted nothing more, but to be seen as just another person over being seen as my race. It seems silly to me now bc I am a person, I am also Black. I used to think it was such a great thing to hear someone say, “I don’t see race, I only see people.” In theory, that’s a beautiful statement, but in reality it’s actually erasure. Don’t you see, I am a person, I am also Black. Ignoring my skin color also ignores my history and what having my skin color means.
I would love to say that being Black
hasn’t changed anything about my journey as a human being, but that would be truly indulging fiction when the reality is my art, media consumption, hair, skincare, makeup, food, and the list goes on, have all been impacted by being Black. My art from the subjects I primarily chose to focus on (a journey I have discussed on this blog and still have many words to say about). My media consumption through trying to find and latch onto anything with portrayals of black people with my life experiences that made me feel represented and seen in the shows I loved (as representation does matter believe it or not, it does). Through my hair just existing in its natural state and being viewed as inferior or unprofessional. Through my skincare trying to take care of it without having to lighten it, but also deal with hyper-pigmentation in spots and shaving while black and what trauma to the skin looks like (big YIKES). From trying to find makeup that does not make me look like a clown because the color matching systems in makeup have been known to get real funny once you are darker than a light suntan. To the foods, I have had available to me growing up Black and in poverty that I am still leaning to adjust to accommodate my pallet and well being.
The list goes on and I could go on, but I think this should help with understanding how saying things like, “I don’t see color.” can be hurtful. You could instead say, “I see you as you are and I love you.” In saying those words instead, you validate my existence as I am and show that you care. That means so much more to me.
Saying the other phrase is just… ignorant.
