Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Black Community, meet My Black Aesthetic
I decided to start a blog after becoming very inspired by an African-American Studies course. The goal of this blog is to help other Black people understand the power and beauty of our culture. It is an attempt to educate about Black ancestry and promote Black growth and progress. The main purpose of My Black Aesthetic is the education, motivation, unification, and permanent prominence of Black people everywhere.
Without divulging too much boring information about myself, I’ll brief you on my journey and where I hope it takes me. In May 2011, I’ll have a degree in English Professional Writing from Chicago State University. My post-baccalaureate goal is to get a Master’s Degree in African-American Studies and pursue a career in developing non-profit organizations that aid in unifying and educating Black youth. As stated before, this blog and my career goals are inspired by my passion for Black studies which has three dynamic influences.
First, is Dr. Molefi Kete Asante’s theory, Afrocentricity. The concept and inspiration behind Afrocentricity is the long-term goal of this blog. Understanding the world through the Black perspective has given my life a more profound perspective. I look deeper into things and see how they impact and influence Black people like me. Simple things like TV, movies, and music become completely different once viewed and listened to from a standpoint that decodes and exposes subliminal messages and their effect on their audience.
Second is the man to whose memory i have dedicated this blog: Malcolm X—the epitome of brilliance, power, and conviction. He is my hero. I love everything about him, from the content and enthusiasm of his speeches and debates to his strong will and merit of character. I’ve spent many days and nights listening to and reading his work. His words will be featured quite frequently here. My favorite speech is his explanation of the relationship between feelings about ancestry and culture and feelings about yourself. In it he says, “you can’t hate the roots of a tree without hating the tree.” Here’s the YouTube link:
Listen closely and understand the power of truth behind the message.
My third and sharpest influence is my African-American Studies instructor, Professor Kim Dulaney. I wouldn’t be writing this blog and I wouldn’t have been exposed to the greatness of Black history and culture if it wasn’t for her class. Being there gave me a sense of identity and purpose. During and after the semester, I gained a better understanding of who I am, what I want, and what I want to do in and for the world. I will be forever grateful to you, Professor Dulaney.
I would like this blog to be shared with people of all ethnicities and races. This isn’t just a Black person’s blog and I’m not aiming to just reach Black people. Once people outside our race understand and embrace our struggle, their receptiveness and willingness to help may become greater. Besides, many other groups of people are faced with similar turmoil. If I can help one group, why not try to help them all. Community needs may be different but the need for community is universal. Black people are my target audience and inspiration, but My Black Aesthetic welcomes everyone.
I hope you enjoy reading this blog as much as I will enjoy writing it. Please offer as much feedback as possible. Share it with your family and friends and help pass on the message.
Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts, ideas, and assertions.
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