How’d I miss this cool new term?

I was listening the NPR’s Code Switch replay 

I like many people—especially black people— are Sometimes asked our opinion on reparations to black people in the US.  I won’t go into my thoughts, all I gotta say is: “where my money?” But in this impactful episode with some great info I want to talk about a single issue… one term… JB — otherwise JUST BLACK to those in the know.

JB is something I am of course!  But it is something I’ve thought of when someone fucks up and asks me WHERE I’m from.  Now understand this and listen close.  When someone asks a black person WHERE they’re from what they’re really saying is: “You  must  [emphasis] must be from somewhere other than here because you TALK, ACT, BEHAVE, TREAT others, WORK, LIVE, etc much differently than ALL the other black people I have ever met…so you MUST [emphasis] FUCKIN MUST be from somewhere else!”

Now I know all this woke shit lately means people think they’re being hip when they say shit.  Asking to touch my hair comes to mind.  Something you should never ever do or say you do or say with glee because you’re so woke.  I call bullshit!

So back I to the point of this post—JB.

The last time I was asked where I was from this seemingly nice lady at a kiosk at the outlet stores mall where I had just spent $400 on some stuff I don’t even think I used with glee we had talked about this and that.  Then she did it.  She cocked her head to the left somewhat uncomfortably and said it — “where are you from?”  I live here I replied.  She doubled down – “No, I mean originally?”  Now, if you didn’t know I have wonderful diction and nearly perfect pronunciation.  I can be on radio I’ve been told or the news I’m so great, but that still doesn’t mean I’m from somewhere other than the US.

So to me, I was understandably like “BLACK!” not Caribbean or a new immigrant from Africa or Europe.  So I said I was born in Chicago and my parents were born here too.

J     B

But with that it seemed like this lady was now scared of me, since now I was JUST BLACK and black men should be feared I guess.  Now all the previous interaction was dismissed –  My AMEX GOLD CARD, my perfect diction, my particularly easy-going personality all seemed less worthy now.  And then there it was – the curt close to the conversation.  She simply turned, waved her hand in my direction and it was over.

White people ask and wonder if they are racist.  Generally yes especially when there is a JB involved.