Black Strife, White Wife
- Ulysses
- May 8, 2018
- 3 min read
Are black men with white spouses good candidates to speak on the black experience or strife in America? The question has been posed so many times and the world has progressed and shifted so much that each time it was asked, you would get a different answer from the general public each time.
Note: General public means black people.
To be an African American or “black” in America is a unique, tumultuous, and unequaled experience. We are hated and loved, feared and admired, ridiculed and admonished so much so that ONLY we can speak on us. That part is fact. Unless you are “black” or African American, your opinion on us and how we are viewed and treated in America is heard through very scrutinizing ears. Your points are taken into consideration about as much as a squirrel speaking on the hardships of fish. There are many men we may go to for advice or their take on the difficult road we travel. Many whom we may admire ourselves considering that they have walked through the fire and came out on the other end slightly singed but otherwise untouched by the flames. These (many) men, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson himself, have taken a hard stance on the plight of “black” America and what needs to be done to change it. And then…Even Jesse Jackson’s wife is white.
Does that dispel his words of wisdom and strength? Rumors and lopsided political views aside, we are speaking on the powerful statements the Rev has uttered throughout the years, which has empowered many (who listened and believed) and brought them through their own fire. Does the fact that his wife of over 40 years has never been nor ever will experience the plight he seems to so vehemently fight for, change our view on his words? NO, his ineffective actions toward our plight or issues do.
Enter Donald Glover and Jordan Peele. Both have taken their platform and addressed social issues in their own artful way. Each has shined a powerful flashlight on the struggles that we, “black” people” face on a regular basis. These men, along with the Rev., have significant others who cannot identify with that. We have known for years that there is an abundance of black men who have taken on wives outside of their race for whatever reason. Some argue that you love whom you love because it encompasses no color boundaries. But see; when you’re speaking on issues that are specific to one group, how much influence does the person you share a bed with have on your views. Are you being hypocritical by sleeping with your purported “oppressor”? Is your attempt to draw attention to certain issues undercut by the fact that the individual you spend the most time with doesn’t have to worry about those issues?
Every time this issue is brought up I’m reminded of a comedy (I can’t recall the name) where a few brothers were looking for powerful leadership against “The white man” and they happened upon a shop with an extremely militant owner. There were African medallions and pictures everywhere and he spoke black power to these brothers until they were amped and ready for war! Then his wife comes out the back with her long blonde hair in tight cornrows and a colorful dashiki. Even his biracial kids made an appearance screaming, “Fuck whitey” with their fists up. That was the most prevalent scene in the whole movie, indicative of this exact point. It lasted about 5 minutes but it easily proved the crucial narrative one tries to make when discussing this topic. It was brutally honest, insightful and slightly infuriating. I thought it was hilarious.
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