We're gonna tell ya somethin put your mind in a swirl
God bless the next baby that comes in this world
The world's full of hate discrimination and sin
People judgin other people by the color of skin
I'll attack this matter, in my own way
Man, I ain't no slave, I ain't bailin no hay
Written a deposition, in any condition
Don't get in my way cause I'm full of ambition
I'm proud to be black (and I ain't takin no crap)
I'm fresh out the pack (and I'm proud to be black)
SO TAKE THAT!!
Run-DMC (Proud to be Black)
I see you!
Look at you!
You look real smooth today!
Is it the way that the blue pinstriped suit drapes over your frame?
Is it the way that your baggy jeans fall on your Timberland boots?
Is it the way that your fitted Yankees cap is tilted slightly towards the east?
Is it that swagger or "pimp" in your walk? Is it your strut?
Is it the way that you engage your co-workers in topics like the ozone layer and environmental issues?
Is it the way that you bounce to a beat from J Dilla? Or the latest verse from NaS or Jay Z?
Is it the way that you bi-lingually speak...good English at work...slang on the cell?
Is it the way that you hold it down for your entire family?
Is it the way that you've made it to the point that there are a few people who enjoy what you have to say on a daily basis and look forward to reading what you've written?
Is it the way that you are a friend, homie, confidant?
Is it the way that you know your past and understand the humble beginnings from which you came?
Is it the way that you've succeeded but understood that you have even further to go?
Is it the way that you live hip hop culture?
Is it the way that you've made sports a huge part of your life?
Is it the way that you know that God has put you here for a reason and you must do the job that you've been assigned to do?
Is it the way that you...are you?
Who are you?
You are Kyle.
A black man. A strong and proud black man. A black man who has been blessed with the gift and the experience to raise 3 black boys into black men.
These are some things that I think of when I'm asked "what does it mean to be black to you?"
This week CNN will air the special "Black In America". I will be tuning in as many of you will as well. It's easy for celebrities and athletes to speak about being Black in America. But what about the common folk. People like you. What does it mean to you? When you look in the mirror...do you like what you see? What does it mean to you to be black?
Hollatchaboi
1st!!!!!!!!!!!! lol going back to read the post! istaye up to be first! LMAO
ReplyDeleteohhhhhhhhhhhhhh lawd!!! LMAO!!!
ReplyDeleteLOL! Kyle, I can't even red all the post, i'm rubbing my eyes like a 1 year old baby!
ReplyDeletei'll be back tomorrow to talk about what it means to be "black" to me!
nighty night :)
okay Sexxy Luv is gonna make me beat her black tail,lol
ReplyDeleteokay Kyle, you know what you are on, you are the shyss.
i look forward to reading your blog each and every day, cause you keep it so real, and i got maddd love for you!!!
okay what do i see when i look in the mirror, lol do you really want to know???? j/j
i see a work in progress
i see myself growing
i see myself loving me
i see myself for the true blessing that i am
i see myself completing the task that God has set for me
i see myself being the best that i can be
i see somone deserving of love
i see myself suceeding
i see myself as the beautiful,humble, spirit that I am
i see me Dreamy
hope that answered yor question!!
What does it mean to be Black me in America:
ReplyDeleteIt means I am the truth.
A conquerer
an overcomer
an element
Mother Earth
A fighter
An independent Soul
What do I see when I look in the mirror?
A Woman 100%
A Black woman 1000%
The originator
The real
Black Beauty
A mother
A lover
A bitch
80% Lady
10% ghetto
10% hog
A Southern born Cali raised West coast rider
A warrior.
A friend.
A daughter
A sister
An Auntie
PrettyBlack...
I just love your shit Kyle!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletehey...im finally over here kinda early...even if i aint first...lol
ReplyDeleteanywayz...i can't really even sit here and give you a list of pro-black stuff...i don't know exactly what it means to be black, it's kinda hard to describe...all i know is that's what i am...
when i look in the mirror, i see a blossoming young woman who is tryna find herself and where she fits in the world...
and that's the simple and plain, man...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI set my DVR this morning for the shows on CNN this week. Being black in America means so much...this comment box won't contain all the thoughts I have.
ReplyDeleteI will say this - I understand your post so much. Despite all of our separate differences as Blacks there are so many things that join us together...so many things.
why is this first thing suck an obsession over here...
ReplyDeleteanywho
I will miss the first night.. so take good notes for me... my happy hour is wed... but will watch on night 2
being black to me means being strong, being independent, being able to handle any triumphs that come our way. We are survivors by nature and are our own worst enemies. If we stick together we could conquer the world but instead we get in our own way.
that's in general though... wont get into the "I" aspect of my blackness... its too early in the morning for all that
Being Black to me means surviving and thriving in spite of racism and
ReplyDeletea society that stacks the deck against you at birth. For those of us who get an education, whose raise their children and who manage to make it through another day intact, mentally, physically and somewhat economically...That's
Real Black...
Being black in America means we are Survivors in every sense of the word.
ReplyDeleteI'm proud to be black and I'm proud to be African American--to me it's about a rich culture--the way we talk, behave, dress, dance, and express ourselves. It also means that our ancestors came from slavery, prevailed over years of strife and abuse and we are here representing them. I don't know, I just love it.
ReplyDeleteGREAT POST
Hey Brother!
ReplyDeleteI usually don't get into the color/race thing...because we are all human beings....we are all God's children...just so happens that he destined us to be a specific race....still we all bleed the same color blood...which speaks in volumes if you really think about it.....I'm proud of who I am....and thankful for my roots....our people are strong...and I believe our faith is what has kept us moving...even when others have tried to push us down...
Yes...I like who I see when I look in the mirror...WHY...because again I NOW know that I am a child of God....a royal priesthood...from a chosen people...I am blessed....we are blessed...and when you truly know and believe that....you can't help but like who you see in the mirror...no matter what shade reflects from that mirror.........
It's good to see you recognizing your worth 12kyle! I have also been tuning in to CNN for "Black in America," and am just really ready to tip my hat to Soledad O'Brien. She deserves credit for being a reporter and journalist that doesn't mind digging deep into something different. I've watched her do it before, and Im sure she will do it again. Being a black woman today for me represents pride for today, respect for the past, beauty in natural skin, struggle to break the barriers, celebration of heritage, love of children, a nurturing soul; there are so many things that are both bad and good..the list could go on and on! But it's nice to take the time to really think about what I bring to this world as a black woman. Thanks for the opportunity to do so. Take care 12!
ReplyDeleteKei
http://therevealedoasis.blogspot.com
My "blackness" represents a story of all mankind, starting with a hue. This hue, in all its splendor and glory, encompasses the majestic ability to give birth to nations near and far, with precision and infallibility. Therefore, when I view myself in the mirror, the same precision and infallibility that created the various nations, is the same precision and infallibility that created me. I’m partaking in this legacy by respecting, loving, nourishing, and spiritualizing my heritage via actions and lifestyles that impede negativity on the totality of my existence.
ReplyDeleteIts also a reminder of how far Black people have come, yet how much more we have to go. Of course, with the good in life you have the bad...the unforgiving dichotomies of life. Being Black represents the negativity I have received due to being Black and the negativity that will come. Fortunately, I have the ability to knock it out of my life with keen precision :)
Okay then... Mr. Black man..go ahead with your bad self!
ReplyDeleteDid you catch the one that aired on Sunday? It was great!
ReplyDeleteBeing black to me means being strong, resilient, confident and intelligent. I could go on and on...
There's nothing like black pride!
AWW man! This is a great post.
ReplyDeleteWhat does being Black mean to me:
It means struggle but not in vain.
It means beauty from the youngest to the oldest
Being black means respecting my ancestors and treating myself and my kings as the rpyalty they are.
Being Black in AMERIKKKA means knowing that I have to be smarter, stronger and more agile than my white competitors. And Glorify in it..
Ok I can go on but being Black also means I need to get my Black arse back to work, heheh.
Loves it! Wonderful post kyle. But I will refrain from answering your question...I'd write a dayum dissertation in your comment page and I don't want u cussin' me out!
ReplyDeleteBeing black to me means being:
ReplyDeletestrong
resilient
fighter
survivor
independent
What I see when I look in the mirror:
daughter
sister
auntie
friend
soldier
beauty
PRIDE
to me being black all boils down to survival. from when you are born until the day you die life is going to be a struggle.
ReplyDeleteit would be one thing if it was "them folk" we would have to battle against, but we have to fight against each other too.
fight on!!!
Being Black to me means that we still have a long ways to go.
ReplyDeletei agree with jewells. about the whole being black. its hard for me to say so many positive things about being black when in the black community i see so much negativity and lack of progress.
ReplyDeletei don't think i've gotten a good grasp of myself yet. enough to say what i truly see. sigh. :/
I see a creator in every sense of the word CREATOR.
ReplyDeleteIm new to this blog but Im definately feeling it stop by my blog sometime an dshow some luv.
I like that. I'll be back to check you out again real soon.
ReplyDeleteTo me to be black simply means to be ever evolving. We have no time to "be" anything. We have to be whatever we need to be for that moment. That's how we've existed this long.
@ Sexxy Luv
ReplyDeleteR u still asleep? haaaa
@ dreamy
Thanks! I gots maad love for you, too!
Yes! You answered the question
@ prettyblack
Love this list. Can you explain to me 10% hog? lol
@ kandi black
You're gonna find yourself. You're much wiser than 20 yrs (almost) of age
@ Darius
So true, bruh. We're different but we're still together in the same struggle
@ Eb the Celeb
Don't hate on the "first-ness" haaaa
I'll be happy for the day when we are no longer our own worst enemies.
@ Keith
Educators are special people. It takes a lot to do it. I tip my fitted Yankees cap to you, bruh
@ Rich
We are the ORIGINAL survivors
@ TravelDiva
Thanks! You know me...I love black people, too
@ Keisha the Kitten
ReplyDeleteMost of the hymnals that we sing on Sunday were originally sung in the fields as we picked cotton.
@ brad
I couldn't have said it better bruh.
You need a blog...fa real! LoL
@ Kei's Revelation
I'll be right in front of the tv. Mrs12 works for CNN and she saw the original screening. It's powerful. I didn't know that Soledad was black. Did you?
I'ma check your blog out
@ Beautifully.Conjured.Up
Excellent!
We'e come a long way but we have so much further to go
@ A Go Bytch
I try...I try (smile)
@ BGG
Yes! I saw it. I really enjoyed it
Black pride is powerful
@ The F$%K it List
Thanks!
Being Black in AMERIKKKA means knowing that I have to be smarter, stronger and more agile than my white competitors. And Glorify in it. I've lived by this mantra for my entire life
@ L
You can write a dissertation and we'll blame it on the Crown! Haaaaaa
@ ShellyShell
I hear you! I got my black fist raised!
@ Stew
ReplyDelete"Fight the Power!!! We got to fight the powers that be!!!!
Lol
@ Jewells
I agree
@ ms.uncensored
That's an excellent self assessment
@ Charece
Welcome to the 12th Planet. Make sure that you come back. We have a good time over here. We're here everyday like the school bully.
I'ma check out your blog
@ Shanita Waters
Welcome to the 12th Planet. Make sure that you come back. We have a good time over here. We're here everyday like a stray cat
I agree! We are constantly evolving.
its the gift and the curse
ReplyDeletetheres a common understanding that comes from my Blackness
others of my race tend to relate
the curse is people sometimes expect me to act, speak, think a certain way
also, because of my Blackness.
what does it mean 2 be Black to me?
i dunno, big brother 12
it's just what i am
just as i breathe, i love, i live...
i am Black
it's all i've known
-1-
@ -1-
ReplyDeletei feel you, sis. being black is all that i've ever known or ever wanted to be. it is who i am.
we are decedents of a proud race of people. i'm happy to be a part of that.
You have to listen to west coast rap Kyle...a hog is greedy, wants it all yesterday...a boss, a HOG! haha!
ReplyDeleteIf you get your head out of East coast's ass you'd know what hoggin' is! Listen to some E-40...
@ pretty black
ReplyDeleteLMAO!!! I tried to listen to E40 but I need a slang dictionary to understand him.
I'll listen to Cube, Snoop, Dogg Pound, and Xzibit. That's about it for the West Coast.
Thanks for clearing that up for me, tho.