Before any of you jump unto me, let me state that this piece equally applies to white people but since my audience is predominantly black, I will stick with this title.
To get me started, I have considered several meanings of the word ‘insecurity’ with the following being widely accepted;
Insecurity is a feeling of general unease or nervousness that may be triggered by perceiving of oneself to be vulnerable in some way, or a sense of vulnerability or instability which threatens one’s self-image or ego.
An insecure individual has to constantly repeat through words or actions how great or attractive they think they are or how certain they think their position is when clearly they’re not entirely sure about it. They might be trying to convince themselves its all true.
Why Am I Saying We Are Extensively Insecure As Black People?
I am not looking at the sort of insecurities we develop as a result of our relationship with others, these are things we do not have control over.
I am talking about our failure to embrace and accept who we are; which leads us to re-construct ourselves and images in a way we think would be acceptable when we have to be out there.
Skin bleaching is a classic example of this but since we all know about it, I would not waste your time with that. I am considering a common trait of insecurity that we have all bought into, leaving behind our real personalities and images, a fast developing mannerism that we are gradually embracing.
Have you realize that, you can longer see your own friends out of their make-up personality? I can’t remember the last time I saw my best friend without a make-up and I know she can’t even think of when she saw me without one.
Even on a girls’ night in when my best friend is simply coming to spend time with me at home, I rush to cover what only God knows on my face with make-up. I have a perfect spotless face but somehow, I have found myself in being insecure about the real me. I only feel good and presentable (according to my own feeling) when I have muddied my face with make-up.