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“Righteous outside your group.”

proud from the outside

I have heard from various people that you cannot be pro your ethnic group and marry from the outside. And for the longest I have been trying to figure out what that means. Because living in America to tell groups of people who come from different backgrounds to not marry each other yet promote them living and existing in the same proximity is mind boggling to me. Nowhere on Earth do we have a place where people are that wide and diverse where we are still shocked when they cohabitate with each other. And the idea that you can not be in the best interest of your group can be seen as mind boggling as well. But is there some truth to the madness? Well, lets observe for just one second what that could mean and look like in America.

one will live, one will die

When you marry someone of another culture, chances are, when the kid gets older and marry themselves they tend to choose. And the reality is, in that defining moment is when a lot of the culture of one of those groups is gone forever. So when you hear people say that you can’t be pro-your group and then marry outside, that could be an indicator. Now, do people intend on removing their identity from existence? The answer to that question is of course no. But the reality is, they do remove it. Meaning, if I marry a Latina, we have a child, chances are, that child will choose either African American culture or Latino culture. And just like that, in a full generation, something is lost forever. But what do you do tp keep this from happening?

proximity can keep things going

If you live in the same environment as the other group, then things tend to last a lot longer. If a Chinese person marries a Japanese person, it is a big deal overseas, but not quite in America. And the transition between the Eastern countries are for fluid in America than most groups. So when you have such close ties, then there is a possibility that the cultures can hold strong longer than most. Now, when you have something like a Pakistani that attempts to marry a Mexican, then things may go in a different direction because one is so much different. Now, when both groups live in the United States in the same metropolitan city, then and only then might the marriage stand a chance (ex. New York City).

stick to your guns

When in doubt, wait until someone who is of your group comes along. This could take a lot of time for your life to work and transpire. But you don’t have to worry about all the issues coming form outside your relationship. But if you are not concerned what people think continue to live. But whatever the case make sure you know this what you truly want. But also, are you prepared to do the same for your children?

Personal Website:

Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson; @faheemjacksonphotography

Twitter Me: @2320howe


Grayscale Photo of a Woman Sleeping

“I want you to see what’s like to be me.”

my pain

Anyone that belongs to group of people who have had to endure a long history of pain must be careful. They must be careful because it’s very easy to slip into a role of being the one doling out the hate. And this happens since a lot of the times we become the people we have had to deal with especially if there is no culture to the people in pain. You adopt the nature of the ones that hurt you and it now becomes a situation where now you’re making the same excuses as the ones who hurt you just to have yourself a legs up.

it’s different

We always make excuses for why we treat individuals a certain way. But when it’s actually time to breakdown the thought process there is no clear and concise answer. We are so used to behaving in a certain manner and it not being questioned, that we are unprepared to answer questions. But what happens now that the shoe is on the other foot and you ask someone to state a clear idea as to why they feel a certain way. They can’t give you a reason, they’ll just say it’s different or you’re against them. But people will not have to conversation. And the reason being is because there is no logical explanation and an explanation would further expose the fact there isn’t one. So in a nutshell, I am saying to hurt dole out maybe not the equivalent, but aspects and find reasons to not say it is so.

blind to the issue

Believe it or not, there are people who don’t even see their own internalize disdain that has also been held for them. We dilute ourselves into thinking a lot of times that we are better than the people who hurt us. But we become bastardized versions of them and transfer the hate. That’s why there will always be this form of hate in society. People need a reason to say this group is responsible, then enough time goes by where that group is no longer in control. And then a new group becomes the oppressors and the oppressed.

My Personal Website:

Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson

Twitter Me: @2320howe

Tumblr Me: @fjackson44


Two Men Talking While Sitting Beside Table

“Still discomfort after a few hundred years.”

so so uncomfortable

Black and White, the two constructs that have kept America in social strife for the past few hundred years. And still to this day there is this discomfort within both communities. But when you look at the time-frame you can’t help but feel more discomfort at how long it’s been going on. And what is the real discomfort because for two groups to be sharing a nation and living so close, you would think by now these conversations would be an after-thought. Well, let’s also put into perspective the Civil Rights Movement was only 50 years ago. So even though we have been in this country a few hundred years, the first 80%-90% were treacherous times.

so so different

When you observe the cultural differences between the two communities there are so many differences, but even similarities. Yet, we behave is such a discomforting manner when we are in each other’s “arena.” And when I say that arena, I mean someone Black walk into a predominantly White establishments or vice verse, we immediately become aware. And from that point forward, we are not ourselves. We shift our behavior to appease wherever we are in the moment. Now, a lot of people would say that’s normal considering we always act different when around culture not our own. But these are not actions of curiosity, but more so actions of fear. Actions where one knows they are behind enemy lines rather than knowing you’re in a different than your own.

connection to life

We are both humans, as with any other group of people. Carbon based life forms that took hundreds of thousands of years to evolve into our selves today. And our relationship with each other is a reaction to our experiences with other. The culture we both have that has been created and cultivated is an American culture that was created in both our communities from direct relationships with country (ex. Black people music, food, and clothing style). And the reality is that we share a lot more than we are different. Both want our children to live in safe neighborhoods, fight for education, want employment to sustain ourselves, yearn for companionship so we don’t have to live alone, and considering we’re Americans, we share our love of sports and food.

My Personal Website:

Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson

Twitter Me: @2320howe

Tumblr Me: @fjackson44


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“What do they think?”

not us or them

When you observe the Black and White relationship in America, you can’t help but to acknowledge how stressful the issues can be. But what happens when you are form the outside of the two groups looking inward? Let’s say for instance you are Chinese; typically your strife over time have been with other East Asians. So watching the two groups have conflicts is odd to you. But let’s not get beside ourselves. People from around the world know and understand the longstanding relationships. They, a lot of the time choose to not say anything about the topic. They sit back and spectate, for it has nothing to do with them.

not my problem, but my land

The police beating of Rodney King in the early 1990’s brought about a string of riots, violence, arrests, and deaths. Costing the city of Los Angeles $1 billion at the time of the incident. And when that happened, it wasn’t just a few neighborhoods, the riots forced members of the Korean community to take up arms outside their businesses. Why, well, there was an incident of a convenient store owner killing a young girl.So, when everything was being burned down, they were quickly thrust in to the spotlight. But on average, even though they did nothing, their stores, restaurants, and other businesses could be in the wake of disaster.

opinions can be troublesome

When groups who are not from within get involved, then you can actually further complicate the situation. Because we are no longer making a right or wrong decision. It now becomes who do I align my struggle with, and form their I make my decision. That can bring just more people into the loop and create a new host of problems. Meaning, it’s hard for me to have a stand really on illegal immigration because I want borders to be safe. But I also observe the situation through my own injustices. Now it’s different because my ancestors were forced over not broke international waters. But the nonetheless, it just feels awkward. Now, what do you think if you are from a different ethnic group watching the social strife?

My Personal Website:

Instagram Me: @theefaheemjackson

Twitter Me: @2320howe

Tumblr Me: @fjackson44