“Most Young Kings Get Their Heads Cut Off”- Jean Michel Basquiat- This quote is taken from one of the most prolific artists of our generation. There are many translations to this quote but personally, I see it as a representation of the pressure that Basquiat felt by the media and society. As a Black man, the expectations of him were greater. He had to work harder and be better than his White counterparts in the art world. However, once he was at the pinnacle of his career, his art celebrated by fans all over the world, there was even more people who wanted to see him fail. It seems as if, once he reached a high point of success, on-lookers were glaring, thirsting for his decline from the same throne they placed him at and would be willing to assist in his downfall.
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This may be a stretch for some to agree with but often, I think that this quote can directly apply to Black women as well. We are expected to be the best that we can be. To use the talent and drive that God has blessed us with. We are told and expected to behave as though we are equals to our male counterparts. We are expected not only to handle it, but to master it as well. We are expected to aim for the best in our careers and at the same time, not to make our men feel emasculated or ignored. We are expected to be the masterminds behind our lives and still adhere to whatever limitations society has decided that we should still co-exist within. Once we feel we are doing the best we can at this alpha male led society, we are, similar to Basquiat’s position, dragged down by the very same individuals who expressed the high expectations from us. That we still should know our place and dare we step outside of that place and challenge them, off with her head!
Some Black men even fall into this empowerment Indian-giving pattern as well. Let us not for any reason, not even for a second, forget who gave us permission to be the best version of ourselves. Let us not ever question their authority either. We must give them thanks and humble respect for all of our days or else, we are seen as trouble makers, a Jezebel, a harlot, a bitch, a battle-ax, and any other term that lends itself to a negative portrayal of women.
This is quite a conundrum that society has placed Black women in. While finally creating these freedoms for us in the workplace, home, and in life in general, we are constantly muffled and reminded that we STILL are subordinate to their very presence and authority. For instance, after years of being told that we are not as good as our female White counterparts we are finally finding a sense of self. Yet, we are still told that we are not as pretty. That we will never be as good as those who actualized this power for us. That although we are expected to think for ourselves, we are not allowed to question their determinations for us. That we should be humble and grateful that we were even afforded these opportunities of success and not forever banished to a kitchen, child on hip, barefoot. We are expected to remember that we are unlimited creatures with limitations.
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I find myself, as a young, college educated, Black women, becoming frustrated with the expectations of not just some men, but society as a whole. So, you want to me to excel, and be the best version of myself, but to be willing to give it all up in order to keep a man and a baby? You want me to succeed but to never question a male’s authority or make him feel devalued in some way or else all hell will break loose.You expect me to be strong, driven, and determined but to have to do it all with a constant smile on my face or else be labeled a Black bitch. You expect me to be married by a certain age but I must also have a banging career that I have devoted my life to up until that point and to be willing to drop EVERYTHING once a man decides he will have me and devote my entire life to only him. You expect me to feel as though I am just as beautiful as White women but only if I change these certain things about myself. Often times, the same things that White women will pay millions of dollars to have cosmetically installed on their bodies.
Where is the balance? The same balance that is afforded to men in society? Men are not asked to give up their dreams and hopes in order to have a family and career? In fact, they are expected to manage both. Black men are not made to feel that they are not as attractive as White men. In fact, it is quite the opposite. There are people who are purposely setting about finding any information that they can pass off as facts to devalue Black women even further in society. This is why I have empathy for the confusion, frustration and anger that the artist Basquiat must have eternally felt while he was alive. Although he was doing what he thought was asked of him. Excelling at his art, his spirit was constantly being decapitated. He was constantly being assigned a level of self worth by society instead of being allowed to assess his own. He was expected to be the best and to aim the highest but never to cross those who opened the doors for him, even if they were mistreating him or else face his doom. He was expected to be a King but to be willing to bow down to those who presumed they were somehow better than him.
Perhaps the same quote can be applied now over 20 years later to describe the plight of Black women as well. We are expected to not only accept the limitations that are placed on us but to damn near celebrate them or else be attacked. Most young Queen get their heads cut off.
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