Black Girlz Rock!
A few weeks ago, my girlfriend and I went to the Vogue on a Thursday night to have some drinks and see a couple of local bands play. Usually, the Vogue wouldn't be our scene. But we went that night because we were invited by a friend of hers, who is also a member of the rock band Loretta.
BTW, Jason Weidner, YOU ROCK! I'd have never guessed such a little guy could be so intense.
Anyway, as we made our way to the end of Broadripple Ave and turned the corner at College, we made a mental note to ourselves that, yet again, we would be what we call "flies in the buttermilk", two Black people swimming in a sea of White folks.
We got quite a few quizzical looks during the night, which I did find somewhat surprising coming from Broadripple, the land of the free and the home of the strange. But the more we drank and the more we danced, the less we all seemed aware of us being the only ones.
Because of my eclectic interests and tastes in music, art and people, I often find myself in places where I am the only one. And it is not always a comfortable feeling. I try to explain this feeling to my White friends, who claim they just don't understand.
"We are all just people right?"
Yeah, sure we are. That is until I invite one of them to come with me to a predominantly Black event or neighborhood. Then something changes.
Most of them never say it. But I can see the apprehension on their faces, as they struggle with the thought of being the only one. The feeling of being out of place or out of ones element.
Like once I invited one of my White friends from Moorsville, with me to a church function. "Will I be the only White person there?" She asked.
"Yeah. Probably".
Then she asked me with the sincerest look on her face, "Will I be okay?"
I paused, and thought about all the times where I've been the only one. Then I reassured her that she too would be just fine.
Culture, Concerts, bars, Loretta, broad ripple, Indiana, night life
Kamilah Gill : RE: Black Girlz Rock! More..
In brief, I agree with you mostly. Will investigate further later...
lisa_citymouse : RE: Black Girlz Rock! More..
I know what you mean. I find the same thing happens to me quite often with things that I’m interested in and I’m dismayed at the fact that so many social things (especially in the midwest) are still so divided racially/ethnically.
I’ve become accustomed to being the “only one” or one of few at certain social events, so I don’t feel awkward about it after this many years. But it would be nice (more than just nice) if there was more social integration, in general. Not forced, mind you, but natural. And not just in terms of “Hey where are all the people like ME?” But in terms of getting to regularly see and hangout with people who aren’t of the same race/ethnicity/nationality as you so that maybe there isn’t as much apprehension or discomfort when a person does happen to be “the only one” in a situation.
Are we as a society still so hung up on sticking with our own kind that true integration isn’t ever possible?
I do have to say that it still surprises me that so many people feel like they are supposed to only be into certain things (like music, movies, TV, recreational activities, political leanings, even religious beliefs) based on race, ethnicity, age and gender. It’s so limiting and shortsighted.
Yeah, I like hip-hop and R&B but I also really like rock, jazz, classical and old country. Does that make me “less of a black person” any more than white people who like hip-hop and R&B are less white? Some (far too many) would say yes and that makes me very angry.
Of course not everyone thinks or feels that way. But too many of us do and it does nothing but continue to perpetuate stereotypes among all cultures and foster an “us vs them” mindset. There will always be bigotry and personal bias and there will always be social norms and cultural differences but we shouldn’t use these as reasons to pigeon-hole ourselves and each other into certain traits and behaviors according to race or gender and not share experiences.
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