The 2016 White House Correspondents’ Dinner started out good.
The clinking of wine glasses, soft waves of applause, deep furrowed brows of concentration, and the imminent ruffling of feathers. Then, the feathers fell off.
Wilmore shared how growing up the debate was whether a black man could be a quarterback and lead a football team. But that wasn’t what landed or got Black Twitter into their feelings. The most intimate moment of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was when he turned and said, “… you made it, my nigga” to President Obama, and here’s why:
- – A black man who has broken barriers can understand the process of another black man who had to wear a mask for 8 years, and end with chance to take said mask off – maybe. It is the universal corporate climb for many black elites who conform to please all sides, defeat stereotypes, stand up for truth, blaze a new trail, free the people, and still get up at 5am to do it all over again. It’s a lot.
- – It connotes an understanding between a community to its member that it may not have been all gravy on the way to the top, but they made it work anyway under the circumstances, and we thank them.
- – It delivers a refreshing spark of “unfuckwithabilty” as it shows and gives meaning to a word that others are not allowed to use and are angry that they cannot.
- – Others are angry – it says to those who were made uncomfortable that your opinion does not matter – we got this.
- – It illustrates a sense of self expression as a black man, black woman, black child, that freedom can come in many forms. Nothing is a surprise anymore, no assault, no disappointment, and sticks didn’t break our bones, and neither will words. Once words don’t hurt – nothing can.
And no, Wilmore should not apologize. To whom shall he apologize – white people, Obama, black people? Instead of looking of Wilmore with a big “oh no you didn’t” face, let’s take a breath and sit in the uncomfortable knowing that freedom can look like many things – even the unlikely.
Send me a tweet @realalphanista and read more HERE.
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