Black is Negative, Black is Beautiful

I’m sure that everyone has heard, and most live by the fact that black attracts heat. Well up until today I thought the entire idea that a color can attract heat was absurd. Earlier today I got into a heated debate about the subject with a classmate, and I expressed my feelings towards it. I had never researched it for myself; I thought it would be a waste of time because again, the whole idea just seemed ridiculous. However after the entire class came to her defense to inform me, in detail, how wrong I was-I decided to check it out for myself.

To my great surprise, I found their argument to be true. Turns out, black does in fact absorb more heat because it is comprised of all colors in spectrum. And because of that, it absorbs all light which in turn creates an increase in heat. White on the other hand reflects all light. It is not comprised of any colors of the spectrum; white, ladies and gentlemen, stands alone.

This was disparaging news to me for two reasons. The first one being that I hate being wrong! However to my benefit, I did let her know that just because I didn’t believe it, doesn’t mean it isn’t true, hence the reason why I asked for scientific proof.

Secondly, the realization that there exists scientific proof (at least in one area), that everything black is identified with something negative: BLACK attracts heat, afraid of the DARK, BLACK Friday, BLACK cats, DARK soul, the BLACK plague, etc. We could go on all day finding negative things that are identified with the color black.

But there were also two ironies in this revelation!

1.       The teaching that black is beautiful is validated by this. The fact that it a mixture of all colors, gives its beauty an insurmountable value. It reminds me of our diverse culture, and how we as a people so easily identify and accept other cultures, well unless somebody is at our money, dignity, and/or freedoms.  We come in so many different flavors; I would even argue that we are the trend setters of this society. Also, most have no idea that the westernized black has cultural influences on people all over the world! We are intelligent, funny, and charismatic. We are thinkers, movers, workers and so much more. We are a beautiful people.

 

2.        How ironic is it that white reflects or rejects all other colors! Now if this isn’t a mirror image of at least our society…? One thing I have taken away from this institution so far, thanks to the teachings of Dr. Fon Gordon, is that there is nothing more American than race. Since this nation’s birth it has rejecting anything that doesn’t mirror the dominant discourse, which is whiteness, or more specifically, white men. When anybody with white skin comes to this country, over time they are labeled Americans. This includes: Europeans, polish, etc.  But people of color will always be labeled in direct accordance of it, i.e., Blacks-African American, Browns-Spanish Americans.

 

Even though America’s strength lies in its diverse elements, and is known as a “melting pot”, we know that those of color will never be absorbed in this society. In other words, we will not be fully accepted, only tolerated. And let’s be honest with ourselves, though we must give credit to those before us for our freedoms today, the fact remains that it was allowed. What could we possibly do if white America turned on us right now? If they decided that they made a mistake and should bring back slavery? We have little representation in government so what could they do? Most of us can only name one black politician-Barack Obama and guess what? He is the ONLY African American in the senate, and even he is half Caucasian. And what works much more against us is the fact that blacks alone only make up 12.8% of the U.S. According to a 2006 census. Would we ever go back to slavery? I couldn’t see it, but I do think that it is important for people of color to see exactly where they fit in this society. Or as whites said when it was *socially acceptable*, we must know our place.

 

 We are fighting a two front war, because we as people of color have to fight for everything we get in this society, and we have to fight to hold on to our own cultures instead of subjecting to that which holds the power over this nation, the dominant discourse.