In answer to the Day 9 Question “Has Anyone Ever Questioned Your ‘Authentic Blackness?’”
I work at a public school that serves mostly Black and Latinos students so obviously I’m not Black enough for them. I don’t speak enough ebonics, listen to enough hip hop (though I would argue I just listen to a different type of hip hop) or wear the right clothes. I would love to think that the fact that I grew up in the projects and was raised by a single, Black mother would be enough to earn my Black card but as the kids will tell you: that don’t matter. Also, I wish that I didn’t have to authenticate my Blackness at all.