I received a TikTok message this week saying, “She ain’t black,” accompanied by a photo of Kamala Harris with her South East Asian family. This sparked a deep, personal question within me: Am I black enough?
Reflecting on my roots, I realize my cocoa-brown skin only tells part of my story. My great-great-great-grandfather on my mother’s side was a white man from Virginia. My dad’s mom had very light skin and straight hair, hinting at a mixed heritage. Despite these diverse origins, my mother instilled in me a rich sense of Black identity. She shared stories of African kings and queens, great Black Americans like Maya Angelou and James Baldwin, and our family ties to influential figures such as Dr. Ralph J. Bunche and Alice Windom. This upbringing taught me that Blackness is not a monolithic.
Understanding my heritage and the complexities of Black identity, I embrace my Blackness fully. It is a culture I love and cherish, that connects me to a global majority and rich history. Despite being called names like Oreo and white girl in high school due to my interests and dialect, I know my story did not begin in slavery but in greatness. This perspective allows me to see the true issue behind the claims against Kamala Harris is an issue of power, not bloodline.
We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s history. The question we face is whether we will revert to old hierarchies or build a stronger democracy. For me, freedom means being able to embrace all facets of my identity. What does your Blackness look like?
Monica Wisdom,
Consultant, Monica Wisdom Global.