In true fashion, I arrived to the Zoom Conference late… Don’t laugh at that. If you laugh at that you are reinforcing stereotypes of Black people. Here is the problem though, Black people reinforce this stereotype themselves. I’ve done it and didn’t even think about it. I’ve utilized the phrase “CP Time” (colored people time) in random conversations jokingly and without thought.
Yesterday, Black employees and founders in the sneaker industry went FUBU, For Us By Us, and held a Blacks and Browns Zoom Conference with the AAFF. The immediate issue that arises is White people want to know what happened and what was discussed. That’s only natural and there is nothing wrong with that. What is wrong with that is if White people get mad when they aren’t privy to the information. I’m not saying that this happened (to my two peers who asked), but the seeds are planted when Black people go into a huddle to plan (see Rosewood or Tulsa). People on the outside can get irritated. This is a dangerous thing for Blacks or for any group that decides to combat issues by isolating first.
All groups have to isolate first because this is a step in acknowledgement. More important, look back at the first paragraph. That CP joke was intentionally uncomfortable for you who read it; because what I did there was create a no-win situation. If you’re White and reading this, you are worried that you are being racist if you laughed. If you’re Black and you’re reading this you realize that you’ve been using self-inflicted hatred unconsciously. There is the issue. Black people have to defend themselves to every group because of stereotypes. We often place the stereotypes in our daily interactions jokingly as a form of coping, not realizing that it’s not a good thing to cope by constantly being self-deprecating.
Yesterday, the “FUBU” Zoom AAFF Juneteenth Conference was a chance for Black folks in the sneaker and footwear industry to talk about issues without fear of retribution. In that discussion a number of grievances were aired. Over 250+ people were on that call: on a Friday, on an unofficial holiday, a Black holiday, where people undoubtedly were going to grill… Over 250+ people floated in and out of the conference and I was amazed. The notification was on very short notice and the sign up was a bit daunting, but people showed up. For the record at the AAFF in Portland, Wilson Smith was interviewed by Sean Williams and maybe 20 people were in the room to listen to the historic interview…
On Juneteenth, in a short manner of time, Black and Brown folks interrupted an unofficial holiday with BBQ. (You can laugh at that one.)
The isolation gave us a chance to discuss the internal issues we have within our own groups:
- The fear of helping each other to move up in the ranks
- The inability to share ideas with each other for fear that we lose our status
- The frustration of not knowing how to go back and teach others
- The need for mentoring although we have jobs already
- The need for mentoring although we have tenuous relationships at our jobs
The isolation of the AAFF Juneteenth Zoom Conference provided insulation.
Think about this, racism is a virus. COVID-19 is a virus and we’ve been shaped by it for four months. In this short time the world has exploded. I’ve said this once and I will repeat it.
COVID-19 is the first time in history that all people were forced to live under the rule of fear and uncertainty. The virus of racism in the U.S. has been with us for over 400+ years and Black people have had to live with fear and uncertainty. White people have had to live with Covid-19 for four months. During that time White people have marched on state capitals with semi-automatic machine guns so they could get haircuts and eat dinner out of the house. White people have marched in groups on Juneteenth yelling Black Lives Matter (not the first time, see White Freedom Riders). The virus of racism shapes our DNA. What is the first thing a person with COVID-19 does when they are diagnosed? They isolate.
The isolation of the event was not intended to block White people or others from the dialogue. Black folks are in the unique position of understanding that we have to protect ourselves before we speak out or act, because not thinking for Black folks can lead to death, or in this case the loss of a job and career. This Zoom conference was only a baby step because an issue that was not discussed will have to be given deep consideration before any actionable steps can be taken by those who work in the industry.
I’m an outsider. I’ve never worked for a brand and I still don’t. I can do what others on the inside can’t do. Yesterday, the conference accomplished a very minute thing that as akin to isolating for COVID.
One of my best friends from college contracted the virus:
Feature: COVID-19’s Devastating Impact On One Long Beach Family
What happened next took over nine weeks and the things that occurred were heartbreaking. At San Diego State there aren’t many Black dudes. Our crew consisted of a Mexican-Jamaican, a Drake lookalike, me and Big L. I didn’t know what happened to Lawrence when he contracted COVID-19 until it was almost over. By the time the 9 weeks had ended and Lawrence’s story was being told… his mother had died of COVID-19 while he was in a coma.
That is what racism has done to Blacks for 400 years.
This is the third AAFF two physical events and this Zoom event. Racism does not manifest itself in readily seen ways. It functions like the early stages of COVID-19. It is quiet and builds gradually. There isn’t a nine plus week window. Racism doesn’t reveal itself, because while a traditional virus can be contained, something that can mask itself in an unlimited chameleon-like manner in hues of blue and green, even in neutral tones of black and brown, or cover itself in white and yellow… Racism is similar to what happened to Lawrence’s mom. If you didn’t click through and read, here is a summation:
Lawrence had knee surgery. His mom and her friends visited Idaho for a ski trip (a site now known as ground zero for the virus). When his mom completed the trip, she returned to Long Beach to help care for her son. When she went home to San Diego, Big L got sick. He ended up in the hospital where they discovered he had the virus. While he was on respirators in Long Beach, his mom died from the virus. He didn’t know until nine weeks later.
Every industry has to understand that racism is transmitted from parent to child, peer to peer and while there are moments where it surfaces in White hoods or laws or red-lining or police brutality, the most dangerous version is the quiet backroom chatter of people who themselves need to isolate and have real discussions. If those people aren’t ready for that type of dialogue the baby steps the AAFF is taking won’t progress to walking or running.
R.I.P. to Mrs. Julie Maye.
