Melanin Mondays – Growing up black in suburban America
Knight Crier staff writer reflects on challenges she faced growing up in suburban PA
Courtney Rowland pauses for a picture with her brother Jason. Courtney is a senior at NPHS, and Jason is a 2015 grad now attending University of Michigan on a scholarship.
It wasn’t until my early childhood years, that I became exposed to the true realities of racism. Born and raised in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania — a suburb of Philadelphia, a heavily populated area, dominated by white folk. It was here, I spent class time learning about Benjamin Franklin, John D Rockefeller, and Richard Nixon, while icons such as Sojourner Truth, Nat Turner, and Harriet Beecher Stowe seemed often swept under the rug.
During my younger years, it slowly became clearer, and clearer, that a level playing field, simply was not an option for someone like me– a black privileged youth. An innocent game of I spy with my little eye turned awry. Me, along with my other classmates were casually calling out objects and colors and playing like little girls should, when my good friend proclaimed “I spy with my little eye something that is brown!” everyone paused and looked at me “Courtney!” they howled in hysteria, while I, a young black girl unaware of the racial breakdowns that surrounded me stood confused.
I spent my summer days traveling the world with my grandparents, a luxury, surprising to most, that I, a child of color, could have. Places like Haiti, Turks and Caicos, and Cozumel, were typical vacation spots for me and my family. I also spent an abundance of time at the Miles River Yacht club, and out boating with my grandparents. It was here, I was questioned while sitting on a dock admiring the pretty boats, “Do you belong here? No trespassers!” Was this because I was black? Yes. Inevitably, I started to make the connection of my skin color, to my success in modern day America.
Another common issue I face during my daily life is the unbelievable, jaw dropping success of my family. My brother, upon acceptance to University of Michigan– ranked #4 for top public universities by the US News, believe it or not, didn’t get a scholarship for basketball, football or any other sport for that matter. He, out of his whole graduating class, was the only one to receive an acceptance letter, and gained entry because of pure academic excellence and for excelling in his studies. But man, if i had a nickel for every time someone asked me if he was in school for basketball, I’d be a trillionaire.
I wish I could tell you that as I got older things got better, and to this day, the strong seventeen-year-old black young woman I am today, I am still having issues with being confident in my own melanin filled skin. It’s hard being surrounded by people who are different than you, but that is what makes us all beautiful, for if everyone were the same the world would be a boring place.
If you are a young, black reader, I would like to leave you with this, people are always going to say or do things, racially speaking that are unfair, but no one is superior or inferior to you, everyone breathes the same air, and everyone is entitled to the same things that you are/ You’re just as important as the person who sits next to you in class, your sister or brother, or some random stranger. Color does not define us, character does.
Nafisah Haque • Oct 22, 2016 at 9:02 pm
Hey,
I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been through the same experiences as you have, speaking as a South Asian girl who was born and raised in Hatfield, PA, and that you shouldn’t worry about others misunderstanding your article. I completely get what you mean by an uneven playing field, because although it seems like we have equal opportunities and our families are economically stable, it’s the stereotypes that surround our successes that are categorized as racist.
When you were reprimanded on the boating dock, you personally felt attacked for your race because there seemed to be no other reason you could be accused of trespassing. I’ve been in such situations before, where people assume the worst things about me, like an inability to speak English. No one needs to explicitly say, “I’m accusing you of something because of your race.” As a POC, it becomes pretty obvious what’s being said in between the lines, so to speak.
People assumed your brother’s success because of stereotypes applied to African Americans. That is a fact. This is evidence enough to support your claims of racism in Montgomery County. Is it not because of racist stereotypes if someone asks an Asian boy if he got into Columbia because of being good at math? Is it not because of racist stereotypes if someone is surprised that a white person can dance?
No, we can’t assume everything. But previous experiences and obvious clues of prejudice are enough for a POC to recognize racism, even if it wasn’t explicitly said.
I read the other comments, including what your grandma wrote and I think it was very brave and smart of you to take action against the racism you faced at the boating dock. I hope I can do as much for fighting racism in suburban Montgomery County as you already have. Don’t let cries of reverse racism or anyone undermining your personal anecdotes of racism that you have encountered discourage you from speaking out. This article was awesome and eye opening. Keep up your writing and speak louder!
Connor • Oct 27, 2016 at 6:21 am
“As a POC, it becomes pretty obvious what’s being said in between the lines, so to speak.”
My apologies, I wasn’t aware that people who have different skin colors than white people have some sort of special ability to detect what a person’s intentions are.
“People assumed your brother’s success because of stereotypes applied to African Americans. That is a fact.”
If this is a fact, do you have any evidence to support it? Or are you just going to say that because you are a POC, you just know that this is a fact because reasons.
I also don’t recall ever claiming that there is such a thing as reverse racism, nor did the other commenter. Of course there’s no such thing as reverse racism. There’s only racism. You also seem to be assuming my race, (Yes, I’m aware that the other commenter said he was white), which is somewhat prejudiced of you, is it not? I am not, however, going to tell you my race, because that does not matter in this discussion whatsoever.
Also, please explain to me how the term “Person of Color” is different from “Colored Person”. I honestly don’t understand what the difference between the two are.
Nafisah Haque • Oct 29, 2016 at 10:12 pm
When one is attacked frequently for one’s race, it unfortunately becomes easier to discern what is coming from a place of hate and racism and what’s not. That’s a fact backed by evidence called experience.
Also, this was an opinion piece based on Courtney’s personal struggles and anecdotes of racism, and how what she and many others percieved as racism affects her.
Lastly, I’m not sure if I clicked the wrong button or something, but I meant my first comment to be a response to Courtney’s article directed towards her only, not as a rebuttal or criticism of your or any others’ comments.
Thanks,
Nafisah
Connor • Oct 30, 2016 at 7:23 pm
I don’t feel the need to continue this further, but I would like to point out that you said “you shouldn’t worry about others misunderstanding your article”. Clearly this message is not just talking about her.
You then claimed that other people were “undermining” her personal anecdotes of racism, something that she never mentioned in her article, so obviously you were mentioning the comments.
There’s already enough racism, hate, and prejudice in this world. There is no need to assume that someone is racist in situations like these. Give them the benefit of the doubt, and don’t assume they only have reprimanded you because of your race. Because if you do assume things like that, and their intentions really were unbiased, then all you’ve done is spawned even more prejudice.
“If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will.”
-Abraham Lincoln
Connor • Oct 16, 2016 at 4:01 pm
While I admire your style of writing and telling stories, I don’t believe any of this is indicative evidence of racism, nor evidence of a lack of a “Level playing field”.
You are correct in saying that Montgomery County does have a higher population of white people- according to the 2015 census, 76.6%(1) of the population identified as white (Excluding Hispanic and Latino). However, I don’t really think this means that white people “Dominate” the county, and I also think the use of that term is kind of vitriolic in this context.
“It was here, I spent class time learning about Benjamin Franklin, John D Rockefeller, and Richard Nixon, while icons such as Sojourner Truth, Nat Turner, and Harriet Beecher Stowe seemed often swept under the rug.”
I don’t know what history classes you had, but I actually do remember learning a lot about these people. We also learned a lot about Martin Luther King, Harriet Tubman, and if you took WHAP you spent entire units learning about African kingdoms.
“During my younger years, it slowly became clearer, and clearer, that a level playing field, simply was not an option for someone like me– a black privileged youth… my good friend proclaimed “I spy with my little eye something that is brown!” everyone paused and looked at me “Courtney!” they howled in hysteria, while I, a young black girl unaware of the racial breakdowns that surrounded me stood confused.”
I don’t understand how this is evidence of the absence of a “Level playing field”. It’s unfortunate that your classmates would tease you like that, yes, but I seriously doubt that they had any more of an idea of what “Racial breakdowns” were than you did at the time. If they didn’t let you play with them, or if you were treated unfairly during games you played with them, I would agree that that is not fair at all.
“I spent my summer days traveling the world with my grandparents, a luxury, surprising to most, that I, a child of color, could have.”
How is it that you can claim to not have a level playing field when you are in a higher class than the vast majority of the United States? If anything, this puts you at a huge advantage compared to everyone else, no matter what color their skin is. If you come from a wealthy family, which I am going to assume you do considering what you’ve described, you certainly aren’t on a level playing field with the over 45 million(2) Americans (Of all races) who receive food stamps.
“I also spent an abundance of time at the Miles River Yacht club, and out boating with my grandparents.”
The Miles River Yacht Club is in Saint Michaels, Maryland (3). However, at the beginning of your article you write: “Born and raised in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania – a suburb of Philadelphia, a heavily populated area, dominated by white folk”. I’m not accusing you of lying or anything, but it’s kind of misleading. When you write that as your introduction, the reader is probably going to assume all of these experiences occurred in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
“It was here, I was questioned while sitting on a dock admiring the pretty boats, “Do you belong here? No trespassers!” Was this because I was black? Yes.”
How did you know this was because you were black? Did he/she say anything indicative of that? You can’t just assume someone’s intent like that. Unless he specifically said that he believed you were trespassing because of your race, there’s no real evidence whatsoever that race motivated him/her. Have you considered the fact that you were young, and left unattended on a boat dock?
“Another common issue I face during my daily life is the unbelievable, jaw dropping success of my family.”
Is this supposed to be ironic? I don’t understand this sentence at all. Am I missing something here?
“My brother, upon acceptance to University of Michigan– ranked #4 for top public universities by the US News, believe it or not, didn’t get a scholarship for basketball, football or any other sport for that matter… But man, if i had a nickel for every time someone asked me if he was in school for basketball, I’d be a trillionaire.”
Did your brother happen to play basketball? He appears to be pretty tall in that picture. Once again, you’re assuming someone’s intent here. Unless you’re a mind reader, or the person asking specifically stated race in their question, you CANNOT assume what someone was thinking when they ask something like that. Please provide evidence that race was a factor in these peoples’ questions.
“He, out of his whole graduating class, was the only one to receive an acceptance letter, and gained entry because of pure academic excellence and for excelling in his studies.”
I congratulate your brother on this awesome achievement. Isn’t this evidence, however, that we are on a level playing field? After all, your brother was accepted into that University based on merit alone- not because he was black or white.
Also, considering that fact that colleges will take race into account when looking at admission factors* (4), and many organizations such as the UNCF (United Negro College Fund) provide scholarship opportunities directed at African American students(5), one could easily argue that black people actually have a much higher chance of being accepted into colleges, as well as getting scholarships. How is that a level playing field?
*Please note: I am in no way trying to claim or imply your brother was an example of this process.
“I wish I could tell you that as I got older things got better, and to this day, the strong seventeen-year-old black young woman I am today, I am still having issues with being confident in my own melanin filled skin.”
I understand what you’re trying to say here. However, everyone has “Melanin filled skin”. They also have melanin filled eyes, hair, ears, and even brains. Melanin doesn’t just determine skin color, it determines these things as well, some of which have nothing to do with skin. Different types of melanin have different effects on one’s body, and “Melanin” is an umbrella term to describe all of these types. Neuromelanin, for example, is found in the brain. “Phenomelanin” provides pink and red colors, and is found in red haired individuals. Eumelanin, which is what you’re describing, not only determines skin color, but hair color as well. People with black hair have large amounts of eumelanin, hence why most black people have black hair. White people can also have large amounts of eumelanin, hence why there are white people with black hair. I’ll provide a link to a really interesting article about it below (6).
I really do enjoy your style of writing, and I encourage you to continue doing so. However, I would appreciate it if you provided more evidence and citations for your claims when you write articles like this. Providing links to studies and articles would make your claims much more convincing, rather than relying on anecdotal evidence alone.
1: http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/42091
2: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-03/food-stamps-still-feed-one-in-seven-americans-despite-recovery
3: http://www.milesriveryc.org/
4. http://www.civilrights.org/resources/civilrights101/affirmaction.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/
5. https://www.uncf.org/about
6. http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Melanin.aspx
Colin O'Brien • Oct 14, 2016 at 11:31 am
This isn’t racism. If I was 10 years old and sitting near an unattended yacht I would probably be asked the same thing. How can you cry racism then turn around and enjoy expensive cruises and vacations? I’ve never been on a yacht or traveled outside of the US, is it because I’m white? If you really were experiencing racism, you wouldn’t be allowed the opportunity to do such things in the first place.
Courtney • Oct 14, 2016 at 3:28 pm
Hello, I do apologize for you’re lack of understand of my article, my point was not to upset you, but to reflect on MY experiences, I am sorry that your lack of childhood experiences causes you to feel this way. Why on earth would you not leave the US because you’re white? Also, I am talking about a level playing field, not as you stated “racism.” Hope this cleared things up.
Connor • Oct 16, 2016 at 2:24 pm
Actually, your very first sentence was “It wasn’t until my early childhood years, that I became exposed to the true realities of racism”.
Colin O'Brien • Oct 17, 2016 at 11:04 am
First off it is “lack of understanding” not lack of understand. It’s always good to spellcheck especially when you’re supposed to be a writer. Secondly this wasn’t a criticism of your character, your writing, or you as a person. It was simply a criticism of the evidence, or lack thereof. I simply don’t understand how you claim to stand for a level playing field but list ZERO examples of how the “playing field” is uneven to begin with. Also those were not my childhood examples I was giving examples of how your arguments do not make sense. You did talk about how this was in relation to racism, and I simply fail to see how someone asking if you belong at a yacht club comparable to the racial profiling people suffer under even today. Thanks for replying, keep up the writing!
Brian Haley • Oct 11, 2016 at 8:38 pm
That is an awesome story young lady. I am honored to have had a chance to read your story. As an old white Montco suburbanite, I too spent my youth blissfully unaware of racial differences. I had the fortune, like yourself, of growing up in a positive household with parents who never looked at skin color. I am not saying that I am perfect by any stretch of the matter. Most suburban white adults would never admit to having a racist bone in their bodies, but racism still underlies most of life in the burbs. When I was a youth, my grandmother was overtly racist. She did not like or trust people of color. She did not want my brother and I playing with African American kids from the neighborhood. When I asked my mother what was wrong with grandma, her reply was loving but fair. She said that grandma came from a different generation and this was all they knew. Then she told me to treat everyone like I wanted them to treat me. I learned respect from my parents. We can still see that the issue of race is still smoldering in the 21st century. I had hoped that this issue would be put to bed when in my younger days. Fortunately, we have the next generation of role models coming through our education system. You will be one of those role models. Control what you can control and treat everyone as you would have them treat you. It was sound advice in 1970 and still is today Good luck as you move onto college life.
Constance Atkin • Oct 11, 2016 at 5:00 pm
Courtney, as your grandmother, I’m very proud of you. Your writings have always made me proud.
Thank you for mentioning the great times you’ve had on trips with us. It was fun exposing you to new and different environments. The cruises, horseback riding , swimming classes and nice dinners were as much fun for us as it was for you.
I remember the unfortunate hurt you felt when you were challenged at our yacht club. It hurt us all. The apology we demanded changed a lot of people at the club. The yacht club sent letters out to every member stating that the incident was unacceptable . The emotional healing took some time. YOU helped to change things because, as a ten year old, knew it was wrong and you reported it to us.
We have taught you love and respect for ALL, and for the most part, that is what you have received in return.
We love you and we’re very proud of this article
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