The Who of What I’m Not Pt. 3
Like a Zen whack upside my head, Baldwin demanded my attention. Stop playing the
victim. As long as I complained about racism, my anger only affirmed and amplified the power of white supremacy. Therefore, my liberation improbably became my responsibility, otherwise, any attempts to establish autonomy depended on waiting for those invested in my oppression to change.
Buddhism has helped me gain more clarity about white supremacy's impact on my identity. Emboldened by new insights, I now create art that subverts the system of white
superiority. Steeped in paradox, the art is a surprising, perplexing mix of contradiction,
humor, and satire that transforms racism into a theater of the absurd. The perceived
power of white supremacy is deflated. Maintaining a proactive stance is crucial to
manifesting self-empowerment. My art practice is immensely gratifying and I believe my
work helps others reconsider what self-empowerment looks like in their own lives.Societal pressures to conform to the beliefs of others is relentless. Rather than trusting our inner knowing, we look to others for validation and the meaning of who we are.
Across the spectrum of humanity are people defined by stories imposed upon them.
There is a proverb that says, “The most important thing is to find out what is the most
important thing.” Being willing to move deeper and deeper into the meaningful questions of life is, in my opinion, the primary work of human beings. Who decides who we are? Does history or ancestry determine the limits of who we can be? Society says we don’t get a vote, a powerful incentive for me to reject the definitions associated with African American identity. Identity categories are divisive. As Baldwin said, we need a new language celebrating our humanity.
My parents did the best they could. I chafed under their misguided attempts to protect
me, but if not for them, I would not be who I am today. Nonetheless, they taught me to
see myself through the lens of white supremacy and, in the process, conditioned me to feel unworthy. What has changed is that I’ve chosen to connect to my inner self, listen to my higher wisdom. I am no longer imprisoned by white supremacist lies nor defined by my parents' shame. We can’t control the body we’re born into, but we can absolutely take control of the life we’ve been given. Philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer said, “Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it.”
In recent years, I have prioritized my humanity over identity, an unorthodox choice to be sure. Herein lies the beauty of self-empowerment. I am the author of myself. I am a loving, compassionate, spectacular being. And as I work toward my highest human potential, I aspire to transcend earthly concerns to evolve into something much greater: The who of who I was before my parents were born. And who I will be after I take my last breath.