When I told my dad that I was going to trade in my pen and paper for ballet shoes, he stereotypically objected. "But you're a writer - it's what you do. You might like dancing a lot, you might even grow to love it. But, you just don't trade in your passion - and you definitely don't deny the gift God gives you." Needless to say, I pretty much took this with a grain of salt, and since then, have considered my experiences (which include finals in the auditioning process of a national television show, a stint studying with a 40 year old modern dance company, scholarships to various dance intensives around the country, and of course my beloved degree) as giving a huge finger to my dad's initial statement. I can attest that since then he has become much more supportive of "Jonathan: the dancer". He also hasn't been the only one to let me know I could be potentially ruining my life in becoming a professional dancer. When I called my father to let him know I was being flown to Vegas because I had made it to the audition finals of that show on television (alluded above), I slipped in a sardonic "and who would have thought it would have ever come to this - certainly not you at the beginning." It's true, I'm an ass. However, my dad took this sarcasm well, and he should have - I did learn the art of insinuating a brutally honest comment into casual conversation from him. I do see this often in my line of work. I call it racism of a different sort; the idea that artists don't have the stability that corporate types have in their careers. Here's where, if you could see me right now, I would break into an artistic movement interpretation on the fall of Enron. Gotta love Corporate America.
I like that my dad is a scary man. Him and his brother. Both are huge towering black men, thick necks, calves the size of my head, shoulders broad enough to block out the sun, biceps like watermelons. It has been said to me, "Jonathan, it's not even like you're that black" (don't even get me started on what the hell that is supposed to mean - I'm quite curious as to how all black people should be...) However, people's latent racism becomes silenced whenever I'm escorted by my dad. I really dig that. I dig that his stature and his presence can shift other people's perception of me. It can be said, and I would agree, I am at no means the most culturally ethnic black man to graze the earth. I listen to country music all the time, I'll take a cowboy boot over a nice pair of Jordan's any day, and I pronounce the number four as "forrre" instead of "pho". (On a side note: I do drive a Chevrolet, which T.I. and Mary J. Blige also drive, and though it doesn't really count since I refer to my car as "a Chevy", I do agree that Cadillacs are the king of the road. Only black people say that... and Elvis, but he's got soul.) However, none of this has anything to do with the color of my skin, or the history of my ancestors in this country. A number of people, friends and foe alike, have mentioned my "blackness" and I have in turn, found them guilty of being kinda racist. Even if you steal a stick of gum, you're still a thief.
However, I'll admit that we are all kind of racist. There's that musical, Ave Q, that has this song I love called "Everyone's a Little Racist" that points this out by way of shiny lights on Broadway. Oh, how I appreciate creative endeavors that express our warped human nature. I was having a conversation with a friend of mine about racism. In that context, she was telling me that she was grateful for Mexicans, Asians, Middle Eastern/Indians, Caucasians, Blacks (including both African Americans and everyone else that's black, as black people do come from all over the world), and Jews for their work in the following trades: Lawn mowing services, providing manicures and pedicures, eyebrow tweeking, corporate America/American government, providing good music to bump to, and always being able to show the world that one can make smart financial choices. (Notice how I never actually paired any one service with any one ethnic group).
The point: while you might have a prejudice, based in race, career fields, or class status, it is advantageous to recognize that other people also have a prejudice. Smart people can't stand stupid people. Europeans think Americans pushy, self centered, and opportunistic. Gay men can't stand "straight bars". Tom doesn't like Jerry. It is what it is. But you can use this to your full advantage. How might you ask? Did you think I was gong to tell you? I can't very well give away that gem in this post. Stay tuned.
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