Table of Diversity Element: Black
The Table of Diversity Element Black (Bl) is in the first column, Race.
The conversations surrounding 'Blackness' are often filled with discrimination, inequality, and hurt. This is a reminder to also consider 'Black Joy'.
"At the heart of the Black Joy movement is what many scholars, journalists, authors, and others are describing as resistance, resilience, and reclamation of Black Humanity. Life brings everyone challenges, disappointments, losses, and unexpected difficulties, regardless of race. But when race is added to the mix, the situation is compounded exponentially. When people live in a world that devalues them because they are black or brown as well as dismisses their contributions to the larger society, Black Joy is and has been an effective tool that has allowed individuals and groups to shift the impact of negative narratives and events in their favor."
-Elaine Nichols, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Articles to Read
Check out these articles to learn more!
01
Not all black people are African American. Here's the difference. -CBS News
"Many people often default to 'African American' out of a desire for either political correctness or politeness. The two terms are often used interchangeably, but that isn't always accurate, and it's important to understand the nuance when discussing race both in American and on a global scale.
'There are black people in every continent who are all over the world,' explained Professor Celeste Watkins-Hayes, an African American studies professor at Northwestern University. 'African American is nation-specific. We are typically talking about black people who are born in the United States.'
What that means is, for a long time in our country's history, black people were most likely direct descendants of enslaved Africans. Watkins-Hayes described the adoption of the term African American as a 'very deliberate move on the part of black communities to signify our American-ness, but also signify this African heritage.'
02
What Does it Mean to be Black (Who Gets to Claim It)? -The Chicago Maroon
"Black. Is it the description of a phenotype? Is it the definition of an individual who comes from a particular background? Is it a culmination of experiences? Does possessing Black genes make one Black?
In our current society there are many ways people define Black, and many different opinions on what qualifies a person to be considered so. Some may argue that a person is Black because their physical features present that way, while others may argue a person is Black simply because they have Black ancestry. Some may say that one can be Black by proximity, whether that is growing up in a Black community, or being raised by Black parents. Some may say they are Black because they have been treated as such their whole life. But what does it really mean to be Black, and who gets to claim it?"
Not all black people are African American. Here's the difference. -CBS News
"Many people often default to 'African American' out of a desire for either political correctness or politeness. The two terms are often used interchangeably, but that isn't always accurate, and it's important to understand the nuance when discussing race both in American and on a global scale.
'There are black people in every continent who are all over the world,' explained Professor Celeste Watkins-Hayes, an African American studies professor at Northwestern University. 'African American is nation-specific. We are typically talking about black people who are born in the United States.'
What that means is, for a long time in our country's history, black people were most likely direct descendants of enslaved Africans. Watkins-Hayes described the adoption of the term African American as a 'very deliberate move on the part of black communities to signify our American-ness, but also signify this African heritage.'
What Does it Mean to be Black (Who Gets to Claim It)? -The Chicago Maroon
"Black. Is it the description of a phenotype? Is it the definition of an individual who comes from a particular background? Is it a culmination of experiences? Does possessing Black genes make one Black?
In our current society there are many ways people define Black, and many different opinions on what qualifies a person to be considered so. Some may argue that a person is Black because their physical features present that way, while others may argue a person is Black simply because they have Black ancestry. Some may say that one can be Black by proximity, whether that is growing up in a Black community, or being raised by Black parents. Some may say they are Black because they have been treated as such their whole life. But what does it really mean to be Black, and who gets to claim it?"