What Does Not a Monolith Mean?

Hello friends,

You’ll often hear Black people and people who face isms say “we are not a monolith”, but what exactly do we mean by that? For me, it's about recognising that there can still be individuality in spite of sharing aspects of identity and culture. Way back in 2020, I shared 30 things that did not apply universally to Black people. Now it's time to add 12 more to the list.

Not all Black people have enslaved ancestors. There are plenty of people from African countries where that wasn’t a factor (though many, many of those suffered the oppression of colonialism.) 

Not all Black people with enslaved ancestors are from the USA. Enslavement happened throughout the Americas, and the descendants of enslaved Africans are in many different countries and speak many different languages. (Yes, I've mentioned this before, but there's some additional context this time round.)

Not all Black people live in white majority countries. The Global South is large and diverse, and Black people are part of People of the Global Majority.

Not all Black people grew up in white majority countries even if they live there now. That probably means that for some or all of their lives, they’ve avoided being stopped, searched, locked up or killed because of the racism that targets the colour of their skin. 

Not all Black people experience colorism in the same way. There can be a world of difference between anti-Blackness and light skin privilege. Skin shade can effect everything from the perception of beauty to access to opportunities and whether they are considered safe or threatening.

Not all Black people follow the same religion, or any at all. There are Black Jewish people, Black Muslims, Black atheists and many more. 

Not all Black people who "look Black" consider that their primary identity, and many have intersectional identities. There are Black gay people, Black trans people, Black Disabled people, Black nonbinary people, Black Autistic people, Black neurodivergent people etc etc. And being Black and gay in some parts of the Caribbean is a whole different experience from being Black and gay in NYC or California and not in a good way.

Not all Black people who DO consider that their primary identity "look Black". Deal with it.

Not all Black people have only Black friends - some do, by choice or opportunity.

Not all Black people have only Black family. There are plenty of us interracial couples around with biracial or multiracial children and family members. 

Not all Black people like "Black" music and liking "white" music doesn't make us less Black, despite what some would say.

Not all Black people are poor, criminal, addicted, uneducated despite the real systemic obstacles they (we) face in many countries. As Maya Angelou said, despite all of this, still we rise. Not all Black people are Oprah either. (Again, this is worth repeating).

This is not to divide us, simply to acknowledge that though Black people have a lot in common our day to day realities may be different. Black identity can be very simple or super complicated depending on a person's upbringing, family situation, cultural reference points, self-awareness and more,

And for would be anti-racism advocates or accomplices, that's a crucial understanding to avoid doing inadvertent harm. Instead of seeing us and making assumptions, get to know us as individuals, hear our stories, and learn about our experiences. 

Finally, some Black people may disagree with me about some of these points, and that’s ok, because we are definitely not a monolith. So remember, not all Black people...

What would you add?

Thanks for reading,

Sharon

Note: poll feedback is private - if you’re happy to share your thoughts in public, then please also leave a comment.

I am an anti-racism educator and activist, the author of “I’m Tired of Racism”, and co-host of The Introvert Sisters podcast.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2024. All Rights Reserved. This newsletter is published on beehiiv (affiliate link).