Duality Of Treatment Between A Black Celebrity And The Black Common Man
America has been home to the most diverse multinational communities in the world today. To substantiate this, America has the most number of people of other nationalities staying and working within its boundaries than any other country in the world. This is owed to its prosperity, ample opportunities, and diverse, accommodating reception.
The African American community in the USA is one of such communities that has made an indelible mark on the fabric of American culture and lifestyle. To substantiate this fact, prominent American sports like basketball and golf have been dominated for years by African Americans in Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, both of whom are arguably known as the greatest ever in their respective sports.
Such is the impact that there are stereotypes associated with these games and activities that have linked the Black individuals and excellence in them. Why then is this question of racism still being asked and talked about today? Does it still exist in the American community? If so, then how or why? If the African American community has made such progress in integrating into what is known as an American individual, so much so that people worldwide recognize that as American behaviour and lifestyle, why then is there still hatred and rejection based on the colour of your skin?
Dualism in treatment
It is ironic that these questions are still being asked today despite the fact that Juneteenth marks the liberation of Black American slaves and is being celebrated every year. Another interesting question is why are Black American celebrities and famous individuals revered all over the country by people of all colour, including White people, yet, Trayvon Martin was so ruthlessly killed, the justice system arguably siding with the perpetrator citing insufficient evidence? Jay Z, the popular American rapper, entrepreneur, and media proprietor, an individual with African American heritage, has fans in the millions all over the country and the world who buy his records, promote his products, and cite him as an inspiration. Yet the police, among whom might have been individuals who have listened to his music, so ruthlessly silenced and beat down peaceful protestors who were only there to voice out their grievances with regards to the George Floyd case.
Americans, in general, don’t pay attention to the colour of the skin when admiring a celebrity or a sports personality but ostracize the common man with the same skin colour. This statement might not be true in reality, but that is a possible inference drawn from the earlier questions. In an ideal world and American society, the #BlackLivesMatter movement should never have needed to exist, and the several African American associations in the USA that argue for representation would be rendered redundant. These cases of preferential treatment would be judged based on other grounds.
In conclusion, these questions are purely meant to stimulate the mind and introspect exactly why this duality and some could argue hypocrisy, exists. To move forward as a united American society that practices all the values it preaches, we need to be able to answer some of these neglected questions. Join us in protest against such injustices and hypocrisy of the Americans that do not seem to end. Let our voices be heard!
