Ramon Mayo

So in the last post I wrote out the 30 reasons I love being black. In the next couple of weeks I am going to unpack each of the reasons and I hope that if you are black you begin to love and understand yourself and if you are not black I hope that you get a better understanding and perspective of black culture as well as a love of it.

1. Family Reunions. I loved going to Stewart (my grandmother Reola Jessie’s maiden name) family reunions in Arkansas. The food was amazing. Hangin out with all of my cousins and great aunts and uncles was amazing. And we even got to get a talent show and a fashion show thrown in for good measure. Black family reunions are a time to celebrate the bonds of love that kept hope alive when the absurdity of slavery and Jim Crow kept us apart. I think we need to put a greater emphasis on these things as a people in a time where materialism and busyness can keep us apart. I wish somebody would organize another family reunion. The only reason why I’m not putting myself out there is because if I organize it then it will be a disaster. LOL

2. Pouring out a little liquor. The ancient African practice of pouring out libations for the ancestors traveled to America. I first witnessed this sitting on my block and watchin the O.G.’s pour out some of their malt liquor for the “ones who ain’t here”. I thought this was strange but little did I know this is a tradition that goes all the way back to Africa. It is meant to honor the ones who have gone before us.

3. Soul Food. Ok. So some of it is leftover scraps that the slave master used to give us. But not all of it. Black eyed peas and okra are eaten in West Africa like no tomorrow. And fried chicken. Everybody loves fried chicken. I think most of soul food is unhealthy but it also testifies to the ways that we as a people take the scraps that life gives us and turn them into a meal. It shows our creativity and the way we add spice to life. As far as the health thing goes just modify some recipes and reduce some of the salt and fat. You can eat healthy and celebrate the culture.

4. Jazz and Blues. Jazz is the music that shows the African American way of improvisation. Keeping up with the rhythm of life but singing your own song. It is born out of the desire to keep your own unique swagger but to also stay connected and in community. Blues is the way that black folk dealt with the sorrow of life. It is a protest against life’s absurdity. Where other people would have committed suicide than deal with the atrocities of lynching and Jim Crow oppression. Black folk down South sang the blues.

5. Hip Hop. Take away government programs for music and the arts. Give us a bland disco radio playlist. Enlist some help from Caribbean DJs. And what do you get? Hip Hop. Hip Hop as a culture has been attacked for its promotion of violence, materialism and sexual immorality. But truth be told Hip Hop is the protest of youth who said even though we have been oppressed and forgotten we will make you listen. The swagger and truth-telling are reminiscent of jazz and blues. The stories and oral traditions are similar to that of the West African griot and the black preacher. I remember hearing “The Message” being played at a party next door to our apartment in Compton when I was 7. Ever since then I’ve been hooked and although I don’t write rhymes anymore hip hop is in my blood.

What do you like/not like about soul food? Jazz and blues? Family reunions? Hip Hop? Pouring out a little liquor? Are you familiar with any of these things?

While you are at it check out my new book “His Story Our Story for the Kindle or get the print edition as well. It’s a Christian devotional based on black history figures. It comes complete with questions, prayers, and a resource guide at the end.

Let’s keep celebrating Black History Month!