I am a tired sister today…
I would like to think it’s because I work a job…
Write books…
Handle myself as a wife and mother…
But today that ain’t it…
This morning I was reading an article about…
The image of Black folks in this country…
And it was downright exhausting…
I know so many hardworking, business handling brothers and sisters…
Who aren’t deemed as newsworthy…
But unfortunately... I have come into contact with the newsworthy…
The stereotypes that continue to make the news…
What are we going to do?
How does one overcome stereotypes?
Or does one, ever overcome them?
For most of my life, I have been cast in the role of ‘Stereotype Buster’…
Hearing, you are different than most…
Blacks…
Women…
Tall people...
I have always become incensed and defensive when I heard those remarks…
Today... I am simply tired…
I can remember the first time I knew I was in a role…it was in ninth grade English…
My teacher, Mrs. Weaver walked to me with a copy of Richard Wright’s Native Son in one hand…Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet in the other.
“Angelia, I am giving you these. I know you will enjoy them. You read so well for a Black student. I would never give these to my other Black students.”
The hair stood up on my neck, tears stood in my eyes. I replied respectfully but firmly…
“Mrs. Weaver thanks for thinking of me, but I read those in sixth grade. And I read well…period.”
She looked at me with shock and just a bit of respect on her face.
Some thirty-six years have passed since that date but the same thing still occurs…
People are now more subtle…now I hear…
You are so different…
Never met anyone quite like you…
Sheeesh…
I am really rambling today…
But I am so tired…because every stereotype…like every rumor…starts with a bit of truth…
I guess our world will still need “Stereotype Busters’…I sure do wish it didn’t …
So I am going to rest up a bit…
Eat a few squares of chocolate…
Pop some caffeine…
And get back to work…
Just remember this…
I don’t mind being a soldier…
In the trenches for the cause...
Just jump in the fox-hole with a sista…there are a lot of us in there…
But, there is plenty of room for a bunch more…
acVernon Menchan
