Thrown Black and Female (Part 1)

When I reflect on who I am I never forget two identifiers. My Black (ness) and my Female (ness).

These two descriptors are are the foundation of how I move through and occupy space, and they set the stage for how others see me and interact with me; whether they do it consciously(thoughtful) or unconsciously (mindless & habitual), I am always seen before I am heard.

What's "Thrown" ?

So why "Thrown Black and Female"? I'll tell you why! I chose this title because it is fitting to describe broadly who I am. This title pays homage to my upbringing where I thought at times of how unfair it was to be thrown into existence (in general), nevermind being a black female in the white mans world.

So what does it mean to be thrown?

Thrown (ness), is the state in which we all find ourselves, from tiny infants, we were "thrown' into existence, to parents we didn't choose, and in a situation we may not like.

I came across this term when studying Phenomenology (a body of philosophy) in university. In this course we studied many philosophers one of which was Heidegger. From his works we practiced using the term "Thrownness", in which he states that we are thrown into Being (capital B being in the sense that we are living, unlike a rock 'being' in the garden).

I have thus adapted the meaning of Thrownness in a way to serve my needs best.

Thrownness: Being (living) in the world, without choice of being there (here in reality) and rolling with the punches.

No one gets to choose to be born, and yet here we are in the world and we must make do with it.

Everyone can relate to this term; Just think of the things that you are and have that you did not have to work for. Throwness is literally your family, race, starting social class and your birth place.

Thrownness humbled me in thwarting off that feeling of 'woe is me', 'life is unfair' pattern of unproductive and self loathing thought, and reconnected me with my humanness. NO human NO person, NO individual chose to be here in this mixed up wild west of a world, it was imposed on them.

After thinking-talking-discussing-writing-thinking through the concepts brought up in that course (and alot others) I have thus reclaimed my femaleness and blackness as being just another way of Being in the world. A Being in the world that had it's own unique set of challenges and ample opportunities to surmount them.

Cheers to us that were thrown and are still kicking, the world is ours to take.

Kelsey