T-Shirts Are Not Proof Of Black People’s Criminal Intent

“How do we level the playing field. I’m tired of asking white folk to alter their ways. One thing at 40 I have learned, especially through law enforcement, is that you can only change yourself. You have no control over anyone else but yourself. As a people, we don’t have any control over white people. The fact of the matter is that when your black, what that black male in the long white T does in society DOES AFFECT ME!. What the identical white male in a long white T does in society DOES NOT AFFECT OTHER WHITE MALES!” – Black blogger

Here’s a question: Why is it that white people who do wrong don’t affect anyone else but when a black person does wrong it has an impact on the entire black community? Why is it that when a black person does something negative it has an impact on the entire black community but when a black person does something positive it does not impact the entire black community? Are people in black neighborhoods content to sit back and allow ourselves to be forever judged through the socially constructed lens defined by the majority and polarized in a way so that the only information that is able to filter through is the kind that reinforces only the destructive aspects of black people?

It is really sad to see black people so quick to judge each other with nothing but each other’s momentary appearance as the determining factor. Speaking as a professional black man, on my days off or when I am home after work, I am quick to peel off the casual dress clothes and don some shorts and a sleeveless shirt. I know there are people who might see me in my not at work attire and dreadlocks and immediately jump to all kinds of conclusions thinking that I’m up to no good. I have to say that the normal expression on my face is one of seriousness or sternness. I frown and furl my eyebrows when I’m deep in thought which is most time.  I I feel like I’m always pondering.  I know I might look unapproachable or like I have a chip on my shoulder. But the reality could not be further from the truth. I actually enjoy talking to people and do my best to be sociable and friendly.

I also learned not to apply such stereotypes to other people. A few months back I had to take my mom to the emergency room because she had fallen. When I saw the big white guy in the waiting room with the bald head and the chest built like a bank vault and with forearms the size of most people’s thighs and tattooed like an Angelo canvas, my immediate reaction was to keep a distance. But I was carrying junior Peacemaker at the time and a baby is the perfect instrument to break the ice. The bald headed white guy opened up the conversation.

Is he yours?
Nah, I just found him outside. There’s a whole herd of them out there if you want one.
He looks like a heartbreaker.
Thank you.
Good looks must run on his mother’s side.
Now why’d you have to even go there?
Is he your first one?
My one and only…

And so on the conversation went. Not exactly a one hundred percent accurate transcript of what we said. But it was close enough. The man had just rushed his wife to the emergency room for what sounded like a severe asthma attack or some type of breathing ailment. I remember her voice being rather gravely. At least that was my non-medical expert, zero minutes in medical school backed diagnosis. But one thing I do feel expert on is the fact that the guy was friendly to other people in the waiting room as well. Yes it’s true that from across the room he looked intimidating. But that’s simply how he looked. I know nothing about someone until I get to know someone.

When we in the black community see other black people buying into the stereotypical images of other black people being thugs and criminals and borderline psychotics and etcetera, we should be asking ourselves a simple question; How can we expect white people to stop automatically associating black people with everything negative when there are so many black people who should know better but are neck deep in the rhetoric that paints black people as everything negative? How can we be taken seriously as valued contributors to the greater good when our own black people are so ready to associate black people with everything negative in society? The racially generic dominant community that is predominantly white does not need any help from black people to promote black stereotypes. Unfortunately, too many black people stand in line ready to volunteer their services.

The brothers who wear white T-shirts do not affect me one way or another. They don’t make me look good. They don’t make me look bad. I have nothing against black people who wear T-shirts. Although I must admit that I hate to see those brothers wearing their droopy pants for people to see their boxer drawers.  Not every black person who wears a white T-shirt is a problem. In fact, some people wearing white T-shirts are part of the solution. I know when I make the choice to wear a white T-shirt I don’t need other people to judge me simply because of my attire. I won’t judge other people because of their attire. In other words, we shouldn’t be so quick to judge each other off such superfluous criteria. And when we learn once and for all not to do it to ourselves, maybe we can work together as a community to not let ourselves be defined by such simplistic parameters.

By black people standing together and refusing to allow racist stereotypes to define us, by refusing to give in to such racial profiling, we can take one step towards taking control of our identity. It’s not about asking white people to change. It is about black people taking the steps necessary to identify ourselves and refusing to submit to whatever dictates the dominant community decides to apply to us. We may not be able to control others. But that sword should be cutting both ways. We certainly don’t have to continue to let others control us. Black people should resist the urge to toe the line that prejudices and discriminates against other black people simply because they are black and have a certain appearance or status in life.