Black Enough?

"Here's the thing: I don't know why people are questioning whether Barack Obama is black enough. For me, that's an ignorant statement."

"There are middle-class, educated black people who speak the way he does. ... We have to try to move away from this so-called image of what black is, which is largely influenced by rap and that type of stuff..."

- Spike Lee

Generally, America has this picture painted about what BLACK is supposed to be like, look like, act like, etc. And for the most part it takes on the image of "Shaqwita" and "Boo Boo."

If our words are pronounced a certain way or we dress a certain way it can be said that we are "trying to act white."" When did race come along with a behavior code. 

The stigma in itself is demeaning and it tears me apart.

Lee made a great point concerning people's concern about whether or not Barack Obama is "black enough." Sure rap and urban culture has been equated with black culture for years but it doesn't mean that because you are black that its mandated that you behave like you've stepped out of a snoop video. 

We really need to take a deeper look at ourselves and realize that its alright to be intelligent and wear fitted pants and straighten our hair and pronounce the -er at the end of brother... those things don't define who we are. 

We must also realize that we [black people] are worthy of the same high standards associated with other races.  Need I remind you of all of the great accomplishments members of our race have achieved?