The harsh truth is that 'respectability' is the exorbitant tax we African Americans are forced to pay daily as we try to live out our versions of the American Dream.
Jonathan CapehartRead
Isn't it sad that really the only times I feel seen as an American are when I'm abroad? I'm not saying racism doesn't exist outside of the United States. What I am saying is that the rest of the world can see that I'm American. Why is it so hard for so many White Americans?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the author's feelings about identity and recognition while traveling abroad.
Jonathan Capehart expresses a sense of sadness over the way his identity as an American is acknowledged primarily in international settings rather than at home. He suggests that while awareness of racism exists globally, the awareness of one's nationality is more pronounced outside the United States, prompting him to question why this recognition is challenging for many White Americans in their own country.
Themes
IdentityNationalityRecognitionRacismOverseasAmerican
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about cultural identity, one might reference this quote to highlight the complexity of American identity abroad.
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When you're Black in the United States, you grudgingly grow accustomed to having people deny that your existence is integral to everything that makes this country what it is.
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There are still too many instances of police neither protecting nor serving LGBTQ and other marginalized communities. But the response shouldn't be to ban LGBTQ police from a parade.
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Scapegoating is as American as apple pie. And because there's almost always a racial or ethnic dynamic to it in our country, scapegoating is the evil cousin of white supremacy.
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When you're Black in America, you spend a lot of time counting firsts. The higher the first, the more we marvel (and shake our heads at how long it took to happen.) The higher the first, the more the person who achieved it comes to represent how we want the nation to see us.
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