Hello, before I start this, I need to let you know that I have moderate dyslexia so you may see an error capitalization, a misspelling or just something that you’re like… Huh? I do the best that I can to proofread, but it’s just me. I don’t have a staff. My eyes sometimes just don’t see some things. I will reread it four or five times and will only see the mistake on the seventh time so I apologize in advance, but please enjoy.
Black & Ginger Fest: The concept is simple and the theory was that gingers/redheads are the Black people of white people. It was sort of said tongue and cheek, but the truth is, it’s really about our shared similarities -about how people with red hair or also referred to as gingers are picked on, bullied, ridiculed, marginalized, and othered, solely based on what they look like, which is similar to what it is like to be a black person in America.. The similarities between what Black people experience and gingers experience were astounding.
When I posted this video, I had no idea what to expect. To be clear there’s a big difference people who were bullied based on their appearance and Black people who have who have endured 400 years of slavery, a century of civil rights fights, segregation, profiling, DEI blame and more. We could focus on that… Or… We could focus on how we are the same and connect over it. And that’s what I plan to do.
So, let’s put politics aside, arguments aside and really focus on our similarities. I had no idea that some of the same things white people said to me about my skin about my hair, etc., are the exact same things said to gingers. And if it wasn’t the same thing, it was definitely equally as painful.
Thousands of people shared their stories on my TikTok - thousands of redheads and gingers opened up about their childhood and even adulthood, trauma and pain just because of the color of their hair, the freckles on their face and the paleness of their skin. Some people cried and said they have never felt so seen or more welcomed, and it was such a beautiful thing. I thought we need to seize the moment and create an event about this and embrace the unity we all feel in this moment. We need unity in this moment. With everything that’s going on in this country and how divided we are. We all do.
So no gingers are not Black people, but that’s not the point the point is we are more alike than we are different and we should celebrate that.
So let’s! I’m an event producer by trade and I am going to plan the first ever Black & Ginger Fest. I envisioned an event that celebrates this unique phenomenon, but includes everyone. We can have hip-hop music, bagpipes, folk, music, and rap. We can dance we can have TED talk style speeches, share stories, eat drink, and be marry. I think we can create a one-of-a-kind event. I know I can do this. That is my specialty. I create unique experiences.
It will probably take me a year maybe a year and a half or two but I will get it done.
So please follow my Substack for updates and information. Please feel free to share what you would like from this event. This is our event. We will create it together. And for the record, everyone is welcome -no matter your hair color, no matter your skin color, no matter what. If you have kindness and decency in your heart, you, are, welcome, here. 🫶🏾
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