This is going out to the various shades of Black in Afromerica regardless of educational level, economic and social status, or political affiliation. The message is to remind, enlighten, and encourage. To remind because under the shade of some Black faces dwell the sculpted persona of Euro-romanticism, to enlighten because the knowledge base of some Black minds have been wrought with misguided notions of equal opportunity, and to encourage because the power of Euro-aloofness has weighed heavy on and dispirited the self-worth of many unblemished brothers and sisters.

Be not deceived people, you are not who think you are or what has been portrayed of you. However twisted and complex your character has been defined by Euromerica, and by whatever means you were made to assume a surrogate identity, you are Black and will always be Black. Whether this observation offends you or encourages you to inhale deeply the ghost of pride past, it is a reality that carries with it the essence of truth.

Wooed by images of what is defined as beautiful and refinement, many Blacks have assumed the attitude that if they are not carrying themselves in the ways of whiteness, they are less than a person. What are the ways of whiteness? The ways of whiteness is 'to be white.' To be white means to inherit all the ways of their native culture, which is European culture dating back to ancient Greece and Rome.

To be of any culture one has to naturally and biologically inherit the culture of their native land. Once any person has abandoned their native culture and assumed European culture or 'whiteness' they have been wooed by the seductress of Euro-romanticism.

Because Blacks were involuntarily reared into European culture from birth, many have assumed this Euro-romantic persona and many who believe they haven't unconsciously have. After hundreds of years of practicing this culture one would think that we would have perfected it, but many of us haven't, why? Because it is not our native culture. Thus we struggle between what lies deep in our soul and what we have become accustom to. When the results of our expressions - whether through speech, writings, or lifestyle - are less than naturally European, we are criticized for it.

Many Blacks have somewhat successfully emulated 'whiteness.' They speak and write the English language very well, they live up to the standards of success defined by American culture, and they can quote, recite, and comment articulately the words of ancient Greek and Roman authors and play writes. Though these are but mere academic accomplishments, the problem is that these Blacks immutably believe in this culture, to the point that Black culture becomes shamefully null and void. The sad thing is no matter how much a Black person believes in these ideas, and no matter how articulate they are in matters of Euro-history, the hard truth is they will always be Black. This leads to the misconception of equal opportunity.

Not to imply that equal opportunity is not out there and the concept does not work for minorities, but there is a difference between opportunity and equal opportunity. Blacks have been misled into believing that the term "equal opportunity" means that they can have everything whites can have. This is true to an extent. Blacks can have everything whites allow them to have.

Before Blacks can have what whites have, whites must have it first. If there is a possibility that Blacks, or any other race for that matter, may have stumbled on something before them, whites must have a place in the overall outcome. They must have either originated the idea, have improved upon it, or have to manage it. They will not allow any race or culture to have complete and genuine rights to or first crack at any phenomenal discovery.

The opportunity for any feat the human mind can conceive is available to anyone who wants to accomplish it; the problem in American society is that the accomplishment must warrant merit from the authority of whites. In other words, if a Black person wants to be the first human to swim the entire length of the Mississippi, unless whites acknowledge the feat as honorable, there would be no reason to do it. And once they deem it a great feat, a white person will be awarded the "opportunity" first.

This leads us into the realm of Euro-aloofness. The act of winning the friendship and acceptance of whites have single-handedly ruined any sense of individuality and uniqueness the Black person has ever had. Like a son striving to make his father proud, Blacks have strove for years to prove to whites that they are more and in many ways better than the white man. Is this effort necessary?

Relating this to the scenario of the father and son, many believe that a son should respect his fathers wished for his future but seek to develop his own character and accomplish his own dreams. Whether or not the father is proud at the end is a determinant of the father's character. If the father cannot appreciate the success of the son and it falls below his expectations yet does well by the son and his life, then the opinion of the father means nothing.

Comparatively, when Blacks seek the approval of whites in their accomplishments it is a reflection of low self-esteem from the start. Somewhere along the years of life, this Black person has acquired the concept that their accomplishments are worth little unless noted by some higher authority such as whites. And if no white person or entity takes note of the accomplishment then his or her efforts, in their mind, were in vain and mean nothing.

However, as in the scenario of the father and son, if white authority cannot appreciate the accomplishment on the merit of individual effort, then that authority has a character flaw of its own. This is common practice in American culture when relating to race. Regardless of how much a Black person achieves when all is said and done, they are still Black. Colin Powell could be president and probably do a good job, but his Blackness is a hindrance. In addition, if it is an accomplishment above and beyond the abilities of many whites, then jealousy rears it ugly head.

Now this does not apply to the abilities of Blacks where they are expected to succeed, such as in basketball and rap, or any other stereotypical tight cast attribute of Black behavior. No. When Blacks succeed in these areas it is "what they do best." But when Blacks succeed in areas where whites have always dominated, there is concern. You see, Blacks are not suppose to succeed where the white man has failed.

Acceptance by the white race is an acceptance worth little simply because regardless of your accomplishments to them, you will always be Black. Many would say that that is simply not true and that many Blacks are revered for their accomplishments in American society and that they have received their due respect, and they would be absolutely correct except for one thing; the concept of tokenism.

Tokenism, one of the many attributes stemming from racism, has undermined any viable accomplishments by Blacks in America. Because over the years whites have been socially and legally forced to prove their innocence of racism and prejudice, they have elevated Blacks into erroneous spotlights. Though some Black accomplishments were genuine, some were mere fallacy, as in Washington and Berry on Oscar night. The fallacy is that America has accepted Blacks as good actors and into the world of Hollywood erotica, but as mentioned earlier, is this type recognition needed to sustain Black esteem?

To know who you are you must realize who you are not. One step in accomplishing this is to know beyond a doubt that you are Black and can never be white nor be white better than whites. Not only from the eyes of whites but from your own eyes must you view the world and life as it really is. You are Black living among whites and if you cannot be that then anything else is unacceptable, primarily according to whites and essentially to the laws of nature. As long as Blacks believe that race does not matter they will never know who they are or what they can accomplish. But they will allow whites to tell them.

© 2003 by C.R. Hamilton