Carlos Santana featuring Seal “You Are My Kind”
I thought I was being a clever wordsmith but, alas, a Google search has proven me wrong.
UrbanDictionary.com describes blacknowledgement as “the process by which a Black person acknowledges another black person’s presence in a social environment where black people are scarce or otherwise absent. These environments include places and events like: lacrosse parties, ice hockey games, early morning classes, Russia and The Ku Klux Clan Annual General Meeting. Blacknowledgement is a show of solidarity and support indicating to another black person that you understand their social anxiety and feel their inner torment.”
Stuff-About.com goes further with “A blacknowledgement can be executed using anything from a simple nod to a well executed six part, click and snap, integrated handshake. In less friendly situations, a blacknowledgement may be used as a territorial gesture. It can be used to signal to another black person that you are the resident black person in that environment and that they should cower off and find non-black friends of their own. Many black people feel that their novelty wears thin when they find out that they are not the “token black person” anymore.”
Whether I agree with these definitions 100% or not, they are the basis and blacknowledgement exists and is prevalent.
I started “realizing” blacknowledgement a few years ago but it’s been a part of my life as far back as I can remember. When I am in public and see another black person across the room, across the street, in the boardroom or behind the counter, I acknowledge my recognition of their permanent tan. It’s generally subtle, typically eye contact and a nod will suffice. But it’s there. Since I recognize I’m doing it, I’ll try not to go out of my way. Some people will make it a POINT to go out of their way to reach out to you, especially in professional or large group social settings. Even though, I may not make giant strides across a room to shake your hand, if you do not at least make eye contact, I feel slighted. Ridiculous or not.
As I came to “realize” my unconscious blacknowledgement, I tried to figure out how I’d explain it, especially to non-black people. Why do it? Who taught me to do it? Consequences of not doing it? Really I don’t know. I imagine it’s truly (good or bad) just acknowledging someone somewhat like you. Sure you could have different backgrounds and experiences but in whatever situation you’re currently in you’re both at least (if not only) black. As someone whose professional and social circles do not regularly include many chocolate-hued faces, it is somewhat comforting to see another black person in those groups. And it doesn’t matter what part of the country you’re in. I’ve experienced blacknowledgement in Tennessee, Texas, New York City, Chicago, San Francisco and Ames, IA.
How did I learn? I have absolutely no idea. No one ever told me to do it or even discussed the phenomenon with me. I think I just learned by watching the adults in my family and recognizing other people were doing it to me. Either way, I am a well-established participant in regular blacknowledgement.
I’m not aware of any consequences. But I’d imagine some people may feel slighted. For whatever reason, I do at times. Brown faces in a sea of beige and pink stick out. No one’s truly THAT race/color-blind. I know you saw me…
So what are we to learn about/from blacknowledgement? I’m really not sure. I don’t see anything intrinsically wrong with acknowledging the other black people around me. I don’t ignore all non-black people in the same situations. It’s just an extra. I imagine I do the same thing when in situations with only one or two more women. However, for whatever reason, 1.) I’m more often the only African-American than woman, 2.) I’m less uncomfortable as the only woman, and 3.) There is a sense of potential competition with the “other woman” that I can’t say I feel with the “other black”.
I imagine I’ll go on acknowledging my brothers and sisters and laughing a little when I realize I’m doing it. To further overuse a corporate crutch word, I’m just acknowledging diversity (one type, but diversity just the same).
Is this unique to African-Americans? Do other ethnicities and/or groups do this?
Acknowledging anyone who read this, black or not,
Jo’van
The Truth: According to Jo'van 