In response to “Has Anyone Ever Questioned Your Authentic Blackness?”

I’m an African who grew up mostly in Africa. But because I was educated privately in England that somehow means that I’m ‘posh’ and not fit to represent my race:

"Why do you speak like that?" 

"Like what?”

"Like you’re talking to the Queen."

This gets really old, and really exhausting. And it infuriates me that by extension these ‘real’ black people are implying that to be truly black you have to speak in slang and have limited vocabulary. 

I guess the fact that I’m going to the NKOTBSB concert this month doesn’t help matters much, hahaha. (That’s New Kids On the Block and Backstreet Boys for those of you not in the know). I should probably mention that I’m 26 years old and this is probably not acceptable irrespective of your race. I don’t eat chicken on the bone and I’ve probably been to KFC like twice. Having said that, I speak my language, I know my culture, my dad was a chief (surely I get black points for that!) and I like the word ‘free’.  

The older I get, the less concerned I am about what other people think I should be. I’m now comfortable with my own definition of blackness that I’ve created through my own experiences. Like this hybrid identity. And it suits me fine.