Why Being Black AF Matters
Happy Black History Month. We started doing events called Black AF six years ago with the idea that it was a simple celebration of Blackness in its most simple form. I suggested the name, but also felt like the name was a bit crass (a regular process in my mind because I’m media trained and I love crass stuff) but ultimately we went with it and deep in my chest it felt good. It felt good because it felt self-affirming, intentional and celebratory and it also had legitimate financial and social impact. As we enter another Black History Month, here’s why being Black AF matters.
It just feels safe. America is weird and the Black American experience is a story told in contrast to whiteness and presented in a white gaze. When we’re Black AF we have space to just be, and unapologetically exist without worrying about racism, bias or being a monolith. White people are swag surfing in Kansas City and that doesn’t sit right with me. That’s a microcosm of how Blackness in America works; it’s when Black creativity, Black community, Black rituals meet capitalism and Black erasure all in one swoop and thats not safe. Remember when white women discovered cornrows a few years back? The alternative looks like how Ghana during the New Year looks on the internet, very Black and very peaceful.
The math be mathing. For every idea that we create there’s an economic impact is huge for our Black community. My first adult job was at CNN as a Tour Guide for $25,000 or so annually. Our smallest bar crawl generates about that amount in 7 hours for the participating bars. That’s $25k in 7 hours because we had one idea and out of thin air capital is moving to staffs from owners through bar backs. Now multiply more ideas, plus more dates in more cities and you’re talking impact. I write on the Black Bar Crawl flyer that we’ve generated over $1,000,000 for Black-owned businesses through the event and that’s not a typo. The first year of The Set at Howard Theatre was 9 dates and did over $500k at the bar. Consider the fact that we focus on working with Black-owned and one idea can keep the doors open.
The AF Matters. What’s the point in being anything if you can’t be it with your whole chest? I am proud to be Black, without regard to anything else and despite this janky ass history that we celebrate. I’ve been talking to my friends a lot lately about life being 80 percent dope and 20 percent shit, AF is frolicking in the 80 and taking inventory of the 20. I can’t afford to ignore the 20 but it won’t draw my attention away from how dope the 80 is. I have great skin, rhythm, an awesome beard, I have lips and I’m an amazing storyteller like my ancestors expected, life is great just off the Black hardware I inherited and I remind myself of these facts often.
If not us then who? So the 20 percent shit collectively is systemic racism and all the ways it rears its head and the reality that no one is coming to save us at the community level. I could write a lot about this but instead I’ll share a story. I was just at my George Mason homecoming tailgate last weekend and a friend said to me, how does it feel to have been a big part of this and honestly I was confused at first, but then I realized what she meant. While we were in undergrad, she created a dance troupe (Urbanknowlogy 101) and I created events (The Blackout) out of the need for more things to do. We made things that directly impacted the quality of life for our community, because if we didn’t, who would? The answer is no one so you should do what you want to do, unapologetically.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that just by being yourself, unapologetically and enthusiastically, you empower others to do the same. Life is too fickle and too short to not be your best and Blackest you. And if you aren’t Black and reading this, thanks for getting this far, I’m sure you have 80/20 identity things and can relate and we thank you for respecting our agency and space. So with that said, have a great month and continue to be AF with your Blackness throughout the year!
