What is Black? 8News viewers discuss race, identity and resilience

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A recent 8News panel discussion featured an exploration of the rich and varied African diaspora within America's melting pot. Black Americans have different roots and arrivals to our country -- so 8News is asking our viewers who identify as Black if and how that shapes them. Panelists were given a statement and asked to step forward into sections labeled agree, disagree and neutral to showcase their stance. Then, discussion followed. Anita Nadal (Photo: Lindsey West; Graphics: Dixon Johnston and Seth Turnage)Candra Parker (Photo: Lindsey West; Graphics: Dixon Johnston and Seth Turnage)Curtis E. Hall II (Photo: Lindsey West; Graphics: Dixon Johnston and Seth Turnage)Dwayne Hicks (Photo: Lindsey West; Graphics: Dixon Johnston and Seth Turnage)Jacquelyn Kidd (Photo: Lindsey West; Graphics: Dixon Johnston and Seth Turnage)Jaylen Anderson (Photo: Lindsey West; Graphics: Dixon Johnston and Seth Turnage) I am Black. All panelists stepped to the "agree" section. "I was born in 1941 as a Colored female. I became Negro when the Supreme Court passed the Brown v. Board. In the sixties, I became Black and then in the eighties, I became African American," Jacquelyn Kidd said. Jaylen Anderson, the youngest panel participant at 29 years old, said being Black is part of an experience, "whether they're American, whether they're Jamaican and whether they're German." Race is central to my identity. One panelists stepped into the "disagree" section. Three panelists stood in the "neutral" section. Two panelists stepped toward the "agree" section. Curtis E. Hall II, who disagreed with the statement, said that "while race is a component, it's not central. We're not a monolith. As a human being, as a man, as a father, I see myself as an amalgamation of a couple of different things that I identify with." Anderson, who stood in the "neutral" section, expanded on Hall's response. "Is it [race] central to my identity? No. Is it a factor in my identity? Absolutely," Anderson said. (Photo: Lindsey West, 8News) Anita Nadal, who agreed with the statement said, "in Latin America, we focus on our nationality. When you ask someone, who are you? What are you? We say Cubano, Mexicano, Chileno. I'm not just Latina. I'm not just Puerto Rican. I'm Afro Latina." Dwayne Hicks, who also agreed with the statement said, "I'm a Black man. That's part of who I am. That's me." To be Black is resilient. All of the panelists stepped to the "agree" section except for one, who stepped to the "disagree" section. Later, one of the panelists standing in the agree section, moved to "neutral." "It's almost like sometimes you have to wake up and put on a costume," said Anderson, standing in the "agree" section. "Sometimes you walk in a room and know that people are looking at you because of the color of your skin." (Photo: Lindsey West, 8News) Candra Parker, also agreed, and said, "Richmond Public Schools integrated when I was in the fifth grade and then to add to that, my parents moved to Henrico County. So I went from being affirmed in my giftedness on a daily basis to having to prove my giftedness." Nadal, the only panelist to disagree, said, "I am a triple minority. Black, I'm Latina and I'm a woman. When I hear the question, does Black, that one word, mean resilience? For me, a Black Afro-Latina woman means resilience." Black people could be better about supporting Black people. All panelists stepped to the "agree" section. Nadal referenced colorism in the history of the U.S., "My Mother, for example, who was a very fair skinned person... was bullied. Back in those days, she was called 'high yellow.'" I definitely feel like as a community we could be more invested in our success and well-being," Anderson said. Non-Black people could be better about supporting Black people. All panelists stepped into the "neutral" section except for one, who stepped into the "disagree" section. "It's definitely a double edged sword," said Anderson. "You don't want somebody to care about your issue more than you do." Hall related the issue to marriage. He gestured to his wife standing on the other side of the camera and said, "I could say all day that I love that woman but if I'm not actively listening and really interested then what is it? If I take an interest in someone... I need to learn what you do, learn your idiosyncrasies, why do you care about that? Because then it makes sense in my mind how to better treat you and empower you. Then the reciprocal takes place because now you have a healthy mutual relationship." After Hall's response, Nadal stepped forward to applaud his answer in agreement. (Photo: Lindsey West, 8News) I feel seen during Black History Month in America One panelist stepped to "agree," two panelists moved to "neutral," and three panelists stepped to "disagree." "When is it going to be a time where we don't have to have Black History Month? When will it become a time where it's just so ingrained or orga