Who is afraid of post-blackness? Before opening the pages of Touré’s thought provoking book, I did not know the answer to that question. This was the first time I had encountered the term post-blackness, but I quickly learned that this term holds personal and historical value.

Post–blackness is defined as “a more individualized notion of Blackness…where we allow each other latitude, freedom, and the benefit of the doubt” (Touré, 25). Through the rejection of the idea that there is one single notion of Blackness, people are able to formulate their own identities. The term, which was coined by artist Thelma Golden in the late ‘90s, has created a movement; a sort of positive resistance within the Black community.

In the beginning, Touré dives into a first-hand account of his experience with conceptions of Blackness being imposed on him by other people. He describes an instance where he was in a small town in Florida preparing to shoot a video that would document his first sky diving experience. While at lunch with the crew of the television show, three Black men recognized and greeted him. Touré went on to explain to the men why he was in town. They stood there stunned that in less than an hour, a Black man was going to look fear in the eye (because we all know Black men don’t do that, right?) and dive into mid-air. Their collective response: “Brother, Black people don’t do that.” There it goes. There’s the invisible rule. That overarching, unspoken law that a Black person must not break. One must not venture out of the comforts of Blackness and possibly disgrace the race. If the rule is broken, then that individual will never live it down – they will be harshly scolded and reminded of it. The worst part: it is done by other Black people.

Touré’s personal experiences illustrated throughout the book highlighted the differing viewpoints of the conversation of what it means to “act” Black. From a young age, we learn the restrictions of what we can and cannot do to reaffirm our Blackness. Being able to “talk less white” when we are around our Black friends, listening to certain genres of music (Touré loosely states that when he was growing up, listening to hip-hop definitely reaffirmed one’s Blackness), and not taking huge risks are a few rules that we are required to follow. From the time we are born and as we get older, we are put through an authenticity test that reveals just how Black we really are and the areas in which we can improve to seem more Black. This test is yet another divider in the Black community; it pits the “race police” who seek to preserve the race against the ones who attempt to challenge the ingrained notions of Blackness and mold their own identities.

Post-blackness is such a necessity in the modern Black community. As a people that has and always will try to have others shape our identities, it is essential that we do not experience that same oppression from the ones that look exactly like us. Developing a post-black attitude allows for growth and progression. It creates an open, intersectional space where Black people can be comfortable with their multiple identities. Individuality becomes more vivid and identity becomes something that YOU can shape for yourself, not a mask you can wear when you’re not defaming the Black image. Post-blackness gives us free reign to be whoever we want to be, whenever we want to be.