As a Black Person in America, Am I Allowed to Have a Bad Day?
Everyone has bad days but not everyone gets the same responses to them.
For as long as memory allows I have been intrigued by people who can go about their day without a care in the world; unfazed by what life throws at them at any given time; unaffected by an atmosphere of negativity or constant bombardment from an imperfect outside world — this is a life I admire.
To live with absolute confidence that you can fail without consequence or have a “bad day” be just a blip in your life that will be forgotten is what we all aspire to.
Having the security of knowing you can do almost anything you want and come out on top or close to it would be a welcomed privilege.
Who wouldn’t want a life like this?
For many in the Black community, this is a pipe dream. A luxury that cannot be imagined as every day we are reminded that a system of white supremacy will stop at nothing to keep our aspirations (and lives) suppressed.
He was a good boy
In a country where every move I make is under a microscope, am I afforded the same opportunities as my white brothers and sisters? Can I have a bad day for instance, or will my right to live a free existence be marred by unwanted scrutiny and vengeful cancellation? Can I simply make an honest mistake without the worry of being shot at, accused of a crime, or otherwise racially targeted?
The disconnect in how many perceive certain groups and their right to live a normal life can be outlined in the statement made by Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Captain Jay Baker when referring to 21-year-old shooter Robert Aaron Long as having a “really bad day.” You might recall this horrible event of last March when Long went to area spas around Atlanta and opened fire killing eight innocent people.
When sheriff Baker, referring to Long said, “he had a really bad day,” people of color knew all too well, this dismissal of accountability and discounting of seriousness was done to protect the fragility of a white person and was used as an excuse to downplay a heinous act. Would a person of color who committed the same crime, be coddled in the same manner? The reality is that if this same scenario were applied to a Black person, the go-to would be to “shoot first and ask no questions later.” Sympathetic negotiation would not be part of the equation.
Having a bad day as a Black man is often a precursor to brutality or even death.
If this murderer were Muslim, Black, or basically anything other than white, there is no way killing innocent people would be characterized as “having a bad day.” — Jemele Hill
The hypocrisy that runs rampant in America can be best described in the way we protect many in the majority and assign excuses for (if not condone) their actions while conversely throwing away Black people for similar actions.
What is the bar for who gets a pass, and why?
Let’s be honest, there are two sets of standards in America: those for the white community and those for people of color. It should be worth noting those subconscious efforts to oppress are taken directly from the white supremacy playbook? Each day we are reminded of how many in the majority let minority communities know just how much we are thought of as unequal; devoid of respect and that we don’t matter. That every move we make will be closely watched and scrutinized, and we are taken to task in order to keep the system of white supremacy running on all cylinders.
Can I get a shake with that burger?
Did Dylann Roof have a bad day? No, but he did get a burger, a sympathetic ear, and a cavalcade of kid gloves for his troubles. I once drove two miles over the speed limit and was harassed by the po-po. That was a bad day.
Why must I continually have to justify my existence — be cautious about every move I make and constantly be on alert? The relentless effort to prove you belong in white spaces (if you are Black specifically) is exhausting — always having to defend your right to live your life and be treated as an equal.
Who would want a life like this?
It’s impossible to consistently bathe in a pool of euphoria every day; although that would be nice. Bad days are inevitable and will darken your doorstep. For many, they might be as insignificant as a slight distraction, but for those of us affected by the realities of an unjust society, a less-than-perfect day could mean being led away in handcuffs or worse yet, a body bag.
I don’t want to be concerned about having to face the business end of a Glock 22 because I accidently ran through a stop sign or questioned as to whether or not I “belong” in a certain neighborhood.
Just because I might be suffering from a case of the “get the f*ck away from me” and need a moment to myself doesn’t mean I pose a threat or should be viewed as anything other than someone needing some space. I have every right to speak up and use my voice without being considered aggressive or unpredictable; especially when interacting with someone from the majority.
The hypocrisy goes far beyond how certain ethnic groups are perceived. The purpose of continued indoctrination is to keep the myth of Black people (men especially) as being violent criminals, alive and well.
The Black community has suffered immeasurable pain and emotional mental strain for generations and continues to drown in the wake of a continuous re-imaging of a system of white supremacy — a system designed to run on autopilot.
Just being me
As a community, being on guard should not define how we live, nor be a tactic to get through the day. If we succumb to complacency in our daily lives, however, our rights could be in jeopardy. The luxury of living a life of the ordinary is also challenging; playing, walking, working, jogging, driving, relaxing, worshipping, breathing — any and everything seems to be met with opposition, and question.
Not everyone in the white community is racist but everyone in the white community benefits from a racist system that oppresses the Black community.
The bottom line — Black people cannot afford to be perceived as anything other than model citizens or the consequences could be grave. There are no guarantees that innocent interactions such as accidentally bumping into someone at a store or having a disagreement with a co-worker won’t be met with “what’s your problem n****r” or with an accusation of assault. Who needs that? Yet encounters such as these keep many in the Black community suspicious of the majority and how they treat us.
There is no blueprint to reference in trying to resolve this. I have nothing to go by. Each racist middle finger that salutes me is my continued education. I learn as I go along, as many of us do.
If I commit a crime (which I never have, well, except for those two miles over the speed limit), I’m quite confident I would not be afforded the same luxury of being taken to get a burger or be allowed to have a bad day without receiving the ire generated by centuries-old embedded racism.
The freedom to go wherever I please without question, engage in healthy debate without being viewed as threatening, or simply exist without my life interrupted by a racist agenda is all I expect. Is that too much to ask?
Apparently, it is.
Imagine a day free from being targeted or questioned. Imagine.
Thank you for reading!