"I have a firm understanding of just how beautiful and resilient we as Black people are, and I truly appreciate just how welcoming and supportive the Black community can be." As a first-generation Black American born to Cameroonian immigrants, I feel like I’ve had somewhat of a unique experience being Black in America. Like a lot of Black Americans, I have been stereotyped numerous times, have been hit with microaggressions here and there, have been angered whenever the media decides to interpret our skin color as a weapon, and have repeatedly found myself in situations where I’m the only person of color in a room. As a Black American, I have also been able to truly appreciate the beauty of diversity, the magnificence of Black culture, the brilliance of Black history, the art of code-switching, and the strength and resilience that Black people collectively possess. However, because of my status as a first-generation Black American, I was forced to face a myriad of unique challenges that a lot of my peers never had to think about. One of the biggest challenges I had to face was learning how to marry my African and American lifestyles together from an early age, even though the reality that existed in my Cameroonian household strongly clashed with the reality I experienced outside of my home. While I was able to eventually synthesize my two lifestyles into one comfortable identity during my time in college, it was definitely a struggle being a high schooler who was trying to merge Cameroonian culture with the Black culture that the media in this country sensationalized.
As I’ve matured over time, I’ve come to develop an immense sense of pride being a Black Cameroonian-American man in America. I have a firm understanding of just how beautiful and resilient we as Black people are, and I truly appreciate just how welcoming and supportive the Black community can be. In regards to what Black culture means to me now, what comes to mind is the eclectic nature of the Black diaspora. There are so many things that make up this culture, from the jams of hip/hop, R&B, Afropop and reggae to the delicious dishes from the American South and from countries like Jamaica, Haiti, Cameroon, Ethiopia, and so many others. I actively try to make an impact on Black culture on a daily basis by striving for excellence and working tirelessly to put myself in positions where I can inspire and motivate others. I’ve tried to achieve this throughout my time in college by joining various organizations and sustaining my presence as a campus leader. I continued this mission during my time in medical school by creating and sustaining a blog called Black Man, M.D., where I publicly share my experiences as a medical student as well as the experiences of other minority students and professionals in the field of healthcare. In the future, I hope to make an even bigger and more meaningful impact on our culture while striving to become the best Pediatrician that I can be.
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"Black excellence is becoming a pillar in our communities, upholding a standard, and helping others to be even better than your legacy you leave behind." What does black excellence mean to you?!
Black excellence is the personal skills and traits backed with the character required to make the black community proud. It is refusing to allow anything or anyone to deter you from your purpose and success through what brings you joy. I have personally heard that I must work twice as hard to get just as far as my other peers. But just like all good stories, everyone always roots for the underdog. Despite anything I have been through I focus on the fact that I am capable of bringing into fruition all the great ideas the Lord has given me. Slowly, but surely, I am proving to myself that I can change the world by increasing financial literacy competency in urban and minority communities. Black excellence is becoming a pillar in our communities, upholding a standard, and helping others to be even better than your legacy you leave behind. Slow and steady wins the race. Entrepreneur DeLydia Z. Eatton Founder of Urban Financial Development, LLC. - "Increasing the Odds." "Our blackness is pure emotional awareness, a gift that allows us to see and feel past all of the masks that are set up around us." The black experience is largely about finding comfort in a different space and time than what society tries to fit us in. Experiences that have set us apart but ultimately made us stronger and are what fuel our sensitive nature. We feel everything. Our blackness is pure emotional awareness, a gift that allows us to see and feel past all of the masks that are set up around us.
We have the responsibility of awareness that can change lives. Our joy can change the entire atmosphere in a room and our attitudes can seep into the walls of our workplaces. So society depends on us to be the best we can be. It’s a hard weight to carry but we were made to lead. We were made to change our surroundings and impact others and their cultures in ways they never could have imagined. To me, Black excellence is trying to make my dreams come true and failed at doing so. The very fact that I’m AFRICAN and BLACK means I exude excellence. Black excellence is surviving the world filled with “white saviors” and white privilege. Black excellence means I take pride in being a BLACK AFRICAN woman!
"To me, being black means exuding excellence is an obligation." To me, being black means exuding excellence is an obligation. Not in the derogatory sense of, “you’re making us look bad” if you don’t. But in the sense that we need to be in the room where it happens. In the room where ideas are conceived, products are created, policies are developed so that we ensure our representation. In my professional career, I curate the training, orientation, and certification program at my organization. Working with peers, in this position, I am realizing how easily it is for others to innocently overlook our representation. Thus, we lose the chance at exposure.
The beauty in our under-representation is that, at times, it is easier for us to connect. While flipping through a professional magazine I saw one black woman, out of 25 professionals, who received an Emerging Leader award. I reached out to her on LinkedIn to congratulate her and one week later we were on an hour long phone call. She imparted wisdom and industry resources that I may not have noticed alone. I needed her to be excellent at work so that I could have divinely come across her name in a magazine. I needed to be excellent, earn this job, and be in the room where webinars and e-learnings are created, so that the black man or woman that joins our company can see that they belong. We need each other to excel to ensure we are represented and exposed to the many possibilities of life. Being excellent is not a choice, it’s an obligation. "I am unapologetically Black & Fearless." Being Black is being fearless, especially as a Black woman. I. Am. Fearless!
I wake up, take a deep breath, and I start my day...fearlessly. Fearless isn't exactly lacking fear or not being afraid. You can be afraid, that's ok. However, still pressing forward and following your desires--now that's bold. That's what being black means to me, especially in America. We are bold, we are strong, and we are fearless. It's tatted on my neck for a reason (haha)! I am unapologetically black and fearless! "My melanin motivates me to be better than who I was yesterday." Black excellence is realizing my power and using it to positively impact myself and the communities around me. Understanding that power is to understand that I can make a change. My melanin motivates me to be better than who I was yesterday.
"Black excellence is...the mindset that we can only be defined by ourselves, without seeking outside validation." What does black excellence mean to me? I think this phrase takes on multiple meanings depending upon individual perspectives. But for me, black excellence is a mindset. A mindset that, although we live a in country that constantly reminds us that it’s not as open or egalitarian as it purports itself to be, we still find opportunities to thrive in any environment, in any circumstance. It is the mindset that our successes AND our losses have substance. And it is the mindset that we can only be defined by ourselves, without seeking outside validation.
Our very existence IS excellent and it’s our responsibility to continue to self-affirm the achievements of our community, such that our value stands present and strong, even in a society that does its best to prove otherwise. Black excellence is a way of life. It comes from having to work 10 times harder to get to the same place as our peers. It's a pride that comes from having overcome so much, and continuing to overcome against all odds. Being a black musician, I see how our music is a style that is unique and hard to duplicate. Our music combines every genre in some way or form. Most of all, Black excellence is being yourself.
"Black Excellence is the culmination of pride, responsibility, accountability, encouragement, love, and support for our culture." Black excellence, to me, is what beauty is to society. It's 100% subjective, but generally agreed upon by the culture. Black excellence is a shared experience; I truly like to believe that a win for one of us is a WIN for all of us. Please note, there can be no Black Excellence without a strong sense of pride. Black Excellence is the culmination of pride, responsibility, accountability, encouragement, love and support for the culture.
This culmination, i.e. the recipe for Black Excellence, is why there is nothing like being immersed in the culture on an HBCU's campus. We must protect and preserve our HBCUs. I, for one, love my HBCU! It is where I developed my strong sense of pride, responsibility, accountability, encouragement, love and support for Black people. My time in Chocolate City is near and dear to my heart. To date, I would confidently tell anyone, that going to HOWARD UNIVERSITY is the best decision I've made in my life. Like my Instagram bio says, I was born in Compton, raised in Watts, and refined at Howard University. HU... you know! |
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