Mi jente

My People.... I love black people. Despite all of our problems, we as a people have come a long way. I like all black people, but now I’m talking about Black Americans. I'm talking about black Americans who have withstood and overcome hundreds of years of oppression. We are the only group of people who have no direct link to a country that is truly our own. We live in American and are considered as much. Yet we still face discrimination and despite however many strives have been take, we are still looked down on as second class citizens in some respects. All other peoples have some idea of their true background, but black Americans are left with just a continent; A huge continent that is filled with hundreds of ethnic groups, tribes, religions and countries.

We as a people have risen up and faced odd that seemed insurmountable to become a major influence on world culture and music. We have invented and patented inventions in the dark ages of our country's history. Many aspects of our modern world were made possible because of the contributions of black Americans, and honestly speaking, the United States would not be the country and world power it is today if it were for the blood, sweat, tears, dignity and freedom sacrificed by our people.

I don’t want to talk about the negatives, violence and general apathy that plague us. This essay is therapy. I guess sometimes I need to remind myself that there is nothing wrong with being half black. I come from two rich cultures and I proudly accept and embrace both. The world says that "blackness" is bad thing and somehow blackness has become synonymous with negativity. It’s so prevalent that other minorities are affected; even people in the black Diaspora look down on black Americans; because of how the media portrays us and how some of us portray ourselves. Other races look down on us because of years of bigotry, social stigmas and general ignorance. A change is gonna come because more than ever doors are being open, and injustices are being fought everyday.

I like challenges and I'm up for showing the world what a smart, young, gifted black man can do. I’m not doing this for myself; I do it for your people, MY people and everyone who came before me.

Here's to being young, gifted and black. I wouldn't have it any other way


peace&love


Julian