In light of recent events there has been uproar within the black community about the justice system and how it fails to protect people of color. Four individuals died within 48 hours and although there is evidence shown in videos of the officers abusing these individuals, each time it was brought to the public's attention the victim was seen as the criminal. While the uproar is mainly about how there needs to be justice for these deaths. There is another movement about people who don't see why we are upset and how "diet black" people could use their privilege to help end this. This brings up the topic of white privilege which a lot of people say isn't real, so this article will bring up the ever present black disadvantage by showing what it's like to be black in America.
Being black in America is seeing cops on the street and instead of feeling safe, walking to the other side or keeping an eye on their weapons even when you haven't done anything wrong. Cops are meant to make people feel safe but sometime the power goes to their heads. The recent tragedies show as much where the victims were are quiet peaceful. Being black in America is being suspicious even when you're a little kid, like Tamir Rice who was killed for playing with a toy gun, his neighbors thought it was real so the cost was his life. Even when you're not playing with a gun being black in America is being followed in the store or seeing the employee who will always appear where you are. As a black individual you're suddenly going to steal, especially if it's an expensive store because black people cant afford nice things.
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Being black in America is waking up in the morning and wondering if you're going to lose your life for being black. If today might be the day you're stopped and killed for a traffic ticket, for being licensed to carry, coming home from your bachelors party, etc. at this point being black in America is waking up in the morning and wondering if you're going to die for breathing. Being black in america is seeing all of the tragedies and peacefully protest and still get shot or arrested for peacefully asking for a change. It's being less important than a gorilla everyone was so quick to care for but when we say #blacklivesmatter there's an uproar within certain communities. Here's the thing, being pro-black doesn't mean you're anti-white saying #blacklivesmatter doesn't mean that's the only lives that matter it just means it's the ones we're trying to focus on to bring justice for.
Being diet black is being black only for the fun and not for the consequences, like having a diet coke you want the flavor but not all the sugar.
There are people who are quick to jump on the trends started by black people and claim them for their own. It's cultural appropriation and the thing about that is there's a very fine line between borrowing and giving credit and stealing ones culture and claiming it for their own. Like the YouTuber who did Bantu Knots and instead of giving it credit to where it was from she made it seem like she created it on her own. Being diet black is also wanting to be a part of the black community, dressing like us, acting like us, attempting the use of the N word because you "have black friends" but the second we need someone to stand with us you so conveniently are nowhere to be found or have nothing to say about the tragedies that are occurring. The black community is not unwelcoming, we accept white people into the community because as long as you're down for us we don't care the color of your skin, but you can't be down for us only when it benefits you.
I am not speaking for the black community as a whole, I am speaking as an angered individual who has seen too many misfortunes. Being black in America is being afraid to have little black sons and daughters because you're afraid they'll become the next hashtag.
