March 8th, 2017 was just like any other Wednesday. I woke up, got ready, put my music in, danced to class, listened to my ECON professor lecture about the economic cycle, and got some food. At some point during the afternoon, I decided to go and get my hair cut at the Royal Cuts on 480 South Hamilton(48197, for anyone wondering). I walked in, sat down, and started reading a magazine. Per the usual, people inside the barbershop got to talking. I don't remember the entire conversation, but at some point, the topic switched to the Oscar-winning movie "Moonlight". The barber, Ismail Abdul-Aziz, loudly and emphatically exclaimed, "That movie? That's a f*ggot-ass movie!"
My heart sunk in my chest when I heard that. Unfortunately, it only got worse. I don't recall the rest of the conversation, but the bigoted, homophobic tenor of the conversation shook me to my core. Upon telling friends about this encounter, most of them said something along the lines of "Trump's America."
The sad and sobering reality? Homophobic sentiments go unchecked far too often in the black community. When Atlanta rapper iLoveMakonnen came out earlier this year, the reaction was overwhelmingly positive. One notable exception came from the popular rap trio Migos. They released a clarification of their previous homophobic statement, but they would later make another problematic statement, erasing any goodwill they might have built up with their "apology."
Honestly, it makes no sense to me. Members of the black community should understand what not being accepted by the majority of society feels like...because they deal with it every day. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. If we really want equality for everyone, we must strive towards having equality for everyone. That includes checking people when they make bigoted statements of any kind.
To my fellow members of the black community, I ask: Please call people out when you hear homophobia. While homophobic comments might not seem like much to non-LGBTQA folk, members of that community live in a society where their lives and rights are under attack, just like the rights of black people in America.
There's one other thing I must acknowledge: There are many black people in the LGBTQA community. You can't be pro-Black and anti-LGBTQA at the same time and claim to love the aforementioned black LGBTQA people. Their sexuality/gender is part of their identity. You can't pick and choose which parts of people you love. If you hate the gay part of them, then you hate them.
Don't support homophobic businesses. Spending your money at these establishments only works to spread bigotry. If we really want equality for everyone, we must strive towards having equality for everyone. While eviscerating bigotry takes work, it is necessary work. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
