REPRESENTATION

Charles Bukowski was at one point my literary idol, he wrote a poem on the intent of a writer, in it he hypothesized that a true writer writes against life itself, a true writer writes despite all odds, when it is light and when it is dark. Alas, I found myself writing at 4 am in the morning. The topic, representation, what does this word mean to you. Do you see yourself represented in the globalized world you live in. Is your culture well represented and interpreted. Who are you, or rather who do you think you are? As an observer of life, I constantly ask myself this question. One thing is for sure, I identify as being BLACK, but what does that mean. Does it mean that all empathize with all of Africa, the history of the motherland? Am I constantly having to reevaluate my position in the world and carve out my own niche. Yes, my culture and identification carry a burden. One that I am willing to bear. Not only has my history, that of my race, ethnicity and nationality been tarnished by the dark shadow of colonialism, my place in the world is constantly questioned. I therefore choose BLACKNESS, BUT NOT ONLY THAT, I ALSO CHOOSE BLACK EXCELLENCE!!!