“Before my mother knew me, she knew I was black.” -Unknown.
Stereotypes based on appearance have been around for millennia and in this day and age not much has changed. Whilst society is more aware that people are not one dimensional and you can’t judge a book by a cover. Many people are still saddled with the same assumptions and put into the same box as other who look like them. For many the first quote resonates, presenting as a black person is the first attribute many will notice and forget or ignore the rest of you. Whilst black people are not a monolith they are labelled as such with stereotypes like: ‘black girls are so loud;’ ‘he wears a tracksuit so he must be in a gang;’ ‘they only got in because they’re black’ etc. Being black is not something you can change and is a huge part of someone’s identity, but there is so much else to recognise and learn about black people.
In the month of October, we celebrate black history within and outside of our community. Whilst, we should honour our history and remember the hardships our families have overcome it’s also a time to celebrate our current achievements. Black history month is a time where not just being black is visible, but other parts of our identity. It’s a time to celebrate black art, music, literature, joy and community, and all the other identities we hold. It’s a time where communities outside can take the time to learn about and support our interests, businesses, how to be a true ally. It’s a time for us to take up space in our different communities from rock music lovers to ballet or food, not just because we are black, but because we are members of so many other communities. Many of us are not just black, we are also people with disabilities, immigrants, LQBTQ+ etc and it is so important to celebrate the intersectionality between our identities because the change so many narratives in other communities too. This month celebrate your whole identity, what is on the outside and on the inside because you control your own narrative!
The Black Students Community ACS hope’s you’ve had a great month and wishes the celebration and recognition to continue for the rest of the year!