From time to time, we all must wear the mask. We must hide who we are and what we think. We must do this because of our race, sex, or economic status. It is not a good thing, but it is a reality.
Sometimes it is wonderful to keep our true feelings hidden so that we can accomplish the mission.
In today’s edition of Wonderful Words from Others will highlight my favorite poem from Paul Lawrence Dunbar, “We Wear the Mask.”
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We Wear the Mask We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.
Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.
We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!
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McKay was talking about the mask that black people in America wore in front of the white world during his lifetime from 1872 to 1906. During that time, blacks did not enjoy the rights and privileges they do today so in order to survive they had to hide their true feelings about the injustice they faced. If instead of wearing a mask, a black man were to show how he truly felt about not being able to get fair pay, being treated unfairly, and being denied equal protection and opportunity, he very likely would face imprisonment or death.
The racial dynamic in America has changed over the course of the past 100 or so years. But there are still times when we need to wear a mask in order to get done what needs doing. I was recently speaking with a friend who had a problem with an administrative official when she was trying to get something done for her children. She thought the official was rude and ignorant and wanted to deny her requests. So, my friend got angry, showed her anger, and walked away without the help she needed. She did not wear a mask.
I told her she needed to suck up her anger with the woman and have a different attitude in order to get what she wanted. She should have worn a mask. Instead of letting the official see her anger and disgust, she should have taken a different tact. I have found it useful to tell people that I do not know how to get a thing done and that I really need their help. Most people like to help others. When I have taken this tact with people, asked them to do me a favor and help me, I almost always get favorable results. I never let the bad attitude of someone else stop me from getting what I want and need for my children. I have learned to mask anger and instead show a desire for assistance.
We don’t always have to let everyone know everything we are thinking and feeling. Sometimes we need to wear a mask. So the question for you this wonderful day is how do you cover negative feelings and emotions so that you can act appropriately and get what you need in life?
