Identity Clash of 2012: Little Bit of Awkward, lotta bit of RACHET!!

In the black community, I’ve noticed that we have two new images of our community in media: the Awkward Nerd and the Supa Rachet. One is more pronounced in the old media circuit (Television) and the other being promoted in the online community. This is exciting yet puzzling all at the same time, so I want to take a moment point it out and comment.

I’ve noticed that since the election of President Barack Obama, blah blah blah, meh meh meh, doe doe doe. That’s always how all of these articles/post things begin when reading about the “Awkward Nerdy” black identity, like it just all of a sudden jumped into our faces and we now realize that not all black people have to militant or gangsta in the wake of Obama. I find it to be a bit patronizing to say that black identity hasn’t been on a change pre-Obama or that it took a mixed brotha with a banging sista to change how we (the black community) see ourselves and society at large see us. I go so far as to say without Dwayne Wayne (A Different World), Steven Quincy Urkel (Family Matters), Carlton Banks (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), Jonathan Rollins (L.A. Law) and The First Black President on TV (West Wing-Dennis Haysbert), we wouldn’t have an Obama archetype (it doesn’t hurt that he’s absolutely amazing and brilliant) and this “black nerd” identity.

With the growth of online social media (Youtube/Vimeo/BlogTV) and a progressive movement by bloggers of color to create their own media outlets ran by and dealing with issues that concern the people of color (This Week In Blackness /Colorlines/ Field Negro) we have seen a varying identities for the black community that haven’t been seen in a long time or some identities that have never been done before. Things like the character “J” on Awkward Black Girl,The creation of Black & Sexy TV (The Couple and Numbers) andUnWritten Rules which display that 80s and 90s middle-class black sitcom but in a 2012 reality.

The characters are awkward, nerdy, non-militant but social aware black folks dealing with everyday situations in a refreshing way. No neck poppin’, lip smacking, man-in-a-dress shenanigans will be seen here (just yet) unless that man happens to identify as a drag queen and/or woman. Rapping will most certainly occur, but in the most overdone, ridiculously HILL-LARRY-US way possible. Shows like the ones listed above tackles how “sensible Negros” (a saying coined by Nerdy Black social commentator/King of “Black Twitter”  Elon James White TWIB ) dealing with the idea of a “post racial society” that isn’t too post, yet open enough to allow for the characters to develop a identity that isn’t immersed the tired stereotypical images of black people being angry baby mommas, clownishly militant activist, drug-dealer-turned rap superstar and the classic crackhead.   We have the new identity and the reigning King and Queen of this Awkward movement are:

(Donald Glover-just being awash in awkward goodness).

These two are well known from personify this invigorating new twist on what it is to be black, young and awkward in this day in age. Donald Glover; a college educated young actor and comedian with a booming rap career, is knowing for delivering amazing awkward dialogue on “Community” and being a writer for “30 Rock.”  30 Rock’s main character Liz Lemon would later go on to inspire the QUEEN of the awkward black Movement;

 (Issa Rae-Queen of the Black Awkward Movement- as the chacter”J”-The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl)

Issa Rae, a Stanford (YES STANFORD!!) graduate, creator of a slew ofYouTube Comedies is said to have been inspired to create the “black” liz lemon after reading on article online about the need for more self-created content for women of color and her desire to create a “black” Liz Lemon. Then, like an awkward black angel kicked out of white Jesus heaven, she comes out with the YouTube sensation “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl” and the rest is YouTube history. Since the breaking of her youtube smash, she has inspired a new legion of awkward, black female driven online media the likes that have never been seen before.

Even with this “new” black identity taking storm online, we as a community are still bombarded with a those ever so obvious stereotypical images of what is now known as “rachetness”.  However, I have also seen the “rachetness” of old turn into something even more outrageous than ever seen within the “black identity” realm that I call the “Supa Rachet”. I’ll detail that in a separate post though…my hands are tired lol. 

Part 2 Here