Token Black Guy Stories: The Wiz of Oz

Ed. Note: This is the first in a series of stories about being a token black guy. Enjoy.

When you’re a token black guy, you get used to conversations like this:

Scene: A “regular” office at an “everyday” e-commerce firm. A conversation strikes up about the original “Wizard of Oz” film. A group of employees are discussing the metaphorical connection between “The Wizard of Oz” and the gold standard, which serves no purpose except for proving that they actually paid attention during US History 101 in college.

Token Black Guy (bored, attempting to divert a conversation that had ridiculously become about returning the gold standard): “You know what’s funny? I never actually saw The Wizard of Oz until I was in (a private) High School.”

Coworkers: “What!??” “I can’t believe it!”, etc.

Surprised “Patriotic” Coworker (Half-Jokingly): “That’s Simply un-American”

TBG: “Well I did see The Wiz at least 100 times when I was younger”

Surprised “Patriotic” Coworker:“What’s The Wiz?”

TBG:“It’s a ‘soul’ take off ‘…Oz’ with Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor, and Diana Ross. It was adapted from a Broadway musical and features songs by Charlie Smalls, Luther Vandross, Quincy Jones, and Ashford & Simpson. If you haven’t heard the song ‘Ease on Down the Road’ or seen the movie, then you’re missing a great piece of American art.”

Surprised “Patriotic” Coworker (tentatively, obviously not wanting to offend me): “I’m not totally sure how I feel about that….”

The Moral of The Story: 

Not everyone grew up wearing out VHS cassettes of “The Wiz”, “Lean on Me”, “Ghost Dad”, “Boys in the Hood”, in addition to all the regular Disney faire. That’s something only black people do. It’s funny to see people’s reactions when they find out that there are (gasp!) distinct cultural discrepancies in the way we entertained ourselves growing up… even “nice” black people like me! Wow! </sarcasm>

Does A Year Make a Difference?

Today marks a year since the last time I’ve posted on #YGBfiles. Although not adding anything new to the ‘files was (1) initially due to a frenetic work schedule, it later became due to (2) unchecked perfectionism, which eventually (3) transitioned into an uninspired state, which later (4) devolved into neglect, then somehow, finally evolved into (5) an exercise in observation (“An observation of what?”, you ask. An observation of life, and check the title of this post).

How to Come Back. (6) is blogging again… hoorah.

Over the last year, I’ve grown a lot and have experienced a lot overall, but I don’t think I’ve experienced or grown enough. Time will be the judge of that. I won’t bore you by regaling you with tales of exactly what happened or what I’ve learned during the last year, but I will say that I sense I’m on the cusp of a personal revolution of sorts, and it will definitely influence what will be printed here. So world be prepared, I have a chock full of ideas, a hand full of typing power, and a head full of steam. And strong black coffee.

My “Black Coffee”…In Reality I’m More of a Tea Man Myself