I was reading this article last week and it hit me in a way where it changed my perspective on us as black Americans. Now in this article a white woman said some profound words that my goodness it was deep. I think as black people we need to take in, and mandatorize in our perspective in our daily life So what she said was this, "When I touch black skin for the first time, it felt like luxury I couldn’t afford." Now let that sink in. It felt like luxury she couldn’t afford. This is a white woman now. I responded to her article and I said unfortunately most African American don’t see themselves that way but, after reading that article, I’m going to try my best to look at my people and myself in that way. Though we may not be able to find out our ancestry easier than most white Americans, we as a people at least know we descend of kings and queens. We don’t come from slaves, but from royalty. We are more than just average. We are a peculiar people, and we rock at it. We are distinguish, set apart. And are skin is identified as luxury. Black gold. We are rare. And are race is unique in it’s own right. And we need to see ourselves like that. Our skin is special because we as a person our special. Its so sad that we as a people we put ourselves down sometime worse than other races put us down. As black people we don’t see our skin color in the greatest way. Why? Why don’t I see the value of my God blessed skin? Because for centuries it’s been demonize that my skin color is everything other than luxury. Our skin has put targets on our backs, it has been brunt of terrible jokes, it has been ridiculed and demonize that black represents evil. That it’s no good thing about being black man or black woman. But on the contrary, this woman took something with a fresh pair of eyes and flip it on its right postion that is it’s crown. A royal crown that is. That my skin is beautiful, elegant, sophisticated, royal, strong, delightful, gorgeous, luxurious. It is not the brunt end of a joke and it does not need to be disrespected and we as a people do not have to feel disgraceful about who we are and what our skin color looks like. Although I am grateful for the woman who wrote the article ( and I highly recommend reading her article. Link at the bottom), it should not have taken the eyes of someone else from a different race to get me to see myself differently and to respect my culture and skin color. Yes I am black man blessed by God to look the way that I am. My culture is awesome. My culture is amazing. It shouldn’t take black history month for me to post one thing for the rest of that year and one day in that month for me to embrace our heritage by paying subtle knowledge for one day on that month in that year. But I challenge our people to embrace our culture, and look at how we view ourselves in a loving and new light. We are magnificent. And our skin is luxury that can’t be afforded.

- Essay on Black Gold

Reference to: Crystal Weltch https://link.medium.com/jRQ1OpDP8jb