Where are we?

Perched atop my bed watching my nightly dose of sleepy-time tv (Roseanne, Seinfeld, SATC, etc..) when the lack of skin tones on my screen nudges my inner think-tank. For years the debate over the lack of Black people in the media has been a constant subject, though often times not spoken about publicly. These conversations tend to occur amongst black people while watching a tv or film they genuinely enjoy, but wondering aloud "why a Black person couldn't have portrayed the character just as well?"

The ad for "Away We Go" starring Maya Rudolph (Black & Jewish) & John Krasinski, is actually what got me going tonight. Although they don't reveal it entirely in the promo, it appears to be a film where the difference in race will not be a part of the central storyline. This is how it should be...at least in my opinion. Acting is just that, acting! Its make-believe, pretend, imagination, and while often times the coincidences are striking, that just lends itself to the old question of "life imitating art, or art imitating life?"

I understand we are a complex group of people with all of our varying skin tones, hair textures, body shapes, intellect levels, storied pasts, chaotic presents, and bright futures. However, with such varying characteristics to choose from, surely there must be some qualified thespians who can accurately portray these traits? Is it hard to believe that we could be those girls on "The Hills", those friends on "Sex and the City", those neighbors on "Everybody Loves Raymond"? Are we not students at similar schools as the one in "Gossip Girl"?

I know, I know some of you are thinking to yourselves "is she really writing this, the whitest black-girl I know"? Yes, that's a little backhanded "compliment" I receive regularly from people of all backgrounds. Ask yourself just how Black is Black? I mean are we questioning my actual percentage of heritage, because if so then all Black people have some explaining to do over their lack of 100% scores. Are we questioning my loyalty to being Black, because last time I checked it wasn't a group I elected to join, I'm a life-er. And if a person's "Blackness" were going to be quantifiable, shouldn't it be based on knowledge and power in regards to the culture?

Not only have I personally dug deep into the culture from the bowls of the Chicago projects, to the "Black Beverly Hills" of Ladera Heights, but I also have absorbed massive amounts of literature detailing the trail of the diaspora to modern day. However, I do still do not consider myself to be " black royalty" of pure black blood unspoiled with that of another heritage, nor do I consider myself a "black intellect" smarter than the average bear on all things related to Black Americans.

I'm just me; female, friend, Black, woman, American, girl, American Creole, gypsy

These things doth maketh parts of a Phoenix.....