WARTIME Vol.3 by blackmenbuild

SPRING 2021

ISSUE NO. 3

Wartime is our quarterly publication.

Raw. Real. Facts.

Blackmen.build

TABLE OF C 01

Introduction to Black Men Build

Screaming Black Power with My fist Up

Cold Summers & Hot Winters

What is the Good Life?

Protecting Black Women

Head in the Clouds

Worth Our Weight in Guns

Love Letter to Political Prisoners

What is Misogyny

An Open Letter to My Black Sisters

The White Man is not Immortal

Responsible Gun Ownership

Atlanta is Outside

Colorism

Not That Bad

CONTENTS 04

Bird’s Eye View

Black Health in the Era of COVID-19

It’s a Bandemic

Deeper Than Rape

Who Do You Love?

Day of Service

The Watch

For the Love of Money

Domestic Violence

Artist Bibliography

Black Power

Organizing in Biden Harris

Gangstas & Pimps

Grandma

BMB is a wide group of Black Men from all walks of life who have come together to take on issues that are challenging Black people.

We are Black Men working with Black Men to serve our communities, to be critical freethinkers, to speak truth, to teach others, and to build the social, economic, political and spiritual tools needed to evolve and power our Black future.

A war that we are not winning. We didn’t start this war, but we have to finish it. Our opposition is organized across countries and continents. To win, we must be organized. To be organized takes a process of discipline and aligning our principles, our goals, our vision and our actions.

WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A WAR.

An Introduction to Black Men Build

We are coming together in all the ways we are called to free ourselves and our people from false information and mistreatment.

We are bonded with Black Women and all Black people who are fighting for true freedom for Black people*. We must end the hurt and pain that we’ve caused Black Women and work together to heal and transform ourselves, our families, and our communities. There is no power, no victory, no hope for a better world without the partnership and leadership of Black Women.

*Black people who choose to fight for the enemy, or use our struggle for personal and financial benefit need not apply.

to build a future that we create, not that is created forus. We are not the images of Black men sold by the Europeans.

transform to meet the moment head-on. We are 4. We evolving in every way and reclaiming our true history

communities, and future generations.

are critical thinkers who are curious about this 1. We moment and how it’s affecting us, our families, our

BMB VALUES

ALIGNING OUR VALUES IS THE FIRST STEP.

“Stay present ”

, they say.

By Phillip Agnew | Photographed by Nick Green

But they don’t realize how hard that shit really is. What if today ain’t going so well? What if yesterday was amazing? What if tomorrow is when that bag ‘posed to drop?? Living in the moment feels too wild sometimes. We got too much coming at us. Rent, relationships, stress, beefs, money, “fuck i forgot my mask”, home schooling all these kids, mental breakdowsn, this penny “stimmy” (“fuck we supposed to do with $1400????) ...You name it and that shit is being laid at our feet. Why would we wanna live in this moment? At the same time, this past year forced us to sit our ass down and face ourselves in ways we weren’t ready for. Many of us spent hours lost in our thoughts, replaying things from our past, wondering about the future. Thinking about lost loves and opportunities, thinking about how we get free from all this bullshit, (thinking about whether we really wanna be free from this bullshit), thinking about how we make money, break bread, how we see our elderly grandma, or our pops in prison; how to build a real life out of the most unreal circumstances ever. (Not to mention how to protect ourselves from these “Patriots” buying up everything in the gun store.)

This is the mood that guides this 3rd Edition of WARTIME. That feeling of being “here” and “somewhere else” at the same time. That feeling of being lost somewhere between what was, what is, and what will be. The feeling of being in the mud and on the moon. The knowledge that we have to be in both to move forward. Black people have always had to live in the “in between”; we know this world ain’t black and white; there’s a million shades of life and we’re tryna find our way through them all. This Edition will take you on a ride while making you feel more grounded in the life and times of AmeriKKKa as Black Men Build sees it. In these pages we ask hard questions of ourselves and of each other; the questions we’re scared to answer and even scareder to ask. We travel from Miami to Houston to St. Louis, giving you a bird’s eye view of the terrain direct from our Field Organizers. We look at the political theater that is Biden/Harris and the Black Liberals that love them. We talk money, guns, love and politics. Keep up. We got a lot on our minds and not that much time. All aboard. It’s WARTIME again. Keep your hands in the vehicle, your head in the clouds, and your feet on the ground. Enjoy the ride.

By Tef Poe

@BL ACKMENBUILD // 2021 // BLACKMEN.BUILD // REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

@BLACKMENBUILD // 2021 // BLACKMEN.BUILD // REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

REPORTS

FROM THE

BMB FIELD

BE SAFE

By Core Black

in’t no goodbyes in this city. There’s no need to say goodbye, we have already been left behind. We already know the world doesn’t care about us. Here we are, descendants of stolen lives turned property, trying to operate behind enemy lines. Sam Cooke let it be known that being born by a river in a little tent is ground zero for changes, but they take forever to come. Marcus grew up believing that he could become the change he wanted to see. Growing up on the westside, he knew getting away from Goodfellow Blvd was a challenge. Sure, going to school in Maryland Heights was a great opportunity, but the reality of coming back to a neighborhood intoxicated with violence and drugs was still unhealthy. The streets are unforgiving, and Marcus did his best to stay out of that life. He stays in church, gets his diploma, joins the Marines, and returns back to the city to start fresh, just to see the worst conditions. Years pass and Marcus finds himself in the position of his mentors. Guided by coaches, deacons, hustlers and academics growing up, Marcus feels almost obligated to pass on to the next generation the skills that were passed down to him, but he feels as if charity starts at home and taking care of his daughter Brooklyn becomes a priority. Being a father and being there for his daughter means everything to him. He’s been seeing posters up and down Broadway saying, “Who’s Afraid Of Black Power” and it’s been sparking his interests to get involved. A week following the Riot at Capitol Hill, Marcus received an invitation to a socially distant wedding at Chase Park Plaza. He decides to get some normalcy back into his life and decides to attend. He drops his daughter off at her mother’s and let’s her know he will be back later that evening to pick her up. “Be safe,” Angie announces as he walks towards his car. “I got my vaccine already, but I’m staying masked up,” Marcus replies

Angie looks at him in the eyes and says, “Good, be safe.” Marcus inhales very deeply and just nods his head in agreement. He heads to the wedding in good spirits and enjoys himself immensely. It’s been forever since he’s been around familiar faces in public and is somewhat excited about what the rest of the year will bring. Realizing he has had too much to drink, he orders a LYFT instead of driving. As he waits outside of the ballroom, he makes a few comments to the guests eating on the patio. One of the white patrons says to him, “How about you put your mask on?” Marcus explains that he doesn’t have to wear a mask outside and he wasn’t within 6 feet of the guest. As he says this, their black waiter comes out hearing the exchange and tells Marcus, “You can’t stand there, this is private property.” At this point, Marcus is irritated and tells the waiter he is waiting for a LYFT. The guests continue to make a scene on the patio just in time for the police to show up. Apparently, the waiter called the police when Marcus refused to step away from the patio section of the restaurant. The officers ask Marcus for his identification and immediately detain him for public drunkenness. The officers handcuff him and take him to the Justice Center downtown to await bail. As he sits in his holding cell waiting to make his phone call, he can sense something very dark over him. Angie had just put Brooklyn to bed when the phone rings. “You have a collect call from…”

998,954

Percentage of Population that is Black:

25%

Black Unemployment Rate in the City:

9.2%

Industries that Black People are Heavily Employed In/Leading In

HEALTHCARE

Median Income for Black Households:

$36,338

Public School System Budgets? (per child)

$401,826,000 $17,492 (per child)

Incarceration Rate for Black People in the state of Missouri:

@BLACKMENBUILD // 2021 // BLACKMEN.BUILD // REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

Total City Population:

1,654

COREY BLACK

Lead Organizer corey@blackmen.build

Total City Population:

947,735

Percentage of Population that is Black:

27.2%

Industries that Black People are Heavily Employed In/Leading In

HEALTHCARE

Median Income for Black Households:

$27,834

Public School System Budgets? (per child)

NISHA

Incarceration Rate for Black People in the state of Missouri:

Lead Organizer

nisha@blackmen.build

@BL ACKMENBUILD // 2021 // BLACKMEN.BUILD // REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

$1,229,610,000 $16,278 (per child) 2,542

As he sits in the car and eats his Pasty he watch homeless people stop traffic and ask for change while dodging reckless drivers in stollies. Stollies are at an all time high in Milwaukee nearly almost 1000 cars were stolen in just one month. The young dudes compete to see who can steal the most cars and drive the worse. What a dumb ass game. Many people have been dying due to their reckless ass driving and some of them even killing themselves. Before he pulled off he noticed a flyer on the bus stop of a thirteen year old girl who had been missing for months. He wonders where all these missing kids are as he pulls off. While riding back home the police gets behind him. He started praying they dont turn on their lights. His car still smells like weed from last night and he’s not sure how this traffic stop will turn out. Just his luck he turned his lights on. Fuck, Here we go just another day trying to survive in 53206.

By Nisha

As He walks out the door He realize that he forgot his face mask and randomly a group of brothers and sisters walk past him in all black with a bag full of face masks, hand sanitizer, different resources and a flyer that says Who’s Afraid of Black Power? He thanked them for the bag and one of them told him to check out the Wartime that’s in the bag As he rides down“Burleigh Zoo” -they refer to themselves as animals because of their living conditions and the outrageous amount of crime that goes on in the area. He sees all the abandoned warehouses where his grandparents used to work. These abandoned warehouses will soon be affordable living apartments for people of color. His Grandparents used to earn a living wage in these warehouses until. The factories were shut down and moved to China leaving thousands of black people unemployed and on a railroad to

As he continues to ride he passesChicago Subs because it’s tapped off as usual because some young dudes who couldn’t just fight it out chose to shoot it out instead. Since stopping at Chicago Subs isn’t an option, He rode down a few more blocks to Reyonold’s Pasty Shop. Reyonld’s Pasty Shop is a black owned Restaurant that was the only business standing in the area after the riots in 2016 when Syville Smith was murdered by a police officer. While grabbing my pasty he can see the NOI selling newspapers, fruit, and bean pies on the corner. Right across from the police station that employed the officer that killed Syville.

TRYING TO SURVIVE 53206

t’s Saturday afternoon in 53206 and Dj is just trying to survive. If you didn’t know 53206 is the worst zip code to live for black men. Over 50 percent of the population is in poverty and it has the highest incarceration rate for black men in the entire country. Everyday before DJ walks out the house he prays He dosen’t become a statistic like his father, his brother and some of his friends.

“H

ey Coach Cairo can I ask you something?” Asked Tut as sweat poured down the 9 year old’s face. 6 rounds of sparring will do that to you. “Sure” I replied. “Why in movies when people get shot they get up but in real life they don’t?” I know one reason he chose to ask me this is because everyone in the Gym knows that I have a film background but I also knew that there was more to this. In most cases a question like this from a 9 year old doesn’t have a deep story behind it however this was not that case.

“Look coach I know movies aint real” he exclaimed, seeing I was struggling for the words he threw in the towel on me. “Do you know why I called you King Tut?” I asked, “No” he replied. “Because he was a child who was handed a difficult situation and through that situation he became a King, you are royalty lil man! The only time you tuck that chin is in the ring, otherwise keep that head handle high!”. The sweat left on my shirt from his hug after my comment was a great reward. Hope for a hopeless situation, Black Men Build!

Tut’s real name is Tyronne Johnson, at age 7 Tyronne experienced something no child should ever. His father was murdered, shot in front of him during a home invasion. The onion has more layers; his mother is losing a battle with heroin addiction and his brother is on a 30 year trip up to Angola.

The child who on his first day in the gym looked so natural in the squared circle that i gave him the Nickname “King Tut”; the great boy king lives about a half a mile from the Milne Boy’s Home, the location of the Spartans Boxing Club, a partner of Black Men Build in New Orleans. Lives there with his grandfather, other than the old man, the boxing gym and the other Black Men from all walks of life that call 5420 Franklin Ave a safe haven is all he has. He jogs alone to his sanctuary 6 days a week. Tyrone is brave but Tyrone is afraid. Standing in front of a heavy bag, 4 times his size he becomes King Tut. With each punch he delivers to the bag it moves his 9 year old 60 lbs frame backward. Hard to believe the mini pulagist carries an amatuer USA Boxing record 11-0. He is one of the best pupils in the “Gloves NOT Guns” program. His goal, one day to wear Olympic gold!

By Cairo

ALL HAIL KING TUT!

Understanding the depths of the trauma beneath the child’s question hit me like a stiff jab. We walked outside of the Gym for a quiet space. As we walked I wrestled with how to respond. In my mind I said a quick prayer for guidance for the right words as I looked into his curious eyes.

Total City Population:

343,829

Percentage of Population that is Black:

59.5%

Black Unemployment Rate in the City:

10.9%

Industries that Black People are Heavily Employed In/Leading In

TOURISM, HOSPITALITY

Median Income for Black Households:

$24,813

Public School System Budgets? (per child)

$437,271,000 $88,302 (per child)

Incarceration Rate for Black People in the state of Missouri:

1,740

CAIRO

Lead Organizer

cairo@blackmen.build

@BLACKMENBUILD // 2021 // BLACKMEN.BUILD // REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

@BL ACKMENBUILD // 2021 // BLACKMEN.BUILD // REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

SLOAN

Lead Organizer

sloan@blackmen.build

Total City Population:

713,777

Percentage of Population that is Black:

78.3%

Black Unemployment Rate in the City:

17.9%

Industries that Black People are Heavily Employed In/Leading In

AUTOMOTIVE

Median Income for Black Households:

$35,656

Public School System Budgets? (per child)

$736,965,000 $14.558 (per child)

Incarceration Rate for Black People in the state of Missouri:

1,682

WELCOME TO DETROIT CITY By Sloan

place with rich and notorious history, before Barry Gordy founded Motown and Hoffa went missing, thanks to the Big 3, Detroit was known as the Motor City. Detroit, where it’s been politics over people and pay to play is at an all time high. Mismanagement of funds and swept under the rug corruption exist to this day and they still blame Kwame for it as if it hasn’t been a part of the city’s history long before he was a Technician. Yusef Shakur, nicknamed Bunchy is a Revolutionary from a notorious neighborhood called Zone 8, known for high drug use and crime. Growing up in Detroit, like other urban areas, you become a product of your environment. Yusef grew up in a single parent home and didn’t meet his father until he fell victim to the failed criminal justice system. Meeting his father for the first time in a prison yard was an experience that he didn’t take for granted. Yusef labeled himself a bonafide gang banger bathing in self-hate when he first arrived in prison. Hitting rock bottom, Yusef reached out to his father who was at a prison not far from where he was incarcerated. Fortunately for Yusef, his father was already on the road to redemption and transformation when they connected. His father immediately wrote him back and it was everything he needed. Yusef says the letter, filled with warmth and love penetrated his heart. His father helped jump started his transformation to redemption and a year after they connected they ended up at the same prison. Personal interaction with his father gave him the roadmap to redemption. Once a free man, Yusef was on a revolutionary mission but faced several external challenges along the way that hindered him. Yusef was a new father and changed man. He realized he was no good to anyone if he was no good to himself. While working as a head start teacher, he received an opportunity to begin his lifelong mission through organizing in 2003 and he hasn’t looked back.

he Mama Akua Community House. A place you can come and receive a plethora of resources. He wanted to give back to the community he caused so much trouble in. Yuself allows Black Men Build access to the community house as a hub for BMB to host events and find merch and copies of wartime. On a given day you’ll find Yusef at The Mama Akua House giving away food or assistance to those in the area. Yusef is currently running for Detroit City Council At Large. His decision wasn’t easy but he believes in the people and positive change. He wishes to use the campaign to engage people to make the type of change needed. Yusef’s life journey has prepared him for this very crucial opportunity to represent for his people who for so long have had no voice. Yusef is the future of Detroit.

PURGATORY

By Malu

e’d like to start by sending our love out to everyone struggling at this time. From Rona to Mother Nature, a toll has been paid by the people that money cannot reimburse. We are sick and tired of rich people being too wealthy to give a damn. We are tired of natural disasters being the catalyst for them to follow proper protocol. And, we are tired of being sick and tired. Perhaps, it’s because 2020 carried with it such an immense weight that we aint trying to tote that extra load into this new year. Either way, It is hard to regain solid footing now and the honest truth is many of us weren’t even grounded before this pandemic jumped off so now we’re just airborne. The only hope and positive in this shituation is that Houston is Rocket City and if no one else is, we are accustomed to these types of heights. From 5th Ward to Mo City and Greens Point to Pasadena, hell all of Harris county, there is a purgatory type feeling over the city. In a lot of ways, you could say that we are open and outside. At the same time, the people know very well that the Texas state government had no appetite for shutting down. This plus their blatant reluctance to take its time in reopening the city has left many unfaithful in the whole thing. These two contradictions set the stage for the city in 2021. Imagine a marvelous playground built within a minefield. Many of the brothers and sisters who have been working with Black Men Build Houston have undoubtedly shouldered a heavy burden as well. For the past year now, we lost a father to a stroke because EMS thought he had covid. We’ve lost homes due to weather and rona. We spent a week, beginning Feb 15th, in the cold and waterless. Loved ones have perished physically and life long relationships have been lost emotionally.

We’ve spent our last dollars on car repairs only for it to break down a week later. We’ve experienced fires and had to spend months in a hotel. We’ve grappled with the subject of mental health and new ways to improve it. In many ways we feel we’ve lost the very teachers who could have taught us what it means to be a man. And through all this, we’ve Organized. We have organized while becoming new fathers. While starting new business, while recovering from suicidal urges, while becoming the new head of our households. Some of us are organizing while we get our degrees and teaching students in real time. We’ve seen those around us starting organizations and nonprofits. To put it best, we all have been doing our best to dance underwater and not get wet. Through all this, we’ve been able to organize because we know that we are all we got, and; it is our job to prove to the people that we are all we need. We’re building spaces our people need. Spaces to decompress, intellectually ingest, and unload. Monday’s are our Men Circles. Wednesday’s are our Reading Group. Friday nights is our debate forum. In the words of Julius Malema, “To be an activist you must be active.” So, on the weekends we do the work to engage with the community in all aspects. In search of big steppas in their own right on the march to true freedom in our lifetime. It’s a difficult task we’ve taken on and an even more difficult time to be doing so but we got no simp in our blood or peon on our roster. Our march towards tomorrow is starting with the foundation we are building today and who better to assemble such a structure than Black Men Build?

@BLACKMENBUILD // 2021 // BLACKMEN.BUILD // REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

MALU

Lead Organizer

malu@blackmen.build

Total City Population:

343,829

Percentage of Population that is Black:

59.5%

Black Unemployment Rate in the City:

10.9%

Industries that Black People are Heavily Employed In/Leading In

TOURISM, HOSPITALITY

Median Income for Black Households:

$24,813

Public School System Budgets? (per child)

$437,271,000 $88,302 (per child)

Incarceration Rate for Black People in the state of Missouri:

1,740

EDIMA

Lead Organizer

edima@blackmen.build

Total City Population:

420,003

Percentage of Population that is Black:

51.0%

Black Unemployment Rate in the City:

Industries that Black People are Heavily Employed In/Leading In

DELTA & HEALTHCARE

Median Income for Black Households:

$54,456

Public School System Budgets? (per child)

$1,069,553,000 $20,510 (per child)

Incarceration Rate for Black People in the state of Missouri:

1066

@BL ACKMENBUILD // 2021 // BLACKMEN.BUILD // REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

mericans faced two pandemics in 2020, COVID-19 and systematic racial injustices. Both served to us daily for months, and many Americans didn’t know what to do with this front row seat to horrific images that angered and saddened most but motivated and inspired others.

With the mantra of ‘my future, my city, my part,’ leading them, Hinson and his peers capitalize on their influence and connections to establish that there is a new form of capital being generated in Atlanta… social capital in the form of activism; activism that’s intentional, goaloriented, and results in long term change.

Meet the 24-year-old change agent, KJ Hinson. A young black entrepreneur and community organizer who didn’t let the pandemic stifle his money or momentum in Atlanta, GA. Atlanta is not called the capital city by chance. The people of Atlanta know how to capitalize on opportunities and generate capital no matter the circumstances. KJ is one of many who took his activism and business beyond social media and joined forces with fellow community organizers in Black Men Build to establish true justice and real community.

“I’m from the westside of Atlanta, raised in a singleparent home. My mom laid a foundation for me that involved being outspoken about helping others succeed. I watched her live out this mentality, and now I must do for my city to combat what systematic oppression and inherent biases are blocking. She told me ‘Do for yourself. You can only expect so much to just happen for you.’ And as a black man in America, I am not expecting anything at all to be given to me. So I must get active and demand respect and equality as I educate others along the way.”

Hinson shared that the anger that grew inside him after watching the murder of George Floyd was inexplicable. It shook him at his foundation. Then to see Rayshard Brooks die at the hands of the Atlanta Police Department was another slap in the face that required him to swing back with strategy. “I knew I had a greater responsibility to my people other than starting a business and promoting parties. It was time to move from civil unrest to civic engagement.” KJ, with the thread of unity in his message, set out to mobilize liked minded young black people and to remind them of the message he learned early in life from his mother and fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Peaks, “Show them you’re black, intelligent, capable, and prepared to do whatever it takes to succeed.” Throughout 2020 we saw young black men, led by individuals like Hinson, orchestrate food drives, provide winter apparel, and supply toys for thousands of families in the Atlanta metro area.

MY FUTURE. MY CITY. MY PART. By Edima

WHO CARES By Che

ho Cares ?

Dang, “South Florida always be having problems with the ballots during election time”. They said, “South Florida is the reason why the elections always be held up”. They said, “you see it time and time again, them motherfucker’s down in South Florida always be with the bullshit like they don’t know how to vote”. “Mannn, they keep them alligators in the Everglades fed every election year”! Not on my watch, says my brother Chico and we know all you need to do is go and check the damn swamp for ballots, but Miami won’t be the reason for Trump winning the election!” (Chuckles) Meanwhile, with clippers buzzing in the background, Lil mama looking real good sitting in that chair with them freshly polished pink tips getting her 20, 22, 24 inches installed until all of a sudden. (click, click, click, click click) her thumbs just went hyper speed. With her head whipping around in the chair, she said “Girl, did you hear what they said about South Florida and the elections?” (in the native high pitch Trina tone) Little mama was obviously tight over a Facebook post she had just saw. Well… “It’s true !” , the “Curvy Queen” replied, (Uhm, Uhm ), I mean the hair dresser who’s booty has been sculptured into a perfect apple bottom stated.

With just two seconds into her breath, just about every dude and chick in the shop paused (Skrrrrr!) simultaneously replying, “Who is South Florida?” “We from Miami”, as they laugh callously through their masks at the idea of Miami being considered Trump supporters. While interestingly enough, most of the cars being sold alongside the road of 79th Street heading towards the Flea Market and travel both up and down 27th avenue have a longer expectancy than young lives, marriages and relationships in black households. (Zoom, zoom, zoom, boom, boom, boom) The engines of the Dodge RT Charger rev up as if “Bo or Daisy Duke” were sliding through the city on a high-speed chase with “Boss Hog” on their trail with “Rick Ross Hustling” playing as their anthem music because that is all we know. Meanwhile, COVID continues to threaten the lives of many Miamians by its horrible effects on demonstration without mercy as the “305” known for being the home of the “Miami Heat” would become an official “Hot Zone. On a sidenote, a diaspora for the desperate need for guided leadership has emerged as violence amongst teenagers is at a high, multiple children are dying due to stray bullets by other teens and racial disparity sickening the black communities far worse than any germ ever could. The spear of poverty, misinformation, miseducation and the javelin of the welfare systems has kept us where they wanted us far too long. It’s time we use the sword of truth to cut the chains! With love being the cure and both hatred and evil being as hot as the sun on a record breaking all-time high day, new tensions summon for the black ambassadors to step into the fire. For what some call a pandemic, young men like “Christian Cruz aka Young Cavalier” refers to it as a blessing in some odd, strange way stating, “All last year I drowned out all my problems every way I could only to find myself in jail, but after I got out and COVID hit, I decided to face the real issue.” The real issue he says, “its that I deal with this certain type of illness and I know people don’t like me in most of the places I go, but I go anyway and help out anyway I can because it makes me feel good even with my ADHD.” WE do it because We Care.

2,496,435

Percentage of Population that is Black:

17.7%

Black Unemployment Rate in the City:

11.20%

Industries that Black People are Heavily Employed In/Leading In

HEALTHCARE

Median Income for Black Households:

@BLACKMENBUILD // 2021 // BLACKMEN.BUILD // REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

Total City Population:

$44,004

Public School System Budgets? (per child)

$381,796,700 $10,760 (per child)

Incarceration Rate for Black People in the state of Missouri:

1621

CHE

Organizer

Gunder@blackmen.build

The first annual Black Men Build Day of Service to the People was held nationwide on December 19, 2020. Finding tangible ways to give back to the cities we are organizing in is part of our ethos as an organization. We distributed over 100 coats to Black families in St. Louis, distributed PPE and WARTIME in Milwaukee, Detroit, The Bay Area, and Miami. Hosted chess lessons in Cincinnati between our youth and elders, distributed food in Philadelphia, Nashville, New Orleans, and Houston.

Cities that participated in the 2020 National Day of Service ST. LOUIS

HOUSTON

MILWAUKEE

ATLANTA

PHILADELPHIA COLUMBUS DETROIT

NASHVILLE

MIAMI

THE BAY AREA

NEW ORLEANS

@BL ACKMENBUILD // 2021

NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE

WHY ARE WE OUTSIDE?

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE Black Men Build is led by the love we have for our people. Being led by the communities we wish to serve is essential. We honor the tradition of serving the community due to the work of the Black Panther Party and revolutionaries before us. We will be organizing nationwide service events twice a year. As our work grows, as the field continues to bolster, we will impact more Black families across the country. Our goal is to have Black Men Build chapters in every city. By being committed to the growth of our organization, our National Day of Service to the People can have a lasting impact on our communities. Follow @blackmenbuild on Twitter and Instagram to stay tuned for our next day of service

@BL ACKMENBUILD // 2021

BLACKMEN.BUILD

BLACK POWER BLACK POWER BLACK POWER BLACK POWER BLACK POWER BLACK POWER BLACK POWER BLACK POWER BLACK POWER

BL ACK POWER

Them folks afraid of Black Power are those folks who don’t know what it means Those folks afraid of Black Power are the same ones that planted them strange fruit trees When we talk about whose afraid of Black Power - we talking about those cowards We talking about those white folks and any folks who can’t get down with us Understand the reality Some of us are even afraid of Black Power Because we know what it really means Its a change in your DNA and it’s a change in your scheme All them niggas afraid of Black Power What they really afraid of is the dream But guess what It’s time to wake up.

FEATURED IN THE VIDEO

Asa Shaw

Phillip Agnew

Tef Poe

Joshua Sankara

John Taylor

By Phillip Agnew | Ar t work by Damon Davis

Let us tell you a secret: Black Men Build is a Power hungry organization. No more begging, or demanding, or waiting, or dreaming. We want the power to determine what our lives and communities look like. The Power to decide our tomorrows. That Power must be built, must be fought for, must be shared. We’re prepared to do what we must do to feel, hold and wield real power for our people...in our lifetime. For The Love of the People,

SCREAMING BLACK PO “You Let them Crackas storm the capital and put they feet up on your desk, and you talking tough to me, I lost all my little respect” -HOV I watched with amazement on Jan 6 2021 when members of the proud boys, Oath Keepers and 3 percenters led an insurrection in Washington,DC. They went with one mission… to over throw the government. These white folks went with the intent to assassinate elected officials, and disrupt a process that America had never really had the opportunity to see before. And the reaction so far, has been predictable. We all knew, that at the end of the day, Feds, local law enforcement won’t bout to SHIT to these white folks. Organic diet demands and many light weight charges later it’s all been confirmed. That the enforcement of these rules, are simply a decision. A choice. A FUCKING OPTION. And even though we ALL know why these weak ass decisions were made, it’s worth naming out loud. For the sake of our own sanity. When the shit happens to white people, at the hands of other white folks, they always find a way to understand why it happened. When I turned on the TV the next day. To hear Joe Scarborough, from MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” of all the whites, say that he could only imagine what would have happened if they were BLM protesters, wasn’t surprising. Lip service is all they’ll give us. It’s exactly what politicians do. Deep down, I knew that there would be NO real attempt to hold other white people accountable for that shit they pulled. And make NO mistake, what happened on the 6th, WAS. SOME. SHIT.

OWER WITH MY FIST UP By Josh Sankara

The confederate battle flag was hoisted in the US Capitol in the year of our lord, 2021. The Civil War “ended” over 150 years ago. (I put the word “ended” in quotes because, I know, that every law that’s in place to hyper criminalize Black folks in the US South in particular, is a remnant from the legacy of the confederacy.) Yet, the confederate flag that represents southern white supremacy in the US made its way to its sister flag and monument that represents union white supremacy, and stayed there for over 6 hours. Quite the family reunion right? Chew on this… 620,000 soldiers were killed to stop the confederacy from winning the civil war, and they NEVER MADE IT TO THE CAPITOL. Only 1 white supremacist was killed on January 6th. Let that sink in. Black folk, you’re not crazy. We have been in a physically, emotionally, psychologically abusive relationship with this country, the people who stole this land, who kidnapped us, since they laid their hands on us. Any attempt by the white liberal gaze to mediate that with out accountability is an insult to our right to humanity. And here’s the call, as I see it; let’s not forget that. Organize our communities accordingly. If we bite part of this “progressive white gaze pie”, we will be doomed to enter another cycle of false hopes. As I type this, Biden already reneged on 2k checks, taking kids out of cages at the borders, and even is reluctant to hold the Saudi prince accountable for chopping up a Washington Post journalist because of fear of disrupting a “key ally”. We got our normal back. The imperialist machine is fully fueled, with a full tune up and a clear GPS on what the mission is. Lets stay vigilant. Lets stay focused on what we know our community needs. It’s why Black Men Build. For BLACK POWER.

@BL ACKMENBUILD // 2021

WORTH OUR WEIGHT IN GUNS

BL ACKMEN.BUILD // 2021

WORTH OUR WEIGHT IN GUNS

WORTH OUR WEIGHT IN GUNS By Asa Shaw | Photographed by Nick Green

BLACK + GUNS = TERROR, FOR MOST OF AMERICA

Dawg, it’s complicated being Black. Ever since there’s been a visible upsurge in school shootings in suburban america and a visible resurgence of muddle-headed white supremacists, people have started to talk more and more about Black gun ownership. Black + Guns = terror, for most of America. So when you talking firearms and our people, you gotta be clear. Malcolm X always used to say, “of all studies, history is the best positioned to reward our research.” So lets start there. Back when Europeans were committing white-on-white crime en masse all over Europe, they were also advancing technology that would allow them to create more reliable gunpowder and firearms for war. These more reliable firearms would make their way to Africa and be used to terrorize African people and be used as one of the most important commodities in the slave trade. African leaders understood that with guns they could dominate other tribes in battle and expand their kingdom’s territories (the Dahomey and Asante were two major players in this regard). Thus, guns became the currency used to purchase the first enslaved Africans whose labor would be used to build the modern world. Guns and the oppression of people of African descent is and has always been, inextricably linked. Which brings us to the title of this subtext. “Black people were literally…(see title) Our ability to carry and own firearms has been systematically suppressed since before the United States was even a country. The year that enslaved Africans first touched down in Jamestown in 1619, there were laws on the books being written “That all such free Mulattoes, Negroes and Indians...shall appear without arms.” In 1857, our ability to bear arms would be further eroded in the Dred Scott decision, which said Black people were not citizens we were property, so no rights afforded to citizens under the constitution could apply to us, which included the Second Amendment. James K. Vardaman, a racist Mississippi senator, warned that the return of black veterans to the South would “inevitably lead to disaster.” He said that letting Black men fight in the military and defend the flag was a short step toward them concluding that “his political rights must be respected.” He knew that giving Black people combat training with firearms could be dangerous.

*** *** I get it though. Look at what enslaved Africans did in history without combat training. In Stono’s rebellion, in 1739, enslaved Africans raided a gun store, decapitated the owners and displayed their heads on the store steps. From 1791 to 1804 the Haitian Revolution would beat back the British, the Spanish, and the French to shock the world and create the first black republic. In 1831, Nat Turner would lead a rebellion that would kill over 60 whites and once again give our oppressors a taste of what happens when enslaved Africans were able to get their hands on firearms. Black people’s relationship to guns, like our relationship to this country has always been complicated. Even now, It is clear that Black people should be able to own firearms to be able to survive and defend themselves from attack, but we also need to make sure that firearms are not being used in our community to maim and destroy families. The idea of “Black-on-Black’’ crime though, is a political tool for the right, not an actual statistic that says anything abnormal. Research shows that most murder is intraracial, meaning both people involved are usually of the same race. Crime is more about proximity rather than what you look like. Black folks aren’t more or less murderous than any other race. What we are though: is financially poor, and suffering from a historical malfeasance that breeds scarcity and desperation.

The answer to reducing gun violence in our communities is not taking guns out of the community, because we need those to protect our communities. The answer lies in reducing scarcity and practicing gun safety, which means community firearms training, better jobs, better schools, better healthcare, and more mentors and programs for the youth. We shouldn’t shoot ourselves in the foot, cut off our nose to spite our face, or throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water. We need firearms. Not only to protect ourselves and our families. But, to protect our communities from a rising tide of white supremacists and from the state infringing even further on our abilities to live and pursue an abundant life. Everybody should be strapped, respectively. Our ability to do that though, has been curtailed through the suppression of our Second Amendment rights. Even the NRA for all its posturing about Second Amendment rights, in the 1960’s sided with the California government to pass a gun law that banned open carry in response to the Black Panther’s demonstration at the Capitol and when Philando Castile got shot by the police all they said was that his death was, “troubling.” They say one thing and do another. If it’s one thing I’ve learned from being a student of Black history it’s that “rights’’ are not these universal things that everyone has. You only have access to the “rights” that you can enforce. If you can’t enforce your rights, then someone will take them from you. One way to at least protect your right to life, is through gun ownership. I believe every Black person in America should own a firearm. If you don’t own one, then you should at least be connected to a network of gun owners in your neighborhood that have agreed to protect your family when the time calls for it. Black people. In order to protect our lives and our communities, we once again need to be worth our weight in guns. Until the government, military, police, and white supremacists give up their guns. My nigga, keep yours! This is not to be alarmist, this is to be realistic. Be safe yall, and stay strapped.

BL ACK MEN BUILD // 2021

RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP

RESPONSIBLE GUN O

THE UNIVERSAL SAFETY RULES OF RESPONSIBLE G

Treat all guns as if they’re loaded.

Never point your gun at anything you’re not willing to kill or destroy.

3. 4.

Keep your finger off the trigger until you’ve identified your target and are prepared to shoot.

Always be sure of the target you’re aiming at, and be well aware of what is behind, in-front of and surrounding your target. You’re responsible for every round you fire from your gun, being knowledgeable of the environment around your target helps prevent negligence and harming innocent bystanders when engaging a threat.

UNIVERSAL SAFET Y RULES

OWNERSHIP

GUN OWNERSHIP

By Chaz Gormley Artwork by Nic Vasquez

It’s important that we establish a foundation of responsible gun ownership as we encourage the community to arm themselves. The pillars of this foundation are built on what are commonly referred to as “The Universal Safety Rules”.

In addition to these Universal Safety Rules proper storage and handling of firearms is necessary while practicing responsible gun ownership. There are hundreds of holsters available for the wide range of firearms available on the market, all offering options in regard to retention and including IWB (inside the waistband) and OWB (outside the waistband) options. When not in use or holstered, your gun should be stored in a safe, relative to the size of the firearm. Gun safes come in all shapes and sizes from large steel safes for storing multiple long guns, to smaller portable safes that can be used while traveling and flying domestically. Responsible gun ownership is founded upon safety and by reinforcing these standards we can prevent negligence inside and outside of the home.

BL ACK MEN BUILD // 2021

BLACK HEALTH IN THE ERA OF COVID-19

By Shane

A few clicks on the internet searching “Black COVID-19 mortality rates” will help answer this rhetoric with a resounding

“NO!”

Not in the least. Never have. Never will? Of course the pandemic has magnified this painfully obvious fact as we hang on the precipice of a half a million American deaths - with the virus ultimately taking the lives of Black Americans at greater than twice the rate of white Americans. In science and medicine, we’re taught to rely on data points and to make decisions based not on anecdotes and emotions but rather strictly on the evidence. Unfortunately, the evidence demonstrates that for Black Americans, equitable healthcare in America is neither a birthright nor a privilege of which we are deemed worthy.

Still we must rise. Improvise. Adapt. Overcome. It is against the above backdrop that we must take greater responsibility for our own health than ever before and take action. More importantly, we must take informed action. This includes the daunting task of stepping outside the box of our oppression (i.e suspending our skepticism and disbelief in our oppressors’ “benevolent” motives) and thinking and acting collectively, not individually, but for the greater good of us all. In short, we must simply make a decision - a decision to trust those of us who are truly educated in the medical sciences and who truly have our best interests at heart. Specifically we must decide whether or not to trust our Black doctors and scientists. And as a Black American medical doctor who is ready to die like Malcolm and Martin for the betterment of his people, I would be remiss if I did not declare, we must fight for fair and equitable vaccine access.

BL ACK MEN BUILD // 2021

Doctors are much like the priests of society. The majority of people confide in us and as such it is our duty to try and educate people with compassion and understanding. We must try our best to convince our patients that this is the action that will bring us to a safer and less deadly future for not only our children but our grandparents as well. However, we can not just expect our patients to accept our advice blindly. We must try our best to gain their trust through patience and education. We must remind people of the past positive interactions and outcomes between society and medicine (i.e., polio, measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, varicella, pox, hepatitis, etc). Now more than ever, Black Americans, and Americans in general, are misinformed and susceptible to conspiracy and conjecture. Instagram, Facebook and the rest of social media are rife with conspiracy and pseudoscience. Science is too often abstract, not intuitive and easy to misunderstand - especially for those without formal training. Thus, a lot of conspiracy is founded in ignorance. Early in the pandemic, there was talk of Black people being immune to COVID-19. Of course this proved to be false and founded in ignorance as the number of deaths piled up (deaths I tried to personally prevent in the emergency room). I even heard comedian Eddie Griffin say, “Why come there is no vaccine for cancer or AIDS yet and they came up with one for COVID-19 in months?” One must be formally trained and have gone to school for years to understand the answers and nuances to these questions. The bottom line is that we cannot exist and survive in a vacuum by ourselves. We must trust and rely on others to persevere and subsist. What about trusting our Black doctors and scientists who’ve proven themselves to be trustworthy?

BLACK HEALTH IN THE ERA OF COVID-19

It is no secret that Black Americans are apprehensive about receiving this vaccine. Considering their past relationship with the Tuskegee Syphilis experiment (which just recently ended in 1974) and persisting health disparities - they have a right to be scared. The vaccine was pushed very quickly through FDA approval. From a statistical standpoint, there are simply more opportunities for mistakes or adverse outcomes to happen. From a common sense or pragmatic standpoint, there are simply more opportunities for mistakes to occur. Still, in light of the above, Black Americans should be granted the decency of having a voice in whether or not we are to receive the vaccine or not. It would be inappropriate and immoral to mandate an order forcing Black people to take the vaccine. The paternalistic style of medicine has been deemed out of favor in medical education. Shared decision making and informed consent should continue to be the rule. I believe the real conspiracy would be for Black Americans to somehow miss out on the vaccine and the benefits of herd immunity.

BL ACK MEN BUILD // 2021

BLACK HEALTH IN THE ERA OF COVID-19

BL ACK MEN BUILD // 2021

BLACK HEALTH IN THE ERA OF COVID-19

Black People in America Have Lost Nearly 3 Years of Life Expectancy Since the Pandemic The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)

1 in 1,000 Black Americans have died in the Covid-19 pandemic APM Research Lab

Black people are about 4 times more likely to be hospitalized and nearly 3 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than white people. The center for disease control and prevention (CDC)

White Americans are being vaccinated at a rate 3 times higher than Black Americans. Black folks are least likely to be vaccinated The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

By Nic and and Damon Davis By Vasquez Nic Vasquez Damon Davis

BL ACK MEN BUILD // 2021 // ORGANIZING IN THE BIDEN/HARRIS ADMINISTRATION (DID WE PLAY OURSELVES?)

IN THE

ORGAN BIDEN ADMINIST DID WE PLAY OURSELVES?

NIZING N HARRIS TRATION By Tef Poe

BLACK MEN BUILD // 2021 // ORGANIZING IN THE BIDEN/HARRIS ADMINISTRATION (DID WE PLAY OURSELVES?)

When it comes to presidential elections, niggas need to know they ain’t voting for shit besides the opportunity to let American Airlines or Delta decide who runs the free world. They also need to know the difference between the United States and America. The USA is a fictional creature which was created with deeply disadvantageous intentions for anyone who wasn’t born an upright walking homophobic white man. But we reaffirm the bullshit everyday, niggas can’t even hold the fucking line when watching the presidential inauguration of all things. A crystalized ceremony which celebrates the manufactured successes of the New Rome. Democracy is a goddamn myth, transformed into an all out lie. We’ve never had no form of a fucking choice. As beautiful as Dr. Angela Davis’ words are, you can’t eat one of her speeches. Certain types of people know all the history, they know all the important dates, they’ve read all the books. By observing their actions and ignoring their words, you’ll quickly notice the very place they sleep is an unorganized trainwreck. Mind blowing how the self professed queerest revolutionary generation ever born consistently sells soul. No differently than the predominantly hard legged Black male centric era before now. For the sake of reaffirming the deadliest mixture of heteronormalcy, rapid capitalism,and faux representation Black “America ‘’ has ever seen--the movement’s political line doesn’t really exist. Revolutionary cap rap is the theme of their lives. Motherfuckers are really afraid of revolution, because it means we ourselves will finally have to carry our own bullshit. The industry of Black pain has improved the quality of life for morally sound HBCU babies turned societal do-gooders. The last election proxied itself as one where we all came together and made a critical choice… but in reality we chose another rapist, another white man, and another almost Black political barrier breaker who made a career for herself by locking up niggas like myself. Niggas was cheering for the Trillateral Commision in real life and that shit is brazy!

The streets never had a choice in this matter, it was always above us. Defunding the police is an accurate necessity for where we are right now. But that’s scraps. Rivers of blood follow the motions of the oligarchs, stampeding over Black people globally, while Michelle Obama does the Dougie on Sesame Street with Big Bird and Elmo. George Bush is niggas new white uncle. Same niggas watching the Royal Wedding and cheering for the fucking British Empire. And now we celebrate Biden and Harris for expanding the imperial reach of the establishment’s power. Perverted Bill Clinton is our friend again. Hilary’s sins are forgiven. It’s the same shit over and over again. The gun busters, the inmates, and the lone outcasts still haven’t found a seat at the table. The power is still vastly in the hands of gatekeepers and social climbers. In return this creates confusion, false alliances, shaky relationships, conspiracy theories, and spookism. Many of us are within risk being considered the new white people amongst Black people. In the trenches Black boys are turning into sex workers for money, sucking a white man’s dick and balls for a piece of a cheeseburger. Black Transwomen are getting raped and killed like dogs, niggas are still scared to talk about it because the case study for curating authenticity says we can’t keep it that real. Who will overextend themselves in the name of loving Black people for real? Who determines what is required for freedom to become an actualized concept? Our real problems aren’t even on the menu of discussion. No ballot box has ever provided a solution for this reality.

Cold Summers & Hot Winters By Chaz Gormley | Photographed by Kirby Griffin

“Cause everybody dies in the summer Wanna Say your goodbyes, tell them while its spring I heard everybody’s dying in the summer So pray to God for a little more spring” Chance The Rapper, “Paranoia” None of us really know why, but we all know the harsh reality that warm summer days, and cold winter nights usually mean increased shootings in our communities and conversations about “murder rates” rising. Economists and sociologists will say these occurrences are tied to the rates of unemployment and poverty many are experiencing. While their studies are good in efforts to aid in making sense of and attach statistics to the reality we face, it doesn’t help us when dealing with the day to day of our lived experiences.

How many of us have witnessed a verbal dispute escalate into a violent confrontation? How many times have we seen cell phones pulled out to capture an argument turn physical? Who among us has the character and morals to diffuse a disagreement between strangers in our community as opposed to ignoring it, or instigating it further? We can aggregate all of the statistics and data we like, but none of it will matter if we don’t ACT on what we already know. No one is coming to save us, solve our problems or provide the solutions needed - It’s Up, To Us!

when the fight they believe was going to occur ends before it begins. Most people don’t mind being innocent bystanders and spectators of the violent dysfunction that occurs daily in cities across the globe, but stray bullets don’t have a name and don’t stop until they hit their target, intended or otherwise. This is not a call for everyone to become violence interrupters, attempting to mediate any and all disagreement they witness in their day to day lives. This is a declaration to those of us who are concerned about the violence and death that invades our communities like a plague on those hot summers and cold winters. We must take action, we must be proactive and intervene when time and opportunity permits. We can only be spectators on the sidelines for so long, eventually the death and destruction that is occurring around us will force us to become active participants, willingly or unwillingly.

Cold Summers & Hot Winters Data aside, what can we do about the dangers our communities face? It’s not simply unemployed and impoverished individuals responsible for the violence on our streets, we must also hold accountable the quick tempered brother with access to tools that can and do bring death to our doorsteps. Add to this a music industry that thrives off of young black men harmonizing and creating melodies that glorify “30 round pipes” or “dracos with the cooling kit” - and we’ve got a perfect storm of ingredients to supply a recipe for destruction - season after season.

BL ACK MEN BUILD // 2021

If poverty and unemployment factor into the rise of violent offenses in our neighborhoods, then we need to increase discussions around mutual aid and the pooling of resources. However, in regard to our community members known for their tempers and violent outbursts we need more men of honor and good character to step up, because when the law shows up it’s too late to de-escalate. Far too often attempting to “squash beef” is seen as cowardly or unrewarding; you can hear and see the disappointment of a gathered crowd

COLD SUMMERS AND HOT WINTERS

BLACK MEN BUILD MEMBERSHIP NOW OPEN

HISTORY ISN’T MADE, IT’S BUILT.

By Tara Tee | Photographed by Kirby Griffin It’s all political when you in prison sentenced to 8 years cause they wanted to see another quiktrip go up you know, for the sensation convicted of arson and burglary, but you ain’t set no fire unless we talking about the one in me every time I pulled up and saw you with the cape Ah, we on our superhero shit today It’s all political when you in prison and for a chance at expungement and $2.90 they enlist you to risk it all extinguishing burning trees while folks still inside for burning trees But that’s legal now, in all but 6 states It’s all political when you in prison in a pandemic and hefty pretrial cash bails don’t come with ppe in a drafty ass complex called the Justice Center that ain’t never actually seen justice with no way to be social or distant, now how they supposed to fight the virus and the CO? Jimmie called them violent individuals and I’m calling him the pot and the kettle Cause the work of white supremacy ain’t peace

It’s all political when you imprisoned on the shittiest island for 3 years of innocent until proven guilty around the same time you should be getting your drivers’ permit forced solitude and finally sentenced to suicide for poverty A crime wholly created and committed by the system It’s all political when you tryna check but the balance don’t ever add up Cause Baba Mutulu has been denied parole 9 times since 1986. It’s all political when attacks at sunrise start with shouts like attention MOVE...this is america. It’s all political when a cornerstone of the carceral state is a mass movement aimed and implemented at stunting entire generations of your people. But, we do not consent to mass incarceration. We are vehemently opposed to the imprisonment of our elders, leaders, teachers, mothers, fathers and babies. We are forever indebted to those who have given their life and freedom to the struggle for Black liberation. We Love You.

Atlanta is

OUTSIDE. By Edima Ufot

It was early March 2020 when Rudy Gobert was running around the locker room cracking jokes on CoronaVirus. Next thing we know the whole country on lock down.

We had no choice to be outside and to work. We had no choice but to go about our lives like everything was normal. You might say it was too soon, but it was our reality.

No NBA, no NCAA, no events, no parties, no gatherings, no club, no restaurants. It got so bad it was no toilet paper and no hand sanitizer. I felt like Y2K all over again, but some of y’all too young to remember 1999 going into 2000.

Memorial Day was the start of Covid Turn Up. Some club owners and social media influencers threw the biggest mansion pool party you can imagine -- Project X type of vibes. The party made TMZ. People across the country were in awe like “these country folks just don’t care.” We channelled our inner dj Yola and said we would never let them haters get to me.

While the country was shut down another black man got killed by law enforcement. You know what happened next - protesters took to the streets and the powers that be tried to give them a curfew. This was a time of civil unrest. Georgia was running out of funds. Something had to give. When people weren’t able to go to work the state had to pay unemployment. The political powers of Georgia said we would rather have the state open than support people staying at home and ensuring that they didn’t contract COVID-19.

That meant Georgia was open again.

While the country was in total fear -- Atl night clubs didn’t close til 6am. Money was in the building. Blacks folks from across the country was in Atlanta every weekend partying hard. We quickly became the Black Mecca of the country not the south. As much as some of you ridicule us, ATL became your escape. Lenox Mall became homeroom for cooly high -- I never seen so many Negros at one time shopping in the gucci and other designer stores. We took you with open arms. They said that the cure for covid is in the hookah. That’s probably not true - but from the way it’s going up - you would swear that it was. What a time to be alive.

It’s a Bandemic The spectrum of scams, plays,

and making a way when there’s no way. By Steve Pargett | Photographed by Nick Green

The New Dope Game

It’s Anti-Black for a grown man to sit on his ass and watch his Mama starve. It’s also Anti-Black for a nigga to expect sex or companionship from a Black woman while he watches her struggle to live. Crime is a revolutionary asset when aimed at the right institutions in this society. There will always be a social class of us who live within the margins of outlaw activity. Joe Biden signed a trillion dollar so-called Covid relief bill before his lilly white ass even touched the chair. How much of that trillion dollars is your family receiving? $600?? $1400?? None??

The Black market is on the rise. Scams and crime are objective -- sometimes it depends on who is doing it, sometimes it depends what state you live in, sometimes you just gotta make sure you don’t get caught. Understand, no matter how you’re jooging--the alphabet boys see everything. Capitalism crushes the souls of men, but if a nigga can’t feed his kids he ain’t trying to hear all that bullshit.

Niggas gotta eat, so they’ll find a way. It’s a

Bandemic! In the spirit of that we’ve examined some of the ways that people are making ends meet on a spectrum of riskiness so that we can share game that might be helpful..

EDD Scams Careful - on January 20, 2021 the U.S. Department of Labor provided $100 million to states to combat unemployment insurance fraud.

Flower Circles It’s all good for the person that starts the flower. You’re winning. But for the initial 8 on the outside of a circle to receive their payout, each has to recruit 8 people, those 8 people have to recruit 8 individually, and those eight have to recruit 8 more each. That is a total recruitment of 4,096 people for the initial group to receive their payout. Every man for himself I guess.

Drug Dealing So it’s okay for me to share my trees with my friends in Cali, but in Mississippi I can still get 10 years? Wild.

OnlyFans It’s those same nudes that she was sending to niggas for free - and we gotta tip our hat to Ruby Rose who made $100k in 2 days just using the photos that were already on her IG. Can’t even be mad at her.

Investing in the Stock Market With regular people starting to get together online and communities of Black people coming together to find ways to invest - the future is bright here. Keep in mind that even at it’s best, the market is a form of gambling. Educate yourself on investing, have an exit-strategy and don’t try to play options unless you know what you’re doing. Oh and by the way - know that the elite white folks can and will change the rules if too many of us start winning. Look at what happened with GAMESTOP and Robinhood. We recommend using

Su-Su/Sou-Sou It’s been practiced for generations. Do it with people that you trust.

Investing in BitCoin and CryptoCurrency More and more people and big corporations are saying that cryptocurrency is the future. If you had taken your $1,200 stimulus check and put it in Bitcoin as of Feb 20, 2021 it would be worth $10,183. There are a lot of coins that have value, lots that will go nowhere. Also you’re able to make purchases using bitcoin that are a lot harder to track.

FOR THE

Love

OF MONEY By Phillip Agnew | Photographed by Kirby Griffin

I saw the greatest minds of my generation destroyed by the madness, done in by the monster, dragging themselves to Wall Street at dawn looking for an angry fix, Bright eyed youngster yearning for that connection to worth, to purpose, to direction, to destiny, to love, to self, who don Windsor and half Windsor knot, big smile, high heel, Cuff link, close cut, pocket square, wing tip, firm shake, brisk walk, briefcase, low cut, time piece, pin stripe, hearty laugh, who left home with shoulder weighted with family hope, and mind weighed with memory of midnight hunger pain for that almighty dollar, who arrived at university with fantasies of social success and holding tight coins purchased from the merchant of the American nightmare, selling slices of his devil’s pie, who talked for hours with sister and brother of bright future, big smile, green grass, foreign car, no worry, affirmation, adoration, big smile, accolade, escalade, no worry, two kid, one dog, no worry, big smile, and late into the night lose themself in rosy vision of future self, who drove mind wild in concoction of scheme, of hustle, multiple revenue stream, of smooth matriculation, graduation, degree, diploma, who left for real world with pocket of hope, head of dream, eye of dollar sign, clenching coins to buy a slice of that pie in the sky,

who wonder what one does with the time between banker and traveler, and salesman and artist, and analyst and writer, and receptionist and activist, and detour and dream, and working and living, and dying and quitting, who fill evening with weed smoke or wine glass, or white dust or the haze of hop and barley or pill, or sex, or buying, or TV, or sleep, or wonder, or hating, or working, or crying, who suffocate soul, stifle voice, defer dream, delay desire, procrastinate passion, who count minutes in 8 hour prison in cubicle and corner, and even office and corner office, and meeting, conference call, and lunch break, and hump day, and Monday, and sick day, and big day, and pay day, vacay day, so on and so on, put a show on, the show must go on, who barter joy for job offer, soul for six figure, and figure one day, some day, you’ll find joy and buy it, know it’s a lie but, with signing bonus, try it, who arrive early to function, program, meeting, event, stay late, to keep pace in the money race never meant to win to begin with, who slave to fill the coffer of the author of the job offer, who vanished on trading floor, behind desk, in conference and break room, on airplane, in taxi, in computer screen, and spreadsheet, in realignment, and audit, and merger, and acquisition, and lay-off, who sit in windowless office, still seek ledge to jump from, escape hatch to follow, fox hole to wonderland where life goes to plan, and days with no red or caution tape, who live vicariously through the lives of stars whose lives are emptier than ours, eyes wrapped in the world wide web, who left school and fell victim to the depression, singing sad songs with caged birds, and mimes, and mutes, and chameleons, and angry complaining anarchists, who scream this can’t be life, who still love check, and raise, and bonus, and jewel and rim, and accessory and credit, and purse, and bottle, and chain, and bag, and shoe, a lost generation of world changers, readers, rebels, marchers, dream chasers, leaders, thinkers, lovers, and even a chef too, who fought the establishment, then joined it, those coins clung in bunches…return to the dungeon, wrung like sponges… pastor says the love of money is the root of all evil, I say the love of money has taken root in our people....

BLACK MEN BUILD // 2021 // FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY

GANGSTAS Gangstas and Pimps - for most black men 50 and younger these were our role models. They had all the money, power, women, clothes, cars and most importantly the respect. Due to systemic racism which is racial bias across institutions and society. It is the cumulative and compound effects that systematically privilege white people over black people. Many black men weren’t and still aren’t able to provide for themselves let alone their family. The introduction of new drugs (heroin, crack etc.) and the commodification of black women bodies for sex work allowed for black men who wanted to provide for themselves without the official regulation of the institutions that dehumanized and belittled them. Thus Gangstas and Pimps were born in the black community. Just so we are clear criminality is a social construct and legality is simply being in accordance with a law. I am here to challenge the father, brothers, sons and nephews of this generation and beyond to choose another path of survival. Let us examine what you gave up internally to receive the benefits that come with being a gangsta or a pimp. In order for you to be a gangster, you have to join a gang (a group of likeminded individuals) who commits violent crimes, the most violent being murder, meaning in order to truly be a gangster you have to be able to kill someone with no remorse — this an European concept. I am not saying death didn’t happen in Africa but for a place that holds life in such regard that they came up with a process to help you cross over into the after- life one would conclude killing with no remorse was not a core African principal. A pimp is someone facilitates a sexual act between a sex worker and a customer. I understand prostitution is one of the oldest professions, which is why I believe it should be decriminalized and regulated. In order for you to get a woman to exploit her body for your personal gain you have to break her down, strip her of her humanity and rebuild her in your image. The exact same process used on our ancestors by those who enslaved. In essence, in order to become a pimp you have to adapt the mindset of a slave owner.

I’m using these two examples explicitly is because both of these stereotypes are still used today in white main stream media when it comes to defining black manhood. The reason for that is patriarchy is the vehicle in which black men to obtain power like they white male counterparts. Think about it, you can never tap into white privilege which is a by-product of white supremacy because you will never be white no matter how hard you try and while you can make money you will never be able to make or change the rules in the system of capitalism. That leaves patriarchy, the boys club or as the little rascals called it the He Man Woman Haters Club. Let us define this word Patriarchy which literally means: the rule of the father which does not sound like a bad thing but the Europeans created it to become a social structure for men to dominate, oppress and exploit women. In African societies, social hierarchy was based on age not gender. Domination, oppression, and exploitation damn that sounds a lot like white supremacy and capitalism, the tools used against us as black men. Patriarchy, White Supremacy and Capitalism are the ideologies of which this country is founded by in order for men who are like “the founding fathers” could remain in power. These are Eurocentric concepts based on the domination and survival of whiteness at the expense of everyone else. Ask yourself are you tired of the same old shit of gangstas and pimps or are you ready to be the Black men who you were always meant to be unowed, uncompromised and free.

& PIMPS By Elijah Armstrong Photographed by Tyler Harris

By Randolph Carr

BL ACK MEN BUILD // 2021

WHAT IS MISOGYNY?

WHAT IS MISOGYNY? By Charles Davis | Photographed by Tyler Harris

Why Black Men should stop referring to Black Women as “females”

WHY BLACK MEN SHOULD STOP REFERRING TO BLACK WOMEN AS “FEMALES”

Misogyny is an elusive concept. This is not because we cannot comprehend what it means when explained; it is because many of us are still trying to understand what ‘sexism’ and ‘patriarchy’ really mean In addition, misogyny is too easily reduced to extreme forms of how women and girls are despised and disregarded which we often feel mischaracterizes how we think of our own relationships to women and girls. The reality is that misogyny works as part and parcel of concepts like patriarchy. Patriarchy is broadly defined as a structure of authority that privileges men and places them in powerful positions within institutions, organizations, and interpersonal relationships, all of which is at the exclusion and expense of women. Similarly, sexism refers to overlapping social, economic, and political systems of disadvantage on the basis of biological sex or gender identity. Misogyny, as a tool of sexism and patriarchy, then works to further limit and exclude women, effeminate men, trans and gender non-conforming people from the rights and conditions to act freely on their own behalf. Altogether, the trifecta of patriarchy, sexism, and misogyny can easily apply to many of the everyday ways we as Black men feel the need to be the judge and jury of women’s autonomy and right to self-determination. This may function simply as our own entitlement to women’s attention, affection, and care, whether or not we reciprocate those behaviors as men. In fact, we are often motivated to recognize women’s humanity only in as much as it serves our own desires for what emotional and physical labor the women in our lives perform to our benefit. Here’s the thing about misogyny: it disguises our motivations for treating women and girls with the respect and dignity they deserve as well-intentioned and selfless when they are actually self-serving. Consider the nature of our relationships to women generally and Black women more specifically. From an early age, other men in our lives and what Black feminist Patricia Hill Collins calls the “controlling images” in media shape how we understand and accept as normal relationships between Black men and Black women as transactional. Regardless of our intention, the impact of these transactions is almost always orchestrated to the advantage of men and to the detriment of women. That is, we are taught how to persuade, coerce, and exploit women for their loyalty, their love, their money, their bodies, and other parts of them with relatively little to offer in return. We are also taught to offer them protection, regardless of our offering being solicited, in ways that usually makes that protection conditional, a more common form of “pimping” that may look different but often feels the same.

Finally, we are taught to think of and engage with Black women in the ways the larger white supremacist world engages with us as Black people, which is to disregard and dispose of them because we don’t see them as primarily equal. Instead, and in all the ways our oppressors continue to see us as their property, we are taught to uniquely see Black women as objects to use at our discretion and for our pleasure. It is why we commonly refer to them as ‘females’ rather than women. To be sure, the terms male and female are, at best, descriptors that suggest a particular anatomy or biological sex of human and non-human living things. And, although we believe “male” and “female” to be the same as the terms “man” and “woman,” which are really nothing more than labels society has (re)created to categorize behaviors commonly associated with masculinity and femininity, they are actually different. For that reason, referring to Black women as females further removes them from their humanity in exchange for something, anything else in nature. And because we are also taught to regard human life in higher esteem than other living things, the language of separating Black women from their humanity allows us to think of them as unworthy of the same respectful and dignified treatment we expect as Black men. Similarly, this is why using the term “bitch,” which originated as a reference to female dogs, to refer to women and to characterize their behaviors when they challenge our own efforts to control and dominate them must also be discontinued. While the above examples are clearly sexist they are also deeply anti-Black, a convergence of racism and sexism that Moya Bailey and Trudy termed misogynoir. To be sure, we engage in misogyny and misogynoir as a result of having been so disempowered and dehumanized by the violence of interpersonal and systemic racism. For that reason, we are left to grasp at whatever semblance of power to which we have access and that is our privileged position as men and masculine identified folks in a patriarchal society. So, ` Will we continue to dismiss these casual and accepted ways of being? Or, will we heed the instructive lessons from Brother Malcolm, W.E.B. Dubois, and Frederick Douglass, our feminist forefathers who understood what foremother Anna Julia Cooper meant when she declared to the world in 1892: “Only the BLACK WOMAN can say ‘when and where I enter, in the quiet, undisputed dignity of my womanhood, without violence and without suing or special patronage, then and there the whole...race enters with me’? I insist that we not only answer the call, brothers, but that we also fall back from our ascribed positions as charismatic leaders to listen to, learn from, and follow the leadership of Black women. More importantly, we must do all that we can intercede between them and the world that seeks to do them harm, even when that means protecting them from other men as well as ourselves.

By Ly feStile

BL ACK MEN BUILD // 2021

DEEPER THAN RAPE

By Phillip Agnew Ar t work by Damon Davis Whenever rape is brought up, the room tenses. Silence seeps in. Niggas get shifty. Energies begin to fill the air: pain, guilt, fear, avoidance, denial, anger, sympathy, dismissal. i‘ve seen it happen. I’ve felt it happen. I can’t count the number of rooms filled with mostly sisters telling devastating stories of harassment, assaults, rapes, and terrors. I would shake my head, clench my jaws, ball up my fists, sometimes i would hold back tears. I would say to myself “i’ll kill a man if I find out he did this.” I would tell myself: i couldn’t imagine raping anyone. I could imagine killing some drunken, weak, crazy, aggressive, evil man who lured little children into vans, or held women down, or held knives to their throats, or snuck in their homes in the middle of the night, or put molly in their champagne. Yea, i would fuck them up. Bad. But that was me hiding: Looking at the monsters in their memories, while dodging the one inside me.

See, the problem that i was ignoring and the one that we must face together is deeper than the rape we say we would never do

t’s deeper than the rapists and monsters we say we would kill. The problem we must face together is one that taught us to look away when a homie cussed out a woman for not falling for his line, the one that raised us believing that we’re entitled to a woman’s attention and affection, the one that told us that liquor was our friend, that asking permission was a clunky speed bump on the freeway to fucking. The problem is an entire society built around the belief that men can have, do, say, take, be, fuck, own whatever we want, whenever we want, especially the weak, especially woman.

The problem is the (RAPE) culture. ...and it’s all around us: our music, our films, our books, our sayings, our churches, our families, our government, our movement. Everywhere we look, it’s normal to rate women by their appearance, judge them off their body counts, harass them on our streets, blame them when we violate them, shame them when they offend our limits on them. It’s not enough for us to not be “monsters”. It’s not just about what we do when we are watched or even when we are with women. It’s the little things, the things between us men that will shift the culture. Its checking each other for how we talk about women amongst each other, it’s the clear communication we have and the permission we ask for with our sexual partners, it’s the way we take responsibility for the ways we support media and music and movies that treat rape as casual and women as meat, or eye candy. We must be new men. Men who live with self respect, and possess a love that gives us no other choice but to build a movement for the well-being, safety, and independence of all African Peoples against all forms of oppression and yes... monsters.

DOMESTIC ABUS

We believe in the majesty of our sisters, we hold no place

for any man who decides it’s his place to put hands on a Black Woman.

I have to give praise to my elders for teaching me to never

abuse women.

I was taught this at a young

age so I assumed everyone knew this. I’ve always had major

respect for the women in my family so of course that same energy would transfer outside. I’m not saying I’ve

been the perfect gentleman in every situation, but I can

say confidently, I’ve always given my best effort.

Growing up, I never saw my mom or any woman in

my family suffer abuse from a spouse, but I’ve heard

stories from their past and not all the stories were good.

Listening to the stories showed me that abuse

comes in many forms; not just physically. Soon, it made

sense why some family members gave other family members

questionable looks at the reunion. I started to notice the PTSD effects

suffered from abuse.

Finally, I understood why “Granny’ and

“Cousin” have such a hard exterior. I realize

that I never wanted my anger to turn me into

an abusive person. It hurts my heart to knowing my love

ones suffered a traumatic experience that scarred them.

It made me want to carry myself better as a man.

I’ve never witnessed domestic abuse upfront.

I’ve only heard the testimonies of victims. But these testimonies

instilled in me the knowledge and wisdom to know

right from wrong.

crack. When I heard about the kids suffering

physical and emotional trauma from the abuse, I think to myself, “Damn, what if that was _______________? I hate the media’s current image of the black man. I

hate the rape stories. The murder. All of it is just disappointing. No man or woman is perfect, but I don’t support any form

of abuse in any situation. As black people, we have to make an effort to change the narrative about ourselves. As black men, we have to set a better example. We have to find

better ways to channel our anger and hurt. We have to find a way to help the brothers that want

to change and buss heads on the ones that continue to abuse our women.

I want my nieces and future daughters to know that it’s

a whole squad of brothers ready to protect them by any

means necessary. Every adversary should know that if you brutalize or abuse our women, off with his head! We’re striving to be more than just better men. We want to be protectors as well.

We want to be better partners in every aspect of the lives we lead. What can we do? What do you need from us? How can

we protect you and the kids better? Don’t worry about

those goofy squares from the past. Because the seeds of

Garvey and the descendants of Malcolm are here to get things back in order.

You are appreciated.

By Brother Dre

I see a domestic abuse story, I feel a piece of my heart

ENENMY OF PEOPLE

Every time I watch the news or scroll my time feed and

BL ACK MEN BUILD // 2021

BLACK GRANDMOTHERS

Grandma

By Yusef Bunch Shakur & Nia Assata

Black woman, mother of civilization Daughter of Afrika

Sista-Souljah to the Black Struggle Black Queen

Desired by man

Feared for all that she stands. You became the spoil of war Exploited and enslaved

Through your struggles you remain brave. Black babies snatched from your arms

Forced to feed white babies as if they were your own Through stormy days & dark nights

You gave hope and never lost sight. Ain’t i woman

Lady sing the blues Black is beautiful

Strong times two

Fighting the good fight You remain true

Ride or die through & through. Backbone to the movement You birthed the Nation Scars & sacrifice

Tell the story of your salvation

All while protecting your creation. Some call you Ma

While others call you Auntie, Sista, Girlfriend, Wife You are home and heaven The peace to the storm

The strength for the weak &

Everything that We seek!!!!!

By Tef Poe | Photographed by Nick Green

Protecting Black Women in the World and in Our Communities @BL AKCMENBUILD // 2021 // BLACKMEN.BUILD //

PROTECTING BLACK WOMEN IN THE WORLD AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES

It’s the highest privilege in the world to walk outside anytime you wish and not worry about being physically raped while you jog down the street.It’s an greater privilege to know that by chance if this does happen to you know the rest of the world will give a fuck. It’s even more a privilege to move through this world and never ever have to even think about discussing your safety. Black people aren’t safe in this world, but the physical security of all Black Women needs to be our highest priority. We all have lied to the women in our lives. But that’s mainly because Black men don’t want to admit to the truth, we often feel fucking powerless in a white man’s world. We proxy ourselves as strong and noble but we ain’t proved the shit yet. For some magical reason our homeboys are the only niggas in the world who would never sexually assault a Black Woman. We ourselves, are inexplicbly the exact -- and only niggas who would never dare rape a woman.Rape is stilll occuring, Black Women are pleading with us. But Black men tend to act like taking ownership of that shit is too much of a challenge. It’s easier to rape, kill, shoot, and leave a Black Woman for dead, than it is for niggas to admit that we have been groomed hate our sisters. We hate her beauty, we hate her body, and we hate her upward mobility. The Black Woman’s mind is always enduring a state of disrespect, so you know damn right niggas don’t respect her body. We don’t have any issues with colorism either. The rest of the world certainly does, but not us. Now imagine if this was true. Currently these are stationary talking points for “cool” Black men. Maybe you read a lil bit of Bell Hooks so that makes you better than the niggas who haven’t? You got in front of your shit before it became a PR crisis? All of the above is just something to say when the sisters who get on our fucking nerves are in the room. Reaffirming comments and conversational jargin we spill while our woke fuck buddy stops by for her bi-weekly dick appointment.Some drinks are drank, some music is played, and some weed is smoked. Your bodies collide, she comes, she doesn’t, at the end of the day the wordplay is all metadata, minutia,--rubble. Black Women aren’t safe in this whiteman’s world. Black Men as a group aren’t mentally prepared to decolonize our minds and go to war for them. Mainly because we still fear these honkies and it’s been that way since the slave ships. Yes, there are brave men, bold enough to speak, but to speak for a Black Woman means a motherfucker better be ready to die. Niggas haven’t determined rather or we’re willling to take that far though. But we’ll die for Nike, Gucci, Fendi, and Prada, if no one else is looking.

I honestly could give two fucks about any of the academic assessments and definitions. But I do use words like “if any nigga tries to harm a Black Woman in your prescence, you better fuck him up. If you’re feeling antsy let him live, if he’s white blow his brains out. If he’s a rapist we should cut his dick off. Sisters die for Black men from birth, rather directly or indirectly, but we can’t even find a way to unify behind our debt to her liberation efforts. The Soapboxing bare chested testosterone driven bullshit we shove down everyones fucking throats like its some type of pharmaceutical medicine has no home here. Black Women are disposable, because Dr.Dre said so and niggas still think he might discover them one day. An obtuse unrealistic chance at a record deal is more important than a living breathing Black Woman. We won’t say shit, don’t do shit, when the pigs gun down sisters who talk the same exact revolutionary bullshit as us. Our stomachs get knotted when a Black Woman dies because we know we ain’t gone do shit. Our anxiety rises because we might actually want to but if you’re still scared of the white man then there nothing else to say about it. Penitentiary chances get took in the name of selling crack to Black mothers, but damn sure not the name of defending them. Rap records get made about fucking Black Women to death, but never about not causing them to die. It’s crazy how Black Women are “whores” and “bitches” so whatever happens to them is their own fault. It’s crazy how we still falsely predicate our existence around make believe strength, dick sizes, bank accounts, diamonds, and rolexes (even though your shit is fake). I do the same shit as you my nigga, Everybody has the right to decide what becomes of her body besides her. It’s all learned behavior from this colonial experiment called Amerikkka. Either way freedom will be obtained for somebody. White Supremacy will be challenged, like always. Sexism and the fear of a liberated Black Woman will be met with its own violence. The Black man is nothing but a puppet on a string until he decides to prioritize the safety of all Black Women. Nine.

@BLAKCMENBUILD // 2021 // BLACKMEN.BUILD // AN OPEN LET TER TO MY BLACK SISTERS

An Open Letter to my Black Sisters By Charles Davis | Photographed by Kirby Griffin

Sisters,

One might have hoped by this time, by this day–in–age, that the very mention of what seems to have become merely the evening news would be so intolerable amongst us brothers that we might raise our fists for you and with you rather than ever again raise them against you. But, of course, it would then require us to confront ourselves with the time old question of “how does it feel to be the problem?” No doubt these last few years have been particularly unkind to us, to Trayvon, Mike, Freddy, Philando, George, and Ahmaud. But, they have been especially unkind to you, to Aiyana, Sandra, Crystal, Jazz, Mia, and Breonna too. Saying your name is not justice because justice is you still being here. But, we must say your names, all of them, so we remember and never forget. And yet, through all of it, you never stopped fighting for us. You never stopped loving us, not in private and certainly not in public, even when we have not loved you or ourselves. You never let us forget whose we were and that we matter. All this despite the countless times we crossed the bridge that is your back, simply trying to find ourselves in the fruits of your thankless labor and love. This letter, then –a little thing– to let you know we (more than a few of us, I hope) listened when you spoke. We learned when you taught us how our liberation was inevitably tied to yours.

Since the point of these words –however few, or many, or inexact in their arrangement– is to express love, let me first say it plainly: I love you. After all, it is in your multitudes where I found my own humanity. At every impasse, your brilliance has eclipsed my ignorance; your uncompromising humility has overtaken my peculiar arrogance; your courage has strengthened my cowardice; and your steadfast compassion has turned my selfishness into altruism. But of course, I also love your simplicity too. Like the endless complexions of melanin as it changes with the seasons; your hair in its wondrous, ever-changing styles and textures; your sartorial fashions and imitable patterns of speech. Although what I love most about any of these things is, for you, they have been chosen on your own terms. In whatever way you selfidentify, it is without regard for the narrowness of my gaze. Be you masculine of center, distinctly feminine, or anywhere along the named and unnamed fluidity in-between, I love that who you are is your own definition in whatever ways it suits you. Let it be said, again, I love you. And although we continue to wrestle, to give up parts of the men we are for the men we should be, I am hopeful for the future. To imagine it is to dream of a time in which we, as Baldwin wrote, will fight for your life as though it were our own –which it is. Because when and where you find freedom, then and there the entire race finds freedom too. Love,

A Black Man AYANNA JONES, KILLED BY POLICE DURING A RAID IN MICHIGAN IN 2010. SANDRA BLAND, DIED IN POLICE CUSTODY IN TEXAS IN 2015. CRYSTAL HAMILTON, KILLED BY HER HUSBAND IN VIRGINIA IN 2016. JAZZ ALFORD, BLACK TRANS WOMAN MURDERED IN NORTH CAROLINA IN 2016. BREONNA TAYLOR, KILLED BY POLICE DURING A NO-KNOCK RAID IN LOUISVILLE IN 2019. MIA GREEN, BLACK TRANS WOMAN KILLED IN PHILADELPHIA IN 2020.

By Steve Pargett Photographed by Rashida Zagon

Our hearts are filled with toxic sludge and it overflows into every aspect of our lives. We get relationship advice from JustinLaBoy on IG and niggas that cheat on their wives while they’re preaching to not cheat on your wives. I hate it here, but sometimes I like it. It’s toxic, but we have fun though. The situationships are such a vibe, until they aren’t. If I were to be completely honest, sometimes my heart feels cold, like I don’t have access to all of it, but that seems pretty normal when I look around. Sometimes it’s like I’m just noticing the things that should bother me, but I don’t actually feel it. The women in our lives need us but they know that they can’t always trust us. They put up with us until they don’t -while the weight of hundreds of years of toxic programming of Black people shows up in the way that we walk and the way that we talk with one another. The “Black family“ is in limbo.

But if we keep it real, everybody isn’t really trying that hard. There’s women that have settled for the bar being so low that guys are able to get away with murder. Not to mention that when Black women are murdered by the police, our bark isn’t as loud as it is when someone that looks like one of the homies that had a knee on their neck. We feel sick when we go online and see women with the rallying cry “Niggas Ain’t Shit!” and think that can’t be about me. Sometimes the hardest part is that when you do muster up the courage to be the one in your group of friends that suggests that y’all stop calling women “bitches” that awkward feeling you get because now all of a sudden you’re acting all brand new. But hey - who said life would be easy. Who said that our relationships would be easy? This issue of WARTIME is meant to challenge Black men and the matters of the heart. Take a deep breath bro.

We’re exhausted. We fight the battle when we leave the house against a country that wants us dead, and we come back home to argue with shorty about some bullshit, while we’re still carrying the weight and pressure of making sure that we’re paying bills, spending meaningful time with our children, and maintaining some semblance of a social life.

We’ve got articles about all of the big words that they expect us to know but nobody ever had a good conversation with us about. We’re diving into the relationships that Black men have with Black women, and the relationship that Black women have with the world. We’re getting in conversation about how we need to protect Black women and disrupt the sexual assault and abuse that plagues our community.

I’m not perfect, but I’m better than I was a few years ago. We try hard, but it’s hard out here.

We have a lot coming at us out in the world, and our best hope of survival is if we start at the heart. Who Do You Love?

@BL AKCMENBUILD // 2021

WHO DO YOU LOVE?

BLACKMEN.BUILD // 2021

WHO DO YOU LOVE?

FRONT COVER Nicholas “Nick” Green is a Jamaican born photographer, based in the city of Miami Gardens, Florida. His passion of capturing moments throughout everyday life through digital and film photography has impacted him greatly to keep creating moments that won’t ever happen again. Photography by Nicholas Green (@nickxshotz) Production/Direction by Kevin Arrieta ( @Krie8ta ) Model: David L. Jackson (@thedavidl.jackson)

BACK COVER Rashida Zagon is a creative photographer & storyteller based in New York City. Specializing in portrait photography she captures natural movement bringing to life the most authentic energy of each subject. Through human connection Rashida brings intimacy and light to still shots. Exposing the simple joys of everyday life by capturing those behind the scenes moments. Her intention is to make great connections with people and brands, treating each of her clients with specialized attention to bring their vision to life. Photography/Direction by Rashida Zagon ( @rashidazagon ) Direction/Styling/Set Design by Simone Sullivan ( @simone.sullivan ) Models: Kadijah Raquel & Jason ( @_kadijahraquel & @darkskinis_in )

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER Kirby Griffin is a cinematographer and photographer from the west baltimore area of maryland. As a child of the arts, Kirby pursued fiilmmaking in his early twenties after initially chasing a dream of being a performance artist - spoken Word/acting - searching for the perfect outlet to express himself as a storyteller.

Shout out to WARTIME is committed to prioritizing the growth and exposure of Black creatives in our publication. We are committed to compensating the artists we work with fairly within our means. We know that no one sees us like we do, and in that the lens through which we see ourselves should be from the Black perspective. There is no one “Black” perspective because black people are a rich and diverse people, so our goal is to reflect that in the art you see.

RASHIDA ZAGON

NICK GREEN

KIRBY GRIFFIN

Photography PG: Cover | 96

Photography PG: Cover | 11 | 40-41 | 59 | 88

Photography PG: 54 | 68 | 71 | 86 | 90

DAMON DAVIS

TYLER HARRIS

NIC VASQUEZ

Illustrator PG: 82 | 36

Photography PG: 78 |

illustrator PG: 44 | 62

ARTIST Bibliography

Wartime is our quarterly publication.

Raw. Real. Facts.

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