By: Zach Fulwood
If there’s one thing in life that I could honestly say I was thankful for, it would have to be family. Jokes and delicious family recipes aside, being around family is one of the few places where absolute honesty is encouraged and not judged (for the most part). Moreover, being around family creates a safe space of sorts to talk about current events, personal ideas and ethics. It’s literally the exact opposite of an echo chamber.
Recently, I attended a family gathering where a round table discussion took place about a number of topics ranging from political standings to whether or not polygamy should be legal. The conversation was incredibly enlightening but, there was one subject that really stood out to the room and myself. The subject in question was about White parents adopting Black children and whether or not it was a good thing. Personal feelings aside, one point of contention was the assumption that a White parent couldn’t adequately introduce Black culture to a Black child because of the obvious ethnic differences. Though, in this situation, the most important thing is that the child is given genuine love and care, the question of what culture really is and the importance of it has become one worth exploring.
As a Black man, I’ve always had an identification with what I believed to be Black culture. Whether it’s the hip-hop and r&b music or the classic “Black” shows and movies like Martin and The Wood, there’s a certain connection I have to those things and others who identify with them. Obviously, Black culture encompasses much more than just entertainment and that’s kind of the issue.
The reality is, there’s too many aspects of Black culture for there to actually be a standard that dictates being a part of Black culture which leads to the bigger issue; Is culture even a healthy thing to be a part of?
It’s no secret that people like to feel like they belong to something. Whether it be for exclusivity reasons or simply to avoid feeling alone in this world, people want to be able to find a cure for that sense of belonging. The presence of culture does that for people. It allows for people to feel a sense of community amongst others who look and think just like them. The very definition of culture is the sharing of customs, arts, and achievements among a people or social group.
On the surface this doesn’t sound like a bad thing at all but, at times, the passion and appreciation for the cultures we identify with borderlines on cult-like behavior. Though a cult is usually synonymous with something evil and centered around religious mind-control, the definition of a cult is a misplaced admiration for a particular person or thing. It’s hard to argue that we don’t see that same obsessive admiration from time to time in relation to Black culture and all cultures for that matter.
For as much as Beyonce and Jay-Z are key fixtures within Black culture, they have been put on pedestals to where they are seemingly above reproach and if you don’t agree or support whatever it is they are a part of, suddenly you aren’t for the culture. This could also be said about hairstyles and other accessories and ways of life that are attributed to Black culture that find themselves being used and repurposed for the enjoyment of other ethnicities. Taking pride in ones’ own culture is fine but at what point does that pride turn dangerous and toxic?
To be honest, without getting into heavy details about whether or not Black culture is really an extension of European-American culture, we have to ask ourselves how important is our culture? To what degree will we defend it and who or what dictates who can be a part of it? Do we pay too much attention to culture while completely dismissing the relevance of heritage? The answer isn’t black and white but, our commitment level to our culture is a question worth considering.
Categories: Culture
Culturally Biased 
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