Now, I know every one will not agree with me, and this may offend a lot of people, but I'm not here to butter it up. I'm here to express an idea.
Personally, as I have gotten older and grown more mature, I've noticed a mannerism that is common in many people in the two largest minority groups: Blacks and Hispanics. This mannerism is not always a negative one, but it is one that I feel shouldn't exist in today's world, but still does. It's the action of overcompensating for success.
Now, there are many sides to excuse this overcompensation, but I don't have the time to explore all of them, so I'll only state a few.
1. Being a minority in White America. (I've heard this a lot and I cannot completely disagree with it.)
2. My Mama's Mama's Mama's Mama couldn't do it so now I HAVE to.
3. I am just being me. (I hate this one.)
4. I'm only satisfied with the best. (My question is according to who.)
I have no problems with going for the gold, doing your best or making yourself into the best person you can be. But something in the US that minorities have to deal with (and also some poor whites) is the feeling of being an other. And as an other, you feel pushed out. For example, if you were the scrawny kid, the too tall kid, the short kid, the fat kid, etc., you felt left out. In order to gain acceptance, you would, in turn, do something that only you can do in order to prove to the others that you are cool, too.
So I ask you. What are your thoughts?
I actually kind of agree. I think, overall, there's an idea in minorities that you have to make something of yourself. That you have to prove to 'white America' that you're just as accomplished as they are, that you can go to the same schools and do the same jobs they can do, and better.
ReplyDeleteNow, that doesn't quite apply to my family. Of all of my generation, me and my oldest cousin are the only ones who really accomplished anything that can be seen in a positive light, though I think my brother will follow. One cousin got kicked out of the military, another knocked up his on and off whore girlfriend and they both dropped out of school, and one failed the army test. And the two younger ones aren't shaping up to be much better, I'm sad to say. I only hope they do eventually get that desire to 'prove themselves' to whatever and whoever, for their own sakes. Seriously, my family is one huge stereotype
Hi,Markus! I guess for some people this may be true. However, for myself, I have only felt pressured to prove things to others who are minority: like my dad or some asshole (who shall remain nameless) who I allowed to infiltrate my thoughts. Come to think of it, this only happened after I began having kids without being married. Before then, I did not feel inferior or compelled to push myself to prove to those of a lighter complextion that I am capable of success. Fortunately, now, the only person I need to prove something to is me. I push myself to reach MY goals and to be successful on MY level and according to MY standards. I have always felt comfortable among my white brethren, Hispanic brethren, Asian brethren,etc.
ReplyDeleteYou know, as I read over this, it occurred to me that I have at times felt the need to prove to people that I am not like "other" black people or how black people are perceived. I am not ignorant, I don't blame the "white" man for my problems, I don't constantly harp on slavery, and I am not loud and abrasive living on welfare with snotty-nosed kids in tow and a hoochie-mama outfit. Unfortunately, those "stereotypes" are true in many ways. I have seen many women like the one I just described along with many men and women who blame their plight on slavery or oppression from white people. While I believe we are all born equal, we are not all born into favorable circumstances. Some will never rise above their conditions because they are not exposed to the right education that will move them beyond just existing to actually succeeding. I can go on and on with this, so I will stop now! LOL!