Black Success Stories Do Not Negate Other Black Stories

One story that often goes around on Facebook is the story of a black man who was stopped by the police and everything went well. He was cordial, he gave the officers all the required documents, they settled whatever the issue was, and he was on his way. He drove away, he didn't leave with a gunshot wound to the head, he still had his freedom, etc. In my opinion, this story detracts from the real issue at hand.

Michelle Alexander, in her book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindess talks about black exceptionalism a lot. The basis of her argument is that we use stories like those of Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, etc to discount the stories of African Americans all across the country. Black success stories are important, because we can compare the stories of not so successful blacks, say "See you CAN do it," and then not get at the root of the real issues in this country.

There is an issue in this country. One black person's story of a good meeting with a cop does not negate the stories where that has not been the case. As a country we should consider what exactly the criminal justice system has done to minorities in this country. Here are some interesting facts about the Criminal Justice System here in the United States. These are taken from The Sentencing Project website:

1. 1 in every 10 black men in his 30s is in prison or jail on any given day.
2. More than 60% of people in prison are people of color.
3. 1 in 9 men born in 2001 will likely be in prison at some point in his lifetime.
4. The United States has the highest International Incarceration rate at 698 per 100,000.
5. State prisons, federal prisons, and jails have all expanded since 1980.

I am pretty well off when it comes to my life--even as an African American woman. I graduated high school and college and now I am working on my Master's. I have found great mentors to help me work towards my PhD in Sociology. I have never gone super hungry (more hungry in the broke college kid sense.) I have been blessed to have a nice library of books, both parents, internet access, an iPhone, etc. I am blessed with the ability to know how to read, write, and do basic math (even though I hate doing it). I am not struggling, I have never been harassed by a cop, been in jail (or anywhere close to the criminal justice system), all my teachers have enjoyed my presence or at the very least didn't hate me or try to be unnecessarily rude to me (except for a couple of substitute teachers here and there.) I have been unbelievably blessed in my life.

At the same time though, I DO NOT and I REFUSE to step over the stories of black and brown people whose stories are different than mine. I know that my story is not replicated over and over. I realize this in the lack of students in my college classrooms who look like me, the lack of professors who look like me, and the overabundance of prisoners and fast food workers who look like me.

My story is unique, all our stories are unique, and I know that my story won't be the story of all the people who share my complexion. When we are discussing the movements of our day such as Black Lives Matter we must understand that there are a wide array of stories that this movement is telling. Some of these stories are successful like Olympic figure skaters, lawyers, a president, business owners, doctors, actors, rappers, etc. Some of those stories though are the stories of prisoners, the homeless, the mentally ill, etc. Some of those stories are the stories of average citizens and citizens trying to make a difference in the world but who don't get the same name recognition as the president.

These stories combined make up our existence in this country. Do not push the success of others down the throats of people who are trying. Do not put those success stories up on a pedestal and refuse to acknowledge all the other important stories we need to tell.

Success stories are fun, but we can't all be success stories. Let's focus on the everyday stories, the more realistic stories, etc. The more focus and energy we put on the reality instead of the exception the more amazing work we can get done for the entire community.

Here is another story from The Young Turks Interviews with Tawanda Jones and Abdul Salaam. Salaam was harassed by cops in Baltimore and Jones lost her brother to police violence. Their stories touched me deeply and I hope their stories touch you as well. Making sure all our stories get the time of day is how we make change, not by forcing success stories down people's throats and refusing to acknowledge the other important stories.