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We Speak For Ourselves by D. Watkins is a real example of #OwnVoices.
Sometimes with #OwnVoices things remain too surface. "Such & such is Black. They can speak to this specific experience since they are Black & they must relate," so on & so forth. The truth of the matter is that some Black people would march in protest for someone like Freddie Gray, who was murdered unjustly by the Baltimore police, but wouldn't help someone like him improve his life situation while he was alive. Even if he begged for help.
As D. Watkins hilariously points out in one scene from the book, there were two Black talking heads on Television whom he saw crying after the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville. Saying they couldn't believe that this is the country that they are living in. Which made D. Watk ask "Do they know any Black people?" Although that question is tongue and cheek & rhetorical, I can't blame the thought for coming into his head. AT ALL.
D. Watkins REALLY understands the layers, multitudes & nuances that exist within Black humanity. Especially as it pertains to his hometown & current residence of East Baltimore. In We Speak For Ourselves, D. Watk challenges stereotypes you may have about people from places like Down Da Hill (his hood), calls out the "Never Patriots" (Those who are TOO WOKE & need to go to sleep), & tells you some of the plans that he has to make reading cool for EVERYONE.
D. Watkins points out problems & provides solutions. He tells us to Get Active instead of Staying Woke. He teaches the importance of skills sharing, & he let's you know the key to activism is to get in the street so that you can give a little bit of time & a whole lot of love. That "little bit of time & a whole lot of love" is life's work too. Activism is not a "get rich quick scheme."
The most important thing he shows us is his refusal to be considered THE VOICE of his community. A role we all should refuse. There are myriad Black voices, perspectives & solutions. Having one Black messiah is problematic & sometimes the best thing we can do is pass the mic to someone else.
Since we all have our #OwnVoices we can use.
Sometimes with #OwnVoices things remain too surface. "Such & such is Black. They can speak to this specific experience since they are Black & they must relate," so on & so forth. The truth of the matter is that some Black people would march in protest for someone like Freddie Gray, who was murdered unjustly by the Baltimore police, but wouldn't help someone like him improve his life situation while he was alive. Even if he begged for help.
As D. Watkins hilariously points out in one scene from the book, there were two Black talking heads on Television whom he saw crying after the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville. Saying they couldn't believe that this is the country that they are living in. Which made D. Watk ask "Do they know any Black people?" Although that question is tongue and cheek & rhetorical, I can't blame the thought for coming into his head. AT ALL.
D. Watkins REALLY understands the layers, multitudes & nuances that exist within Black humanity. Especially as it pertains to his hometown & current residence of East Baltimore. In We Speak For Ourselves, D. Watk challenges stereotypes you may have about people from places like Down Da Hill (his hood), calls out the "Never Patriots" (Those who are TOO WOKE & need to go to sleep), & tells you some of the plans that he has to make reading cool for EVERYONE.
D. Watkins points out problems & provides solutions. He tells us to Get Active instead of Staying Woke. He teaches the importance of skills sharing, & he let's you know the key to activism is to get in the street so that you can give a little bit of time & a whole lot of love. That "little bit of time & a whole lot of love" is life's work too. Activism is not a "get rich quick scheme."
The most important thing he shows us is his refusal to be considered THE VOICE of his community. A role we all should refuse. There are myriad Black voices, perspectives & solutions. Having one Black messiah is problematic & sometimes the best thing we can do is pass the mic to someone else.
Since we all have our #OwnVoices we can use.