Firstly, I would like to thank my wonderfully talented and articulate sister, Mrs. Coulibaly for introducing me to this blog site and allowing me to share in her thoughts. This post is dedicated to you...
Let me preface this blog with the following. I am extremely proud to be an American; with all of the struggles and accomplishments of my ancestors. There is no other nationality I would rather be. I transition with a testimony from a revelation I had yesterday evening on my way to class. While on my way to class, in my usual fashion, I was walking blindly toward the building in which my class is held. I noticed as I was walking a car in which contained a classmate of mine.
I always seem to have so much on my mind except what is immediately important-which this evening should have been the class I was headed to. Instead I'm reviewing my finances, thinking of my boyfriend, what I'm cooking for dinner etc. I attribute that to the day to day demands and stresses of a 20 something college educated Black woman.
So, as I am walking toward the building I notice my classmate walking a few paces behind me and she eventually catches up to me and when she does, she immediately says a cheerful, "HI!" to me. To which I turn and look at her almost dagardly. In between my stare and the words I reply is a split second of mediation only to be contemplated in full later, but I'll explain that soon enough.
Attempting to come off as genuine as possible, I say, "hi", back to her and shot my head back in the direction I was going as to not sustain eye contact, and as I was doing so, my eyes caught her smile. She had such warmth and cheer in her face. Physical qualities I don't notice often. I instantly began to replay the difference in her intonation and my retort to her when she spoke to me. I then noticed in my meditation that the difference was my tone and hurried American arrogance. I felt ashamed and embarrassed for having made that impression and now noticing because it was already too late to rectify. What I had done was automatic, second nature, habitual.
More often than not, Americans walk, think and speak with a sense of superiority that many other nationalities shun as it is an individualistic ideal and unwarranted in collectivist societies. The very teaching and perpetuation of this individualistic and self centered ideal is exactly what has lead to the demise of this country and our world. It has become secularized and acceptable to walk right past someone and not say hello or scowl at someone when they smile at you because you are strangers. It is this ideal that has lead our society to slip behind many other nations and fall from the community centered society we once were.
I noticed how ignorant I must have seemed to her and realized that it is not what you say alone but body language, how you say things and how those words are perceived. I challenge America to elevate their awareness and check ourselves. If I am proud to be the American I am, then I must represent the people this country bore to inherit her and avoid adopting the arrogance and ignorance that we are taught will help us achieve the American dream as individuals and replace it with the rich pride for community that attracted so many nations to America.
