July 9th, 8:24pm
Since I live in the suburbs now and have some longer waits for the train I've decided to start doing this series: "As I sit right now." I'll pretty much take a picture of what I see at the moment and write a little about what I'm feeling at the moment. Hooray for my iPhone making this possible.
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In the picture: view from the train platform of my Alma mater- Temple University
Thanking God for: Being blessed with stability in very unstable times
Wishing for: Chinese food
Looking forward to: going home to Connecticut this weekend and seeing my family.
Not looking forward to: continuing to wait for this train in this chilly evening air.
Random thought: I don't like being looked at as an exceptional black woman. Why can't I be the default image? Why aren't all black women thought of as well mannered, genuine and nice?
Comments (25)
What a cool idea! Such an efficient use of your time! And Temple is great!
I think I like this series. A little view of what's going on up there.
I guess because not all women are well mannered and nice, black or otherwise. I enjoyed this post. It made me wince a little. It's nice to take moments and capture them like this. It's not done enough, and we take too often for granted the small moments God gives us to reflect
chinese food!
I am liking this. And to the last....I think that is because to many black women have given the wrong impression, feeling that is the only way people will take them seriously. Unfortunately most of these girls are wrong. They should show their true selves so we can see more young black women like you....Strong, beautiful, smart, and enlightening.
what a neat idea!
You live in philly? I've been craving a cheesesteak for so long.
Our society does hold black women in pretty low esteem. I never realized how much until I got married. I can't tell you how many times I've heard times like "well-mannered black girl," "very smart black girl," etc., etc.
Yeah... I hear this time and time again. Why do we always have to be the exception instead of the standard. It's completely ridiculous :( And I'm digging this new series... I look forward to your subsequent train waits!
@shy_and_sad - Thanks! It is awesome indeed!
@paoguy118 - Yea, when its said like that ("well-mannered black woman") it assumes that it is something rare, when its really not! As you know
@MochaSprinkle - It IS ridiculous!
@SimplyNita - Indeed, come on down and get a cheesesteak!
That's another reason I admire you... you're so damned creative... sorry for swearing LOL
I'm also impressed that the picture was taken from the iPhone. What version do you have?
Good luck at home this weekend.. I'm actually going home to Connecticut this Friday night too ! Go Nutmeggers (:
Kind of related to your last point.. I am black myself, but on a whole I think the black community in my area views me as a white chick, because I act differently than they do (genuine, well-mannered, nice, just like you said), speak differently, and have different interests (such as the fact that I like more alternative music instead of hip-hop and rap, I enjoy going to school, and I've grown up in an upper middle-class family). I've met so many black people who have told me that they consider me white because "I act white".
Also, it would be nice if more black women held themselves with more composure and got serious about how they're viewed by their community. As you said, a world where a "well-mannered, genuine, and nice" black woman wasn't considered abnormal would be a pretty good world.
Actually, a world where any kind woman was the default image for her gender and race would be nice.
whenever i read something of yours i can't help but smile, whether it be something long and thought out, or even something small like this, just something on your mind, you have a way of writing that draws people in, it's a pleasure to read your blog.
In reference to your last question, how boring that would be. A positive stereotype is still a stereotype. Wouldn't it suck to be an asian kid who would doesn't like math?
honestly, when I think of black women I think of a very strong, very motherly type woman. Someone you don't want to fuck with her kids kinda girl. Sterotypes go with every race. I'm a white girl, with fake nails and a close to perfect dye job on my hair, and I try to dress nicely so people automatically a rich girl who spends more money on superficial shit than anything else. In all actuality, my sister in law is a hair dresser at my aunt's hair salon and I don't pay a dime for any of it, and I get her hand me downs as far as clothing goes. but, back to black women, I've always wanted to model my mothering style from that of a black woman. It's something I guess I just can't explain... I'm just gonna stop typing now.
That's a beautiful picture.
isn't it strange how in a lot of things related in our environments and society all comes down to racializing our life by either ourselves or other people?
[i'm not saying you do that, btw...just a thought]
Its all relative, we assume & associate based on what we know.
I can speak of....In ETX it is rare to run into a well mannered black lady your age group...I think the culture changes ppl. In that I also see that white girls have bought into ghetto being cool, act this way as well & now I see a LOT of underwear...
Now you get closer to 30 & on, I meet more friendly black ladies than anyone, they adopt Dan & I all the time & I love it.
Ppl say we are diff like that..but they don't realize I am half white.
The same reactions are everywhere...what is Your idea of what TX girls look & act like?
Then there is Europe , France hates our guts with all their hearts...why? Bc of the ppl they've met & what they associate us with. I am a firm believer that race is only a card when played..its a mind game with many unwilling victims.
HMM, I am really going to like this series...looking forward to more.
Very cool idea! I know the feeling when have to wait for bus or train because I used to live in Sydney suburban and it takes 1 hour to wait for each ride. Looking forward to read your musing while waiting for train :)
everybody and their moms has an iphone..not that i ever need an Iphone or Ipod or anything with an "I" in it.
I think there is just something not right about seeing yourself as this and this cuz of your race/gender..why can't we just accept ourselves as individuals? I always do but i know for a fact random ppl may judge me on the outside especially by my race/gender. I don't judge somebody on their outside..there's more than meets the eye. I don't want to live my life restricted to race/gender expectations. I don't think anybody else should to.
@MelFamy - I'm alright with math, its just that math is never fun and it was never my favorite subject. I still don't know where the hell that stereotype began in the first place. Another random sweeping generalization that came out of nowhere.
To your last statement... I don't know hun, I don't know. I've just found the less attention I give the label, away it goes.... I think this goes to anyone who appears to be black as well.... aye me.
Like this idea much! I'm jealous of it!
@TheSeventhRhapsody - Thanks!
I have the 8gb 3G, I got it a few months ago, so now I'm mad that the 3GS is coming out now with a video camera!! It takes very clear pictures, but you have to be very still with it. 
@lowerwestside - Definitely, definitely. I just don't get it, I want to take it as a compliment, but on the same token, I know plenty of black women just like me, its not abnormal lol. You're right tho, its the bad apples that spoil the bunch.
@Smichy420 - Oh my gosh, thanks!
@MelFamy - hmmm, goood point.
@elelkewljay - Tis strange indeed.
@starrynite45 - Hee hee thanks. I figured I gotta find something to do while I wait!
I know plenty of nice black women. Unfortunately, I also know plenty of rude, not nice black women. At the same time, I know plenty of nice white, Asian, and "other" men AND women. Unfortunately, at the same time, I also know plenty of rude, not nice white, Asian, and "other" men AND women.
I wish we had chilly mornings in July here in Mississippi.
@lil_dragonfly88 - Very true, I don't even need it to be assumed that Black women are good by default, I'd rather each person be judged individually and there not be a default, because defaults come from stereotypes.....It was actually really strange how chilly it got then, I was totally unprepared!
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