On the Existence of Black Folk

It’s hard to comprehend this social construct about Black people in America sometimes because we are fed a steady diet of “Black-othering” in the media.

Black people exist as tropes. Clowns or thugs or dumb or the-first-to-die-in-a-movie.

It’s hard to understand how this continuous creation of Black people in the popular media erases the humanity and dignity of Black people as they are in reality.

But one line in this essay by Michael Harriot struck me straight in the eye:

“More than anything, Theo existed.”

We do not allow Black people in America to just exist. To be. To be learning and growing. To make mistakes and then figure out the way forward. To be children who are innocent and who love fun, who are mischievous and scared and reluctant to admit they’re scared. To boast and exaggerate, to hide and crawl away. To try new things and even reject them. Or to discover their talents and pursue their interests to become fulfilled in life.

Mr. Warner here was a lot of that, but he was always—to my knowledge— trying to make it to the next day while being his whole self even while living in a fishbowl we call public attention.

I’m sorry that it was so hard to just be yourself when everyone around you already sees you in the box they put you in the moment they saw you.

May you be forever free, Theo.

May you be released in joy and wonder, Malcolm-Jamal.

May your memory be for a blessing.

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A reflection on the essay “Throwback Thursday: Malcolm & Me” by Michael Harriot.
https://www.contrabandcamp.com/p/throwback-thursday-malcolm-and-me?