27 problems we have with THAT video ‪#‎buzzfeedvideoquestions‬

This week, our favourite go-to millennial site, Buzzfeed, shared a video called “27 Questions Black People have for Black People.” Here are 27 thoughts Paula and Imana had since first seeing it:

Probably should’ve been renamed “27 Questions Black People have for Black People but they’re actually really for White People.”
Or in some instances, “27 Questions White People have for Black People but know better than to ask themselves so got Black People to do it.”
“How did watermelon become our thing? Like, everyone should love watermelon?” And everyone can love it babe. If they want to they can eat it, why you making this an issue? It’s not that deep. Watermelon martyr.
“Why are we more likely to engage in the newest dance trend than we are to get involved in politics or opening a business?” Dance moves among young black Americans blow up more visibly because making a video about dabbing is quicker and easier than making a vine about politics. That does not mean the black community are not interested in public affairs. Listen, the last time I checked, we had Rosario Dawson, a black actress supporting Bernie Sanders, while your mate Hillary was doing the Nae Nae for votes.
“Why do we think that people with light skin look better than people with dark skin?” Maybe because in apartheid black people had to pass the paper bag test. Or perhaps because slaves of a lighter complexion got to work in the house and not the fields. Or maybe because skin lightening creams that claim to make you more beautiful are sold by mainstream cosmetic brands? The hateful actions and thoughts of “team light” and “team dark” are the product of a system that worked so hard to make us hate ourselves.
“Why is it a problem if I like Anime?” Choosing between eating and paying rent is a problem. Raven-Symone is a problem. You being a black man and liking Anime doesn’t quite make the list.
“Why is there a checklist for being black?” Girl, where?
“Why do I have to be mixed in order to have long hair?” The misconception that all black people have short kinky hair is on generally made by non-Black people. Next question.
“Why do we call each other the n-word but get vehemently upset when a white person uses the n-word?” Really? I’m so used to hearing this from non-Black people but from another black person? Frankly, if you don’t understand the problem with that question by this point, you probably never will.
“Why is being educated considered a ‘white’ thing?” Do you think this “inferior” status that was forced upon black people was something that they chose? No. This question has been directed at the wrong audience.
“Do you really believe that black is beautiful? Or is that something you say because it sounds cool?” Members of the black community are no strangers to being deemed ugly so now that people are actually choosing self-love, you’re sceptical? Who cares if they’re saying it to be “cool”? I’m just glad they’re saying it.
“Why are we so quick to support a non-black business but hesitate when it’s a black owned business?” I do not know any of my black friends who would not want to support a black-owned business. They are so few and far between that everyone I know would revel in the idea. What black people do you know?
Was talking about anything positive that has emerged from the black community too much of a stretch for you guys?
Why does everyone in this video presume that black people are a monolith? To go back to the case of the n-word, some black people say it and some black people don’t. Some feel that saying it reclaims the word, others don’t. No one needs you policing what is or isn’t empowering to other black individuals.
“Is there a cut-off point to this whole homophobia in the black community?” Homophobia was arguably introduced to Africa through Christianity during colonialism. But I agree for sure, let’s work on it.
“Why is my natural hair, the hair that grows out of my head, seen as a political statement?” Did you not get the memo about assimilation and black women being rejected for having natural kinky hair or protective hairstyles? Yeah, no, me neither.
“Why do some black men only date white women?” Now, everyone is entitled to a preference and most people have one. What we have to question is the motive behind the preference. If a black man feels that black women are inferior then yes, we have a problem.
The tone of the video is supercilious and accusatory. If there was a point to it, it got lost under all the finger-pointing.
“Why can’t we just acknowledge that there are a bunch of different black people walking around and they’re all unique and special in their own way?” This is not new information.
“I love black folks but honestly, that doesn’t mean I don’t have questions.” Questions are fine. Sweeping statements, not so much.
“We constantly look to other races in terms of their success and what they have.” I honestly do not know if there is any other race that celebrates itself more than the black community.
“Why don’t we like to confront our mental health issues?” As a community we have always been described and expected to be strong. These expectations have trickled into our subconscious, and it true that we struggle with mental health problems, although the reasons behind this aren’t necessarily clear.
“Why do you protest Black Lives Matter and then tear each other down in the next breath?” Too far. Don’t compare the murders of black men and women at the hands of the police to Black Twitter spats. Don’t do it, boo.
Also, most of the tearing down seems to be on your end. But that’s none of my business.
“Race aside, some people are just terrible.” This is not a black-specific comment so why is it in this video? Please do not add fuel to the fire of what is a community that already has so much animosity within. And please allow the condescending tone that you think is making your comment sound justified when in fact, it is just hateful.
Who gave this project the green light? How did this video make it all the way from the drawing board to social media without being tossed in the bin?
No but seriously, was this piece written by a white person? Level with me here, Buzzfeed.

Condescending rather than constructive, all we learned from that video was that one of the few things more difficult than fending off racial stereotypes and ignorance is watching individuals from your race regurgitate them.