Navigating White Spaces: A Helpful Guide for Young Black Creatives

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If you're from the suburbs and reached out to local workshops or camps for art, chances are, you’ve encountered Weird White People. From my own experiences, these spaces can be intimidating and lonely, more so than any other space where I'm the only person of color. I know the feeling of anxious excitement all too well: obsessing over the new skills I hope to learn, imagining the cool people who may be there, rehearsing conversations filled with references only true art hoes would know. But, that soaring optimism loses a wing and hurdles towards Earth when my eyes are greeted by WWP (Weird White People) who identify as wolves and plants. They’re magnetized to the same creative spaces I go to for guidance on my craft and it's disappointing, but very manageable at this point. If after striking up conversation no connection with WWP can be sensed in your near future,  here are 10 tips to help you stay on your creative grind when there's no brothas or sistas in sight:

1) Well, looks like you're the only person of color, making you the coolest one there.



2) Do like Beyoncé and remember you got Me, Myself, And I. Ultimately, you’re there for the experience and knowledge gain. Look at this isolation as a way to focus on the tasks at hand. If you’re content with yourself, nothing will be able to distract you.



3) NO, BECKY CANNOT TOUCH YOUR HAIR.



4) As one of few -- or most times, only -- black people in the room, it can be very discouraging when your input is dismissed or looked over. Be persistent, you have something wonderful to contribute. Don’t let them do you like that.



5) When relating seems impossible, bring the topics of discussion back to the reason why you’re all here: Creating. Even under that Turn Around And Die exterior, there’s something that only wants to express itself.



6) You don’t have to perform for them. If the joke’s not that funny, don’t laugh so hard. If you’re drained from acting like you watch Friends, just take five. Sometimes being an unfriendly Black hottie is good for your sanity.



7) BE UNAPOLOGETICALLY BLACK (and do so in a way that’s authentic to you)! If you like to write or make art about Black things, you betta make that art! Too many times we suppress the pride we have in our identities for the comfort of others. Billy and Becky aren’t ashamed of their poems about cigarettes and fingertips, so why should you be ashamed about the poem you wrote about baby hair and afros?



8) When the days get long and you’re tired of being overlooked, remember: This too shall pass. Just like how you got through the first day, the second day will end too, so on and so forth.



9) If all else fails, text in your squad’s group chat about the things that make you say “White people…” Finding the humor in this will only make it more enjoyable, plus you’ll give your friends a good laugh also.




10) Lastly, know you’re there for a reason. The objective while in that space is to learn how to use your gifts, and who knows, this unfortunate situation might be the muse you needed for a piece of work. You're lit whether or not they see it, so keep your beautiful head up, young black creatives.




Written by Brooks Welch (@br0okz on Twitter)
Edited by Tamia (@cyberbbluv on Twitter) 

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