I Am Black: Translations

John Steven Jones
Singer/Writer/Actor
Born: Brooklyn, NY
Now living in: Central New Jersey

When I think about what being black means to me one word comes to my mind. That word is "Blessed!" I wouldn't want it any other way because being Black is beautiful. Black is strong and resilient. What being black means to me is being proud of my ancestors and all of my fellow Blacks who came before me because of their strength and endurance.

What being Black means to me is more than just the color of my skin. Our complexions come in many shades from light to dark. To me being Black is not about the way we talk becaus we talk in many ways and in many dialects. What being Black means to me is versatility. We have so many talents, skills, and have done some amazing things throughout history.

What being Black means to me is forgiveness because we've been dealt some disrespectful hands along the way but we still manage to keep pushing forward. Being Black means love and kindness. We just won't allow the past to bring us down because if we would've allowed that to happen we would not have ever seen a Black president in America. Although we've made some progress, we know that we still have a long way to go. What being Black means to me is "never give up!"