The Bubble of Ignorance
We live a time when people can find validation and reinforcement with ease. We have more autonomy over what we see and hear than ever before. We can watch Game of Thrones or Ratchet Housewives of Wherever any time we want, instead of rearranging our schedules to get home by prime time. Our radio stations … Read more
You Haven’t Seen The Color Purple?
My building had a fire drill yesterday. We all had to evacuate the building and stand next to our respective work teams. These two women, Chelsea and Rebecca, are “bffs”, so when we had to separate to go meet up with our teams, they were all dramatic, hugging and shit. My coworker, Monica, who was standing next … Read more
Who Gets to Say “Nigga”
The perennial question. Black folk in this country guard the use of the word so vehemently, you would have thought it was bequeathed to them by some long lost ancestor. In many ways, it was. Scholars [wikipedia] tell us that the origin of the word is Portugese. Negar was the term used to describe African … Read more
The Man on the Elevator
A month ago, I was waiting for the elevator in the first floor lobby at work. The entrance to the cafeteria is also on the first floor, so several people were walking towards the lobby with food in their hands. Their was a tall, middle-aged, Black man among the crowd. He was yelling across the … Read more
Office Survival Guide: The Dougie
So this past weekend I was at a party hosted by my grad school program. It was typical fare for an open-bar mixed crowd event. Heavy on drinking, conversation, and awkward shuffling to out-of-date rap songs (Nelly was played more than once) and Katy Perry/Ke$ha. The other 3-4 black students and I made our typical … Read more
N*ggas & Rednecks
Racism is partially based on generalizations. Like how White people can’t dance, Black people love fried chicken, and Chinese, Korean and Japanese people are all the same. Racism is the seed of ignorance, and everybody’s a little ignorant. Which brings me to this post’s topic. The use of the word nigger has more baggage than … Read more
Abortion
This post has a rather sobering title. I’ll admit it. That was my intent. In our earlier manifesto, we here at 40 Acres and a Cubicle promised to keep the blog primarily humorous, but to also give you honest analysis of real things that affect the Black community. I hold true to that promise with … Read more
The Black Walk
I code-switch a lot at work. I switch it up so much that I some times I forget to turn off the facade when I leave the office. Black men are often perceived as overly aggressive. It’s a perception that has been spread relentlessly throughout history. I guess everyone just ignores the vicious, virulent … Read more
Down-Low Racists
I’ve experienced quite a bit of blatant racism in my life. Getting followed by security in the mall for no reason, getting called a nigger in elementary school, getting ignored when I walk into an expensive store (their loss), seeing someone call my mom a nigger when we were playing tennis. Don’t even get me started … Read more
We Can’t Be Racist
Some people say, “Black people can’t be racist”, which is totally understandable if racism is defined as a policy or system that is based upon or fostering a discriminatory doctrine. Racial discrimination by governments, corporations, religions, educational institutions and other organizations have the power to adversely influence our lives. However, you and I both know that Black people be racist. Okay, … Read more
