"Black Friday, Black Folk and Black Guilt"

"I got so many things for my kids that several news outlets attempted to interview me in the Toys R Us in Times Square. I turned them all down because I was ashamed to be Black and proud and participating in Black Friday.

When the third reporter asked if I wanted to talk, I said no thanks. But he chatted me up anyway. There was no camera rolling so I thought I was cool. I still gave him a fake name. I kept considering the political climate and the attack on my people and how capitalism and consumerism breed racist violence in various forms across the world as I looked for Minecraft and Lalaloopsy paraphernalia. And despite all my work with students, families, youth and communities, I judged myself and fearfully awaited the judgement of others. I didn't want anyone to know I had participated in the Consumerism Olympics, and I figured the reporter would use the quotes in a general story and no one would ever know. 

But lo and behold I was being photographed while we spoke, and when I looked up from adjusting my bags he was recording what I was saying in a pad. I’m not mad at him. He was doing his job. He even helped me to a car afterward. As I buckled my seatbelt in that yellow cab full of things that would bring my children immense joy, I immediately felt a sense of dread at people seeing me, the militant black girl, in the news shopping at the White Man's stores and putting money in his pocket...

We have too much to lose as a people to constantly make each other feel inadequate based on complex issues that we choose to look at independently such as hair texture, complexion, shopping habits, family traditions, online rhetoric, family structure, sexual orientation, religion and a multitude of other things...

the fact remains we were all raised differently and we all deserve to be met where we are, not shamed for not being where someone else is on their journey or celebrating and defending their blackness in the same ways."


http://www.forharriet.com/2015/11/black-friday-black-folk-and-black-guilt.html?m=1#axzz3sqsholi7