When I was young, my mother told me that I needed to work twice as hard because I'm black. This is a sentiment which most black people have heard growing up, particularly black people growing up in predominantly white countries. I didn't understand it fully at the time as I was very young. Regardless, I worked hard in school and was academically on top.
I didn't feel like I was held back by my race, as I was outperforming most of my white peers in school and my teachers (who were mostly white) were positive towards me. They always reminded me that I could be anything I wanted to be. I didn't really understand racism or that I could be held back by the colour of my skin. I do understand that my experience at school is not indicative of that of other black people. I've heard stories from black people who experienced racism from their teachers, who had told them that they wouldn't amount to anything in life. Further, some who had high ambitions were told by their teachers that they should aim low. Statistics also show that black students are excluded from schools at a higher rates (in the UK).
Lately I have been listening to right wing/conservative black people (I'm more left wing myself) to hear their commentary on racism and issues within the black community. I noticed that many of them deny that white supremacy/institutional racism is an issue and they also say that black people have a "victim mentality" which keeps them at the position that they are in.
I do not agree with them that racism is not an issue, we can not deny that there are ethnic disparities such as the black maternity death rate, stop and search figures and ethnicity pay gaps. There are policies and institutions in place which have disadvantaged black people globally. We should be able to acknowledge these facts and realities. However, I do not think that we should base our whole identity on this. Having a victim mentality and defeatist attitude can be damaging to your psyche.
Do I believe that black people have a victim mentality? My answer is that some do and some don't. Black people of today do not have it as hard as their ancestors did. Our ancestors went through chattel slavery, colonisation, genocide and wars etc. They fought their oppressors so that we can have the freedoms and privileges that they didn't have. I have come across some black people who have the "victim mentality" that believe every single bad thing in their life is because of "the system/the white man". What I've noticed about some of these types of people is that they continue making poor life choices which makes their situation worse, and they seem to lack accountability for their own actions. You get some left wing people that highlight inequality in society which I agree that they should. However, some can be extreme and act like black people are so oppressed that they have no chance to make it in life. One thing I do respect about black conservatives is that they do not allow their blackness to stop them from achieving in life.
I think that mindset is a big factor. I am a black female, therefore I am considered "doubly oppressed" and at the bottom of society's hierarchy. Do I view myself in this way? No I don't. There were many black women in history who went through horrific circumstances and overcame them. They are victors and they paved the way for people like me. It would be a disservice if I do not utilise the opportunities that I have because of them. I remember reading articles last year about black women in America being the most educated group and the fastest growing entrepreneurs. These women see themselves as victors not victims.
We have to recognise that there are inequalities in society and that racism will always exist. Whilst living in these societies we need to learn to circumnavigate "the system" and focus more on advancing ourselves and making decisions that will improve our lives. I feel that black communities need to have high racial esteem, we need to believe that we are good enough, that we are NOT inferior and that we are capable of doing what we put our minds too. We should not view ourselves from the eyes of racist people. Yes there are black victims but we shouldn't base our whole identity in victimhood.
I like what you have said. There isn't a black and white answer to the question of whether or not black people have victim mentalities... I found your blog post while looking for other black peoples' opinions on this question after a white person spoke of black issues as if they are propaganda made by blacks themselves (which I disagree with) rather than real issues that have become highlighted and inflated by mainstream media and politicians to exploit. I think black conservatives just don't want to be used and belittled but they ignore real, valid issues sometimes.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't wrong to notice inequality and racism and speak on it, but our hard work and merit will be what uplift us in the end, and I am glad to say in the black community I am seeing more upliftment than negativism.