What's Ray saying?

What's Ray saying?

Hi, this is Ray, the source of all black knowledge.

We're still working on new episodes for a new season, but while we're

waiting, once again, I have thoughts that I'm ruminating about, and one in particular is about

black flexibility, beyond code switching, but the ability for black folks who are successful to bend their way or

flex their way through a door that's not necessarily wide open.

Now, in my experience, I've been involved in organizations or collaborations where

people are under the impression that just because black people are there, they are very diverse.

But in reality, they're measuring black people's ability to squeeze in with how wide they have the door open. What do you

think? I think just as an essential survival tool, we've become bicultural. We know how to live

in our world, but we also know how to live in the white world. I mean, that goes all the way back

to slavery.

Slaves had different demeanors and ways of presenting in front of the slave owners.

They knew how to manipulate those situations, but then when they were among themselves,

it was different.

So I think our whole history in the country has been one of living in two worlds and

learning how to manipulate in the broader society for basic survival.

Did you follow what I'm saying, though, about the flexing part?

I mean, just because we're in there, I mean, that says a lot more about black people's ability to make adjustments than, I don't know, the amount of diversity that actually exists.

We have learned to be invisible and we need to be invisible so that we can stay in the room because we have to have access.

We've learned to do what is necessary and adjust or we stay stuck.

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