Post Blackness By Touŕe

Who's afraid of post blackness? By Touŕe was something that I feel like I should have read in high school or even middle school, when I was dealing with my own racial identity issues ( not being black enough).

Touŕe brings light to the new movement of post Blackness and what it really means. His childhood along with the experiences of the people he interviewed tells the story of the post black movement. Answering questions like

• what it means to be black in all of its shades and facets?
• Light skin vs. Dark skin privilege.
• what's the most racist thing that's ever happened to you?
• What does it really mean to keep it real?
• What do we need to do to build more Baracks?

And that's just naming a few.

Touŕe's insight from his own experience and those he's interviewed made this a book that should be a standard in any black home.

He interviewed 105 prominent black luminaries all bringing their own views and ideas. It's a deep and honest conversation about race.

• Politicians like Harold Ford Jr, Sharon Pratt, and Benjamin Jealous
• Visual artist like Kara Walker, Glenn Ligon,  Lorna Simpson,  and Julie Mehretu
• Recording artist like Chuck D, Questlove,  Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco
• Writers like Malcolm Gladwell,  Greg Tate, Stanley Crouch, Kristal Brent
• Academics like Dr. Beverly Tatum, Dr. Connell West, Dr. Mar Lamont Hill

And that's just to name a few. The list is extensive as it is diverse.

Growing up in had been called an ores and told I wasn't black enough up until college. And not just by white people but by my fellow peers. I had constantly had my blackness challenged and was told that I wasn't doing it right. Touŕe and his luminaries address that there is not right or wrong way to be black. Racial identity should be understood as as fluid, complex,  and self determined.

The stories shared by the 105 participants were of racism in the workplace,  at school and even in churches showed that no matter what class your were or what status you had elevated your family to,  if you are black you experience the same racism. He touched on the issues of black art ,the use of the word nigga and the concept of white gaze.

His dedication alone at the beginning of the book let me know that this was going to be something I needed to share. I encourage anyone who's not felt black enough to pick this up and be comforted inspired and informed. He emphasizes that to build more Barack's we have to work on ourselves and accept each other and stop saying,  black people don't do that.  Cause guess what? We do.