A Black History Month Message

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Image description: a picture of Laurence Fishburne in his role as Ike Turner from the Tina Turner biopic, "What's Love Got to Do With It." He is side-eyeing the viewer with a "try me" expression emblazoned across his face.

Hey, unmelanated people. This is Pharoah. You know, that guy whose social media posts you report all the time for “hate speech.” Yep - that guy. I'm glad I could jog your memory!

Anyhoo, as a living, breathing, Black person, I wanted to take a moment on this, the first day of Black History Month, during the shortest month of the year, to give y'all a little educational reminder that as people of pallor, your role this month is to listen, learn, unlearn, and implement that learning into every aspect of your life. It is not your job to virtue signal, appropriate "out of appreciation for Black culture," or post anything on any Black person's page trying to teach them something about Black history. It is not your responsibility to offer hot takes on Black folx's business. I don't want to hear about your "transcendent" experience seeing Beyonce on tour. I don't want to hear about the segregation documentary you watched on Netflix. Not one Black person wants to hear or see any of this from you for the next 29 days.

Your role for the next 29 days is, to paraphrase The Rock, know your role, and shut your mouth.

Period.

No debate.

No sidebars or questions.

Try Jesus. Don't try me. I will make sure everyone sees you as an example of how to avoid conducting yourself during the month of February.

Keep your mouth shut and your mind open to learning and unlearning all the nonsense, stereotypes, and vitriol you've been fed about Black people.

Go ahead. Give it a try. I guarantee it'll change your life. Or at least create one less anti-Black moment for your Black colleagues, "friends," and neighbors to endure.

You should be practicing this every damn day anyway, but I see y'all constantly doing the opposite, so...yeah.

And I betta not see nan one of y'all tryin' to sing "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing."

Probably gonna be soundin' like Taylor Swift singin' Earth, Wind, and Fire.

[Image description: a picture of Laurence Fishburne in his role as Ike Turner from the Tina Turner biopic, "What's Love Got to Do With It." He is side-eyeing the viewer with a "try me" expression emblazoned across his face.]