Ok, so I hosted an event on New Year's Day called Soul Food. It's an awesome concept; potluck style, everyone bring something based on your last name. Good food, and lots of great families, eating, drinking, playing games, networking.Well, I posted something about it on my Facebook page, and a good friend of mine (who happens to be a white male) jokingly replied, he would bring tripe next year. Now, I had no idea what that was. He told me,...... cow stomach. I am now traumatized. Then he said ok, I'll bring breaded and fried fatback and okra. Neither of which I would allow in my home I'm sure. But it got me thinking.....I'm black right? Shouldn't I know the list of items that are considered "Soul Food"?Shouldn't I like those things? Lol...I mean really. Does being black automatically mean I have "Soul"?
Anywho, I invite one of my best friends,(who happens to be white) to Soul Food. She made black eyed peas..my favorite. Now mind you, her black eyed peas were better than anyone else that brought them. I think they are better than mine. Does that mean she has "Soul" since she can cook peas? Does it mean I don't have enough because I dislike most of what's truly considered "Soul Food" and the meals I typically prepare for my family are not any type of soul food whatsoever? Either way ,whether her peas are good or not, my collard greens are better than hers. But I don't like chitterlings(chitlins if you're black), pig's feet,ox tail, fatback(not sure what that is), giblets, tripe (now that I know what it is), catfish, and whole list of other things that I am sure are on the list. So I must explore my blackness. Right?
What does that term "Soul" even imply? I like this song called "Soul Sista" by a group called Train. Now, when I heard the song, I'm thinking, this had to be written for a black artist because I have yet to meet a white girl claiming to be a "Soul Sista".lol...Except the part when he says,"Aint that Mister Mister on the radio"? I guess it would have been Twister or something. Funny thing is, I know who Mister Mister is, and I really don't like rap so........what does that mean? ....hmmmmm.... My taste in music is pretty eclectic . I lean more toward alternative, and I will most definitely put on some Old School before most of the garbage they play these days. I love jazz and classical. I put my foot down with heavy metal and gangster rap though,my pain threshold is not very high. Now what "that" means is, I'm constantly teased that I'm not black because of the music I like and my mannerisms. So I'm trying to figure, am I supposed to like rap and fried chicken because I'm genetically predisposed ?...or do I like chicken because it delicious?..but I still don't care for most rap....some, but not most. So maybe something is wrong with my genetic code.
I've met people who say, my husband doesn't "act black" as well. What does that mean? I'm full of questions. He's an educated, dedicated father and husband with good credit, and speaks in complete sentences. Sooooo......are those white traits? Are people retarded? Don't they realize how insulting that is to imply you act white if you're responsible and aren't ghetto? I know my friends are joking when they say it, but it still makes me frustrated to hear it. I guess my husband is more black than me though, since he likes rap. But then again, he doesn't swear and I do all the time so maybe I have a shot achieving blackness after all.
In all seriousness, I feel what it boils down to is an identity. As a black American (not African American...never been to Africa and I don't know anyone from Africa), I have to create traditions for my family. I hear the term all the time, "As American as apple pie". I don't like apple pie either but I have to decide what it is that's important for my children to pass to their children. A sense of culture and identity. Every other race has traditions and culture....a traditional dress, ceremony, or cultural dishes passed down from generation to generation. I think that's what Soul Food is about. Carving out an identity, starting a tradition that maybe our children will carry on and be proud of. I'm sure it's not that deep for most people, they just want to eat, but it should be. We need a sense of community and sharing. I invited my "white" girlfriend because she's my friend and I love her. Should I have left her out because "Soul Food" implies black folks? In my opinion, no. Soul is the spirit, not the race. I am definitely not the gage for soulfulness, but I love people. And I love people with good hearts that care about other people.
I am by no means done with this topic. I'm going to continue to explore this. I'm black ...yes. I'm not ghetto, I love my husband and kids, I live in the suburbs, I don't like rap, I do like alternative, I like fried chicken, I do not like chitterlings. Am I trying to be white? No. Am I black enough? Not sure what that means? Am I a "Soul Sista"?....I think that depends on who my friends are. I believe the people who will continue to be in my life will accept me for who I am and what I stand for. I'm just Angie.
No comments:
Post a Comment