Call to Action : Sustainability over Excellence
I want to get our minds flowing. Amid “creating our own tables” and status quo as a Black (community), I want us to take a look and dissect the term “Black excellence.” According to dictionary.com, Black excellence “refers to a high level of achievement, success, or ability demonstrated by an individual Black person or by Black people.” In other words, Black people succeed at whichever chosen field in our society.
Some examples include Shirley Lee Ralph winning an Emmy, Serena Williams’ legacy, or Black women being the fastest group of growing entrepreneurs in the most recent years. All of these are proof that the work is being done and we are still breaking barriers like never before. On the other hand, examples like these can make some often forget that American society was not made with us in mind. Furthermore, the ideals of success and happiness are formed and shaped through a perspective that did not include our ancestors at first. So in the grand scheme of it all, we may only be able to get as far as we are allowed. Most importantly, still maintaining a reliance on systems that do nothing to rebuild our communities.
I want us to remember Tulsa and Rosewood.
Let us dare to create it again. We know that there is power in numbers and that the end of a revolution is when we decide to stop fighting. As a collective, I say we revisit the term “black excellence”. While it does highlight individuals for their achievements in academia, arts, career and sports, we should take a look at who it leaves out. For every few cases of Black successes that we see, there is a majority that gets lost in both our consciousness and societies as well. Those success stories, though very necessary, should not be left to predominantly represent us to the world.
Particularly because there is a need for us in areas that are unpopular yet just as necessary. We can seek to reclaim our power and pride through specific positions in society such as agriculture, architecture, maintenance, construction, finance, technology etc.
It is important that we expand the notion that our people are just as valuable in all these positions and excelling in them is celebrated.
Just as we define ourselves for ourselves, we should limit the messages of Black excellence that favors one sided perspectives of academia, social class and luxury while embracing standards of the majority. Black excellence should not have traces of elitism, exclusivity or proximity to whiteness. Once we realize that these ideals are not only harmful to us as a whole but also increases enormous stress on our psyches and self image. Our excellence is not something inherited or acquired through hard work for a society for which we will never be good enough. Anyone can achieve their own individualized version of success that does not have to be defined or approved by white supremacy. Attempting to keep up in a world that was not made for us will never attain collective peace and prosperity. Remembering the goal is important.The work is far from over because the collective is still overlooking one very important lesson; that being we are more powerful than we realize when we embrace . Black sustainability should almost always trump Black excellence.