“Representation matters.”

It sounds nice, but what does this really mean?

I hear Black people spout this when a Black person reaches a post or accomplished something previously reserved exclusively or overwhelmingly for white people.

/THREAD

In South Africa, having people like the Motsepes and other Black uber successful people is great to see, as Black people, because historically, we're the most oppressed group..

I get that..

But..

The representation that matters is in your child’s immediate community.

Your child is inspired to be a good teacher and take the futures of Black children into their own hands by caring, committed Black teachers..

Your child is inspired to be a loving, committed, present parent by watching you love, commit to and be there for them.

Your child is inspired to take pride in their community by helping you volunteer to clean your neighborhood streets, feed hungry neighbors etc..

The representation we need and deserve is from everyday folks who look like us loving the collective and being an active member of our community.

Representations of capitalism and elitism do nothing for our children but promote the individualism that’s is deadly to us.

We have representation all around us.

We just don’t want to contend with the fact that most of our children won’t reach the representations of white supremacist success that we’ve been taught to aspire to..

It’s possible to cheer for Black people reaching the pinnacle of their craft and know that an individual being let in the white man’s door ain’t it..

Kinfolk Kollective