The black community bonds over many things, be it music, film, television, dancing or food. However, the ultimate thing that unifies us is blackness itself. It's a cultural wonder often hard to describe–but you know it when you see it.

Thankfully, there are examples and anecdotes that we can lean on. That moment when someone cites undeniable blackness and we all recognize it; Issa beautiful thing.

Photo: GIPHY

Cue the #HowBlackAreYou trending topic, which is the best thing happening on the internet this week!

Twitter explored how we don't use specific measures of time, yet everyone gets it when "the other day" is referenced:

#HowBlackAreYou
"The other day" could mean 2 days ago or 2 years ago— Hunnylicious (@badgalaeri) March 31, 2018

Get into the chicken Olympics, though! Party wings may be a popular food to eat while watching a game, but cleaning those bones ain't a game!

#HowBlackAreYou

Well that’s all that’s left of my chicken so… pic.twitter.com/xjNXnwfWCy— April Showers Brings Bey(oncé) Flowers (@skwidword) March 23, 2018

And don't act like ya'll didn't hear the sound in your head when you read this one:

when I eat too much I unbutton my jeans to let my belly breathe ???????? #HowBlackAreYou ⤵⤵ #LetUsKnow #BeautifullBlackPeople #Melanin
A post shared by MELANIN PAGE ???????? [28K Angels ????] (@beautifull_black_people) on Mar 16, 2018 at 12:22pm PDT

Or that you don't know that phrase you "smell like all outside!"

#HowBlackAreYou

I either had to go outside or stay inside but it wasn’t no going back and fourth letting the air out ????????‍♀️— Louie Anderson (@KiingL0uie) April 3, 2018

The hashtag also showed that we are a resourceful race:

#HowBlackAreYou

When it's raining outside & you don't go an umbrella so you use a grocery store bag ???????????? pic.twitter.com/3xWkrrUHqc— Then he hit em with the Do Do Fa Fa (@Gochokebitch) April 3, 2018

" how black are you ?" you get your hair washed in the kitchen sink.— Ny ???? (@kiinaayaa_) March 30, 2018

#howblackareyou?

When I reach into the butter container there’s anything but butter. For instance, soup, beans, etc.— Denea Joseph (@DeneaRandeen) April 3, 2018

“How black are you ?”

This our dust pan pic.twitter.com/NQ4z7Iy4jq— Notourious D.I.G. (@Dee_L_Simmonds) April 2, 2018

#HowBlackAreYou https://t.co/9E7xZElPxV— MYMYAAT/SEX Enthusiast (@mykellejordan) March 25, 2018

#blacktwitter is the source of so much happiness
A post shared by Project Melanin (@project.melaninn) on Apr 3, 2018 at 6:37am PDT

Even our laughs are special:

"How black are you?"

Sometimes when I laugh at a joke, I run around… pic.twitter.com/7zKcbbZqof— Theodorah Manjo ♡ (@MissManjo) April 5, 2018

"How black are you?"

Sometimes when I laugh at a joke, I clap my hands … pic.twitter.com/7EINCpHq87— ????IGGY???? (@ItsTheRealBizZ) April 5, 2018

And we have to take a second to recognize that moment when you realize your mama was the original Joanne The Scammer:

"how black are you?"

*cue dreamlike flashback harp sound effect*

china buffet: how old are you?
me: seventee..
mom: twelve.— Tré Melvin (@TreMelvin) March 25, 2018

There's also how you know when a function (cookout, party, club outing, etc.) is wrapping up:

"How black are you?"
Every bbq cookout ???? pic.twitter.com/ZKOpLlXUBV— J???? (@JayThaGreat_) March 31, 2018

And how we turn the most mundane things into doing the MOST:

“how black are you”

i can’t eat skittles or pollyseeds w out shaking them in my hand first— . (@Plenty_SOUL) April 2, 2018

Also, why is this too true?

"How black are you?"

I say "huh" sound when I hand somebody something.— Blactimus Prime (@BlactimusPrim3) March 31, 2018

Did you ever notice how you couldn't say "lie" until you were old enough to file taxes?

| lemme try .

“ how black are you ? “

????

????????‍♀️

“ growing up , i couldn’t say the word ‘lie’ . . . had to say ‘they telling a story’ .

????— Toni Carter (@yaysMONALISA) March 27, 2018

And we know how to make things last. Because what we not 'gonna do is waste any lotion in that bottle!

#FairlyAccurate #HowBlackAreYou #List….
A post shared by Let's Unite Black Toronto (@torontoformation) on Mar 28, 2018 at 6:17pm PDT

Or the toothpaste tube …

#HowBlackAreYou pic.twitter.com/cENO9lUTVy— Sky High Jr. (@skyhighjunior) March 29, 2018

Ashley … Felicia … Tenisha … you know who you are, damn!

them : how black are you ?

me : my grandma calls me by the wrong name more than once pic.twitter.com/Jko46jgsaA— ???? (@issadaddyfiji) April 6, 2018

No matter what they call you though, you know they meant you, why they were calling you and that you better bring whatever it is they want, quickly.

#HowBlackAreYou

When ya mama say "gimme that uh uh whatchamacallit" and you actually know what she talking about— Then he hit em with the Do Do Fa Fa (@Gochokebitch) April 3, 2018

We don't just eat from anybody's house, especially potato salad. But, ish like this is why …

#HowBlackAreYou I don't eat anything at my work's pot luck https://t.co/ML4SMj2N6n— tiki (@nihaoteeks) March 22, 2018

While you're wandering memory lane, let's not forget the classic bank account balance inquiry:

#HowBlackAreYou
Me: Can we go to McDonald’s?
Mom: You got McDonald’s money? ????— méyya ???????????? (@prettypoppinn) April 4, 2018

Speaking of rites of passage, how about that first night after getting your hair braided?

#HowBlackAreYou https://t.co/uEK1ovY38K— Strange Fruit (@DSomon) March 30, 2018

And, seriously, that grandma's purse was like the entrance to Narnia. How many things could she fit in there?!

#HowBlackAreYou
Your grandma always gives you these in church then you realize where does she get these from pic.twitter.com/FSxsHk0inm— M R. J O N E S????⚡️ (@frigidheartkidd) April 3, 2018

And yes, for those wondering, this hashtag travels the diaspora:

#HowBlackAreYou pic.twitter.com/fPLjSWVMoF— Tema (@Narko_405) March 30, 2018

Basically … as if there was ever any doubt, blackness, in and of itself, is excellence.

black folks

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