The voice of clarity is not to be taken lightly as an African American, especially considering that African Americans naturally have the connotation of being angry and unable to portray calm emotions, and this notion dates back to Jim Crow and every other Civil Rights movement that happened after. Unfortunately, the word black or African American is deemed to come with an attitude of anger and misunderstanding, which in reality is not the case of every black person’s demeanor.

When it comes to being honest and open, people often think that they have to overpower the other person’s tone to exhibit their true emotions. This notion is false because you’re only displaying anger, a lack of communication, and an inability to control your emotions. Racism is a topic that is often fueled with emotion and outright fury due to the pure injustice of the issue.

When you want to speak clearly and be heard, it is about control; this is so that you can articulate your words and thoughts beyond your bias and emotion. Honesty and opinion are not linear or parallel; they require two different styles of reasoning. When someone speaks about their opinions, the statements are usually loaded with passion, which often comes off as dismissive to others’ points of view. Although this act may be unintentional, it usually takes away from the speaker and their voice of clarity, as well as their reasoning in general.

While speaking of race, it becomes difficult to enter the conversation without bias or assumptions. This is what makes conversations and debates about race strenuous and burdensome. Immediately upon venturing into the topic of race, there are undertones and word choices that must be avoided to steer clear of inciting the wrong sentiment from the person you are engaging in conversation with at the time. 

The truth and your truth can be synonymous, but they can also include flaws and biases, just as in history. No narrative contains only the facts; there is always some form of personal bias and narrative presented. The way one person recounts an event and the emotions caused will never be synonymous with the other people involved.

Discussing racism, in general, warrants the speakers to know consciously they are entering a space of difficult dialogue. Naturally, when speaking of race, you are speaking of an objective that no one can control, but for centuries, people with lighter skin have felt like their skin color has made them entitled. This objectivity alone can feel threatening. 

The unfortunate part is when you want to speak in a clear voice and walk in your path of clarity and truth, you have to be unapologetic about your viewpoint and be willing to back it up with facts. When you are able to back up your opinions and stance with facts, it is clear that you have done the work to speak in a clear, reputable voice and stature. In clarity and in reality, it involves truth, accountability, and realization of self. If you are not clear in your thoughts and your perceptions of yourself, how can you be clear in your perception of others?