Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America

Joni gets a college acceptance letter from Spelman College, a historically Black college (HBCU). She has not told her parents about the letter, partially because she does not understand herself why she wants to go, and partially because her wealthy parents would want her to attend a more prestigious school.

Joni’s parents then reveal to Joni and her brother, Ellis, that they are going to Missouri to visit Joni’s grandmother for her 80th birthday party. Joni remembers their last trip to Missouri when she was 12, during which she was relentlessly made fun of by her cousins for how she talked, the music she listened to, and many other aspects of their lives. In particular, her cousin Junior called her an “Oreo” for loving musicals, but not the ones about people of color.

At dinner the first night at her grandmother’s house, Ellis blurts out to the family that Joni got into Spelman. Her father is surprised and begins asking her if it is the best education she can get. Joni’s Uncle Marcus, her mother’s brother, gets offended, questioning what Joni’s father said, but her aunt breaks up the fight before it begins.

Junior is cold toward Joni the entire time, giving her attitude and generally avoiding her. Eventually, Junior’s sister, Della, brings up the subject to Joni. She reveals that her father, Marcus, has issues with Joni’s mother leaving their family and going to Chicago, living in a suburb instead of the actual city. He talks about how “bougie” it is that they have a nanny and live in an area with so many white people. Della tells Joni that Junior “parrots” these thoughts and that is why he comes off as hostile toward Joni.

Joni finds Junior in the kitchen and confronts him about calling her an “Oreo” years ago. Junior explains that he was annoyed at her for repeatedly talking about how small their town is, how there is no nanny, and how no one would want to live there. He tells her that people like him enjoy living there and want to stay. Although Joni does not remember saying these things, she apologizes.

The two compare their situations, with Joni expressing the desire to be comfortable around her family as she is so rarely around other people of color. Similarly, Junior explains that he always hears people insulting his rural life in Missouri but that he wants to be there and wishes Joni could understand that. The two realize that they have similar issues going on underneath the surface and apologize to each other.