They Call You Stupid

They call you stupid. That’s the first thing out their mouth the moment a Black American doesn’t fold, doesn’t agree, or doesn’t let somebody talk crazy to us. “You’re stupid.” Not because we’re wrong. Not because we’re uninformed. But because we’re not submissive. And it’s wild how often that insult comes from a certain subset of African immigrants who get mad when we don’t behave the way they think we should. Not all — but enough that it’s a pattern. Enough that it’s a reflex. Enough that it’s a problem.