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Why everyday representation of Black life matters.
We’ve seen the stories of struggle. Civil rights and slavery, the subject of movies flooding streaming platforms right now. Stories of stereotypes, criminals are just as numerous. Don’t get me wrong these stories need to be told, especially from a Black perspective. However, we also need more everyday images of black people, just living.
It should not come as a surprise when you see a black accountant or school principle. It should not shock people to see a black man climb out of an expensive car and walk into their own business. We should not be getting stopped standing outside of our college dorms or be told we are standing in the wrong line when waiting for a first class seat.
I think of just my family and friends and I know software developers, nurses, stay at home moms, community activists, project mangers, physician assistants, housekeepers, multiple PhD's, airline employees, truck drivers, business owners, postal carriers, and the list goes on.
Until America, regularly, sees images of Black people, living everyday lives, taking care of their kids, working, eating, owning, loving, we will always be seen as the exception and not the rule.
