Toure

First impressions
Toure you aint black
What is black?
Essential message:
We should not let our blackness shape us

Significance for African American Studies:
Helps cultivate the African American mind
Different perspective than that of the European learning

Points of agreement and points of dissension:
Toure childhood views on a black president
Agreed with his parents assimilation tactics (be the whitest black person possible)
Wanting to feel important/proving self to whites
Summary/Closing:
What does it mean to be black? How have we let that meaning shape our life?

The video opened up with the speaker saying Toure you aint black, this statement in my
opinion set the tone for his entire speech. Immediately I began thinking about the different ways black is
classified because the speaker was obviously an African American man. My mind next went to
questioning what Toure could have done to warrant such an accusation. As he continued to elaborate I
thought maybe his vernacular because it was surely losing my interest. Toure came across as a well-
educated African American man which in some circles the exact opposite of a black male. Toure
touched on several different topics that plagued black America but they all were centered on one
message of not letting our blackness define/shape us. After listening to Toure whole speech I found
myself reflecting on the infamous Toure you aint black quote, I realized Toure was saying that being
black should not have a meaning. I began to wonder why did Toure hanging around did whites his
freshman year make him any less black? But then I realized that I myself too had mentally revoked
people black cards for that very reason.
Toure essential message on blackness resonated with me as he told the story of his. My first
sentiment came when he realized at the age of 10 he could never become president. I too remember at
a very young age telling a female cousin that he father lied to her; when he said you can be anything you
want to. I had let my blackness shape me allowing it to dictate the type of career I would be able to
obtain. By limiting myself I had not only let my blackness construct my career path but also the career
path of others, in my opinion thats the reason we need African American studies. European
literature/education has placed upon the African American community a sense of inferiority to its white
counterparts. African American studies also is a necessity to help cultivate young African American
minds.
Toure parents had several different viewpoints from how Toure should conduct himself in public
to the different activities he participated in. In my opinion Toure parents wanted to assimilate in some
ways with white America by embracing things outside the African American norms. Although good I did
not agree with Toure parents view on what I would call assimilation. I believe white and blacks are
different for a reason I wouldnt push my child to try things outside of their culture norms but at the
same time I wouldnt discourage it either. But I did strongly agree with Toures parent on how he should
behave while in public or at school. I was thought always to put your best foot forward because I not
only represented myself when in front of whites but all of African American; especially males. In
conclusion Toure story was captivating to say the least. His childhood filled with several defining
moments that shape his perspective on race in America. Whether it be realizing he could never be
President or that there were certain places throughout his city he wouldnt be accepted. The next
chapter in Toure life was college he learned that who he hung around has a big impact on how people
perceived him.