What is the definition of "black in America"?

Being black in America today is soely an understatement.

Essentially, black is not “African American”. It’s just a color - a color that was associated to the culture by the white man. The color of my skin is not the color of the street or coal, so where did the idea of being "black" originate, and why?

Most may argue that black is simply the opposite race of white. Some might even go as far to believe that most "black people" pull the "race card" as an excuse to continue to allude to history. To me, I just wonder why does black have to be opposite of white, race wise. We don't call Asians red or Mexicans yellow? That would simply be pronounced as racist, right? There is honestly no other race associated with a color (in public social society) nor is there any other race to contradict itself with another race, color wise (in this instance, black and white).

The color black itself is commonly related to being evil, dark, inadequate, dull, or negative; the color is rather equated to bad. On the contrary, white would be antonymous to black, in society. When you think of white, you associate the color with good, pure, bright, peace, and perfection. Now, saying this isn't to create a race war, but I think it's quite simple. Was this to comparatively inferiorize one oppressed race to another superior race?

Ponder on when you choose selections on documents and tests based off of ethnicity. The choices often include "Asian, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander, Caucasian, or BLACK/African American". The only ethnicity related to a color on a professional form is the African American race.

The denotation of black in society is just another term for African American. The connotation of the word, however, is where I question what it really means to be black in America.

- Here's a scenario:

• How would a person typically feel if they were told that they play basketball like Micheal Jordan? Or, that they can sing like Whitney Houston, have moves like James Brown, or that they can possibly be the next Beyonce or Denzel Washington? Anyone would take that as a compliment, I'm sure. And if I were to tell someone that they twerk "white", it'd be offensive.

• However, would those feelings remain the same if I told someone that they talk like a black person? Or if, in public, I say that someone is acting "black"? That'd be pretty insulting. Instead, the true honor would reside in talking "white"or acting "white".

Aside from athletics and entertainment, is anything really interpreted as positive in the terms of black? Intellectual adroitness and skills of reasoning, articulation, and judgement are linked to "white", or as mentioned earlier "good, pure, perfect". It's acceptable to publicize growing up in a "white" neighborhood or going to a "white" school. There lies the ideal conception of great education and safe communities. However, to grow up in a "black" neighborhood refers to low graduation rates, dilapidated homes, high crime rates, and economic destitution.

Taking it back to the slavery era, where African Americans were ultimately denied the privilege to read, write, and develop intellect. Why was this - to ensure that slaves remained benighted of opportunity and freedom. So there you have it ... 400 years of slavery and forced incompetence down the drain. This left "blacks" the only choice to enter a race that whites already had a head start on (in this instance, opportunity and freedom). Does this explain why blacks excel, per se, in areas of learned skills rather than inherited knowledge? Does this simplify to the conception of blacks in modern America?