Show Black like REGGIE Reginald d B. B Brown B ROW BROW N Staff Writer O OH H how simply and corn y completely completely com com- v. v splendid Those were the only words I could T fathom to describe the angelic attractiveness of the July after after- r noon The temperature could not have been more ideal ideal ideal-a a pleasant t 85 degrees To top 2 that off there was a mildly Y brisk breeze strong- strong arming the already mellow heat There were clouds in the empyrean of course but they actually added to the overall fairness of this sensational environmental n- n ne w etal e- e tal setting Yes eyes closed imagine imagine im Im- Imn n agine lying on your back and seeing those soft fluffy cotton- cotton like candy clouds slowly ambling across that heavenly blue ocean we call sky Beautiful indeed But the element which tied this picturesque scene all together was the most exquisite of all It seemed as though everyone had neglected classes and work All AIl were out on the quad basking in the good Lords Lord's golden glory Everything was harmoniously tranquil There was no tension no animosity Everyone was boisterously chatting chatting chatting chat chat- ting with a hint of intellectual playfulness indicative of the collegiate experience As the conversations became lighter and loftier the items of clothing continued to come off in hemmed droves Tr Ta T T- r a shirts sweat bottoms and already short shorts were scrapped for briefs bikini tops and enormous amounts of w winter paled flesh t J The months of fake-baking fake are long gone Besides everybody every every- body is so health conscious why not tan the natural way Its It's even But being blessed with the curse of dark skin myself I saw things in quite a different light And as I sat under a tree-shaded tree hill next to the TB rear ramp I 1 contemplated the scene before me with societal racial-societal cynicism Why are they down there trying to become cheap inferior imitations of what I am I asked myself with an obvious hint x r l of malice If they see me as a social menace why are they making such an earnest effort to look ju just t like the supposed social deviant I 1 am I must admit I see many things in our society in a derogatory and racist light but what choice do I have I have been raised in a nation that stereotypes everything black as being evil demonic sinister or and/or morbid Perfect examples the black sheep of the family good guys wear white while bad ad guys wear wea black one always wears black to a funeral and those occasions occasion when the stock market crashed were called Black Tuesday and Thursday And because of this its it's hard to understand why anyone would want to be like me Yet there they hey are going for broke Caucasian men and women trying to assimilate my darkened realm of racial oppression risking oppression risking skin cancer in the process The question why continues to haunt me I mean I have asked white whit acquaintances of mine the reason for their obsession obsession obsession sion with bronze pigmentation and I always get the same response Its so beautiful Its much lovelier than white skin I hate being so pale and What is wrong with having a darker more beautiful complexion I But arent aren't the these e replies completely and absolutely contradictory contradictory con con- contradictory according to how naturally skinned dark-skinned persons are treated in this nation I 1 methodically scrutinized such questions in my mind while casually observing these black fakes baking themselves endlessly These opinions do bear realistic credence There is an obvious obvious obvious ob ob- sense of complexion envy in America toward Africans Even though there is a perceived conspiracy to erad eradicate cate black people in this country there is an irrefutable reverence for our God-given God gift of black beauty Stomachs are upset when my attitude begins to feed souls There is not enough heart in my socially induced antagonism to cope with the overwhelming trials and tribulations s of a ayoung young Americanized but mentality The wanna be-b be be are having their cake and eating it too They can take on the skin-deep skin attributes of color but escape the societal consequences thereof Still the one thing I find solace in is that even even- with their adamant fervor to look Jook like I do it itcan itcan can never be truly realized Why because their skin will always always always al al- ways regress regress' to its original state state white So realistically I ask you made to be truly holy beautis f. f s fill ful like me by that tan I think thin knot not r O J is 8 |