LET’S KEEP IT REAL What’s The Difference Between.....
Negro, Nigra, Nigger, Picaninny, Nigga, Black and African American? By: Author/Writer
T he word “nigga(s)”
is not common in my vocabulary. I only use it to describe those black people who are far too gone and who are full of the stereotypical BS (you can be educated and still be a nigga... more on this later) associated with African Americans. I started using the term after having a conversation with a friend. We were right in the middle of the conversation when she said, “Why do you keep saying black people do this, that, and the third? You are generalizing. You should say niggas then everyone will know who you’re talking about. Everyone knows there is a difference between black people and niggas.” I remember thinking, “She is right.” So, from that day forward I started using the term nigga(s) to differentiate between them and the productive positive conscious black people. Keep this in mind while reading this post. I love and respect black people. Black people are the minorities these days in terms of African Americans. It’s hard to find a black person in the sea of niggas. Some people (mainly the niggas) don’t think there is a difference between black people and niggas. Here is a breakdown of the characteristics of the two (note
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it doesn’t matter if you live in the “hood” or the “suburbs” you could still be one or the other):
Black People ■Work hard to get where they want to be in life. Hard work is not foreign to black people. ■Believe in traditional family values. ■Have NEVER been involved in the criminal justice system unless falsely accused. ■Hates a person on welfare (and other socialist programs unless they’re
elderly/disabled) or those who are mooching off the government in some way, shape, or form. ■Value education to the fullest. ■Are conscious of their image. ■Put the needs of their children before their own. ■Strive for financial stability and a bright future for their offspring. ■Vote and exercise their voice politically. ■Have all their kids by one individual (I understand that everyone’s
story is not the same with this one so there is some room for give or take here). ■Hates violence and crime. ■Know their history and take pride in it. ■Don’t typically suffer from self-esteem issues (though it is possible). ■Believe in getting money the LEGAL way. ■Hold themselves to a higher standard. ■Don’t mind helping those who help themselves. ■Have networks to help each other (and those
trying to help themselves) conqueror life’s challenges. ■Don’t want anything to do with niggas..... typically can’t get out of dodge quick enough.
Niggas ■Hard work has never even occurred to them (in too many cases). ■Will spend every dime they get on stupid stuff (plasma televisions, rims, cars, pocketbooks) ■Have multiple “baby daddies” and “baby mamas.”
■Don’t give a care about their image. ■Welfare is their thing (they will find a way to get it). ■Violence and crime are a way of life. ■Education....damn.... what’s that? ■Sit around feeling sorry for themselves and living in self-pity. ■Believes in getting money by any means necessary (don’t care if it’s legal or not). ■Weed is their thing. ■Sit around hating on black people for what they’re doing and what they had to work hard to achieve (success). ■Don’t know what it is to stop screwing and use birth control. ■Love making excuses. They have an excuse for everything. ■The words, “I can’t” are dominate in their vocabulary. ■Suffer from the “crabs in a barrel” complex. ■Are only out for themselves. Don’t believe in helping others at all unless they can get something out of it. They can be wealthy/hood rich and still not give a damn about anyone but themselves. They don’t even make a effort to help those who are trying to help themselves. ■Don’t believe there is a difference between themselves and black people. I know what some of you are thinking, “Dang
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FEATURED STORY
Wake up Black people!!! In 2011 We Are All Losing! By: Author/Writer
I
have heard the issue of the black man and black women relationship discussed upon no end. The common thread that stands out in most all of the discussions I’ve witness and/ or had the displeasure of participating in is the unwillingness to compromise or understand one another’s plight. Which translates to poor communication. Black women complain that she can not manage to find a suitable mate however when asked to evaluate what role the social environment or she has to play in the problem she is all of a sudden to tired and frustrated to participate in a real logically dialogue absent personal emotions. I am starting to find the same issue when conversing with black men. Every one wants to be the exception and the ‘good’ one being dealt a bad hand. I call this the victim card. The reality of it all is we
all have a hand in what is going on in our community but many of us are on ego trips. Many are so self-centered that the only topics they want to involve themselves in are topics of how they are the ‘good guy or gal’ done wrong. Enough already. If you want to see a better black man or black women emerge then you cant sit on your hands assuming it will happen through osmosis. The conditions of the black community did not develop over night so there is no over night fix. It took over 400 years to get us here but many of us wanna say that the the last 40 yrs should have been plenty of time to some how rectify things and everyone should automatically know better. That half-witted way of thinking is partially what has gotten us into the trouble we are in. Black people need to stop playing, stop placing all your emphasis on who’s warming who’s bed. With all the OOW
children we have in this community bed warming is not on the decline. The hard ugly truth is the black community is still crippled from slavery but until many of us wake up, accept and find a way to move on from that we will forever be like a dog chasing its tail. To those who will ask, how are impacted by slavery? Culture and Economic. Every other ethnic group has one or the other that keeps them a float. White, Asians, Jews and Middle easterners have economics (they own everything) and because they have developed pride in themselves
In this country all these big time white business owners come from ‘old money’ code word for slave money. Yes they have 400 years head start on you. Now Mexicans are on the rise. They are organizing (working together) right now to petition the
based on their race (culture) they make sure that those who look like them are being slotted to take over for them.
president to let their illegal family members be granted permission to stay in the country. Why because they have cul-
ture and genuine pride for one another. Black people...what do we have??? A bunch of people who want to deny the hardship of the next one in order to appear more victimized. I say black women suffer form low self esteem due to being slated third to the white American beauty standard and what do I get from black men? ‘They are just looking to the wrong man for validation’. I say Black men suffer form the most oppression and what do I get
another black male college student shot dead in the streets by a police officer. That makes how many black men gunned done by cops vs. how many men of any other ethnic group? Black people get your minds right. We can’t let got of the slave talk with so many still acting like slaves! My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge Hosea 4:6
form black women, ‘there is no excuse if I made it he should be able to.’ Oh yeah and we stage marches when yet
CONTENTS BLACK MAN, BLACK WOMAN
LET’S KEEP IT REAL
What’s The Difference Between....African Americans and Negros?
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COMMENTARY
FEATURED STORY
Why Black Men Continue To Suffer and Why It
WAKE UP BLACK PEOPLE: In 2011 We Are Losing!
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Must End Now
4
African Americans?
Black Youth Are Trapped in a Culture of Hopelessness
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My 2 Cents
To Contact Us Call: 1.888.466.0850 2331 N. Gettysburg Ave. Dayton, OH 45406
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dboykin@urbansourcemagazine.com
Why Do Blacks Hate Being Called
The Truth About Black Woman Being
OUR PERSPECTIVE
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HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS
REAL TALK Gold Diggers
Not Buying It: Why I Still Believe In The Good Black 5 Man?
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REAL TALK
The Truth About Black Women Being Gold Diggers It Could Be That Brother’s Are Cheap and Want A Free Ride. By: Author/Writer
My Godmother has been married
for 45 years. Her husband has always been the major breadwinner. While she worked, off and on, selling Avon on the side or having a part-time job nurturing either children, the sick, or the disadvantaged, I would marvel at her because she was the Black woman being taken care of by a Black man, a regular man who worked in a meat packing house. They have been homeowners for 44 years, raised great kids, and he retired after being employed for 45 years on the same job, and now they live comfortably in their older age. I remember my Godmother telling me that when she was dating her (future) husband, she would be HURT if he got paid and didn’t buy her something like a new dress, a piece of jewelry, a fancy dinner, or arrived to pick her up without a beautiful bouquet of flowers. She said he made her feel loved, honored and cherished. She simply fell in love with him and they always had such a wonderful time because his kind gestures broke down the barrier that makes women skeptical. In reality, too many men have dishonorable intentions. Time and time again, I hear from Black men that Black women are gold diggers. My wonderful and loving Godmother would have been thought of as a gold digger in this day and time. But due to the low resistance of men to do whatever they could to earn a woman’s love, many couples have made a wonderful life together. My Godmother knew she had to tap into a mans masculine trait so to establish a secure home for him, her, and their children. Today, if she tried the same thing, she would be a part of the epidemic single Black female that would probably end up being a single mother with no man to provide and protect her and her children. Black men have lost their way in what is their duty and have confused their purpose with labeling Black women who want anything from them as gold diggers. The way my Godmother needed verification that the man that was courting her was serious about a relationship with her, is probably similar to the way that many Black women behave today. Only now Black men have been taught that its a disgrace when a Black woman asks for a $15 pedicure. You see the success of
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their relationship was based on knowing each others role as a man and as a woman. He knew he had to provide for her to have her for himself. She knew that he needed a goal and a purpose in life to provide and protect her because when she put it out there; he gladly took the role of supplying her with everything that she needed. Of course, she would work sometimes, but it was to keep herself busy while the kids were in school or to have spending dollars to buy something special for the kids or surprise him with a lavish gift for his birthday. There is absolutely no proof that Black women are gold diggers, just the complaint of it, and a reputation that is self-destructive for both the Black male and female. The Black female gold digger unsubstantiated reputation leads to Black male failure because the male species is motivated to acquire and achieve so to please and have a woman of his own. This is natural, innate, God-given, and normal. Labeling the Black woman as a gold digger has serious consequences that demote innate motivating factors for Black men to achieve and acquire. The gold digger lie is a deliberate distortion of gender roles and is another method to destroy Black love, which inevitably leads to Black male failure, and that is directly tied to Black race malfunctions. As far as Black women being the nurturer, she needs to be provided and protected so she can concentrate on her duties as a woman and not have to worry about paying the bills, protecting her children from harm, and feel secure enough to love the man that provides for her unconditionally. The male species is built to be the provider and the protector. On average and on every level that judges what gender is the strongest and the tallest, the male wins hands down. The males major job is to provide and protect his family and his group. Females are the natural born
place just like with the hyena, then Black men’s penis will begin to shrink if something isnt done to re-masculate Black menYou see in today’s time, Black men are confused as to their role in relationships. The Black man wants to acquire all that life has to give, but isnt being motivated properly due to the promotion of the Strong Black Women, who can do everything by herself, which simply makes the Black man (eventually) feel inadequate and be a failure at doing what nature built him to do. nurturer because she alone gives birth to off springs. Due to women being smaller and physically weaker (pound for pound) means that she must lean on a man to provide and protect her. Now due to the woman’s movement and industrializing lead by Westerners, physical strength is not as imperative as it once was, but due to natural selection, which means that any species adapts to their environment and builds on the necessary physical traits that are needed for survival, could mean that men could get smaller and women could get bigger. (Black women have always worked since capture from Africa. This defeminized Black women) Since popular opinion suggests that we want to pretend that gender doesnt matter, there may be a serious price to pay one day. When examining the hyena, the female hyena is growing a penis while the males penis is shrinking–making it difficult to detect which gender is which without a thorough examination of their genitalia. The female hyena is one of two land mammals that are matriarchal. She no longer needs the male hyena to provide and protect, so nature is taking its course to exchange one gender with the other. Check out the link below to read it for yourself. Is it possible that this gender reversal can happen within the human race, the Black race? Well its very possible. Black men have loved the stereotype of being well endowed and if natural selection takes
To add insult to injury, the bling-bling media lie tells Black people that if they do their people wrong, they will win and that includes Black women, who are constantly being portrayed as hos and bi-at-ches. After all, Snoop Doggy Dog is an ex-con for selling drugs to his people and 50 cent was shot 9 times, was an ex-drug dealer with a gangsta persona that now has all that life has to offer. Most Black people believe that 50 cent just woke up one day and decided to be a rapper and BAM fame and fortune followed in a matter of weeks. These treasonous fools who are spreading lies about life are simply being used to destroy their own people. Make one rich so to destroy millions is money well spent. Tell Black men to spend every dollar he earns on meaningless items and White women, and hell do that each and every chance he gets. Meanwhile, tell him if he spends one penny on a Black woman he is a fool and she is a gold digger, and hell believe that even though there are no massive amounts of Black women living well from some Black mans money. Most Black women live in the ghetto. Most White women live in big houses and are unemployed. I mean damn are they seeing the reality of life or believing the hype? Believing the hype about the Black gold digger simply stops the recycling of Black dollars and puts the money right back into the mans hands.
The Bling-Bling culture has turned too many Black men into males with feminine traits, who are looking for a woman to take care of them. Wearing more diamonds (in two ears and arent diamonds supposed to be a girls best friend) than women and being more concerned about attire than most women. I even heard Tavis Smiley comment to a male guest on his show, now you like clothes like I do, and out of all the movies you’ve acted in, which wardrobe would you have liked to own? What Negro? All I could do was change the channel and shake my head and say, you too Tavis? To learn about what to do about this disturbing trend that falsely labels Black women gold diggers when I don’t know of many Black women who are living rich off some Black mans money, you can read my book, Black Women Need Love, too! I know there must be a few, but damn that number must be under 5 percent, which leaves 95 percent that are not winning or receiving a Black man’s money for nothing. Most Black women work to have what they want and its nonBlack women with the big houses on the hills, fancy car that her man has bought, and the freedom to spend his hard-earned money on whatever she chooses. This Black gold digger lie is simply put out into the world to de-motivate Black men, which leads to massive failure and under achievement. I bet the Black woman who expects nothing less than the best from her man will have the best or will be alone waiting for her dream husband that doesn’t exist. In reality, we Black women are the ONLY women that accept, love, give to, and have sex with men that have nothing. The proof is all around usthe single Black mother living in the ghetto is the woman that accepts Black men unconditionally. The lie about the rampant existence of the Black female gold digger must be put to rest. If we don’t diffuse this lie, then statistics like this will grow: In highly populated Black communities, the Black male unemployment rate is as high as 75n such cities as Gary Indiana and Milwaukee Wisconsin the high school drop out rate is 85Àeven though
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BLACK MAN, BLACK WOMAN Not Buying It:
Why I Still Believe in the Good Black Man? By: Kim Jackson
about determining someone’s worth based on what they have acquired, as opposed to what they inherently have inside. Being a good man is not always about having things or giving gifts, but it’s also about giving time, love, respect, esteem, etc.--the nontangibles that frame a loving, healthy relationship.
I don’t subscribe to the notion
that there are “no good black men out there”. I know that there are, because I know good black men personally, and I see them in my day-to-day life. I know that there are, because I was raised by a good black man, because my black male friends are good black men, because my girlfriends are being loved by good black men and because I have dated good black men. I think some women get tripped up because they confuse “perfection” with goodness; or because they confuse material possession with goodness. We have to be careful
We must a l s o h a v e enough clarity to recognize a wonderful man when we receive him, no matter what the label in his jeans reads, the type of car he drives or the title on his business card (if he even has one). I’m not saying not to have preferences surrounding such things; I am simply nudging you to look a little deeper. It is important, nay paramount, that we remember that we receive what we call into our lives through our own words and actions. If you say “there are no good black men” you will not attract good men. If you lower your expectation on what constitutes good behavior, the men in your life will lower their behavior to fit the bar that you’ve set. If you ex-
cuse the behaviors of men who are of poor intention because “there are no good black men” anyway, they will continue to behave poorly because they can. I am raising a young black man and I refuse to tell him that he can’t be good because he is black and black men are not good. I’m going to continue to show him how to respect and treat a woman and continue to help him to aspire past being just good, and onto being great. I recognize that there are larger issues at play here—issues that are rooted deep in the psyche of the black race and embedded in the history of this country. I’ve seen and heard the statistics on the number of black men in jail, and I’m aware of the uneven ratio of black men to black women in the U.S. I understand that, if you’re still single, finding your good black man might be more difficult than it has been for others. My point here is that it’s not an impossible task, nor do any of the hurdles to their coupling with black women negate their existence. I just can’t hop on the black male bashing bandwagon when I know so many intelligent, creative, honest, respectful, educated and responsible black men--whether they are available or taken--and I tip my hat to them for being more than a statistic, more than a stereotype or a generalization and for being even better than “good”.
The Truth About Black Woman Being Gold Diggers Continued the population is growing. We must teach Black young men that their responsibility is to provide and protect the community and their families. Black men are walking around confused about manhood due to lies that are in rap crap music and the lack of the father figure that teaches his son what his responsibilities are as a man. These are some of the reasons why it is important to spread the message that Black Women Need Love, too! To re-motivate Black men and give them direction to what their duties are as men. In my book, Black Women Need Love, too! Exposing the Conspiracy to Keep Black Women Without Love, I break it down and give techniques, strategies and motivating methods to return Black men to their thrown as Kings for their Queens. Brothas, if you really believe the Black gold digger is in abundance, then use her as a source of inspiration to achieve and prosper, and not as an excuse to abandon, fail, and hate.
What’s The Difference Continued ....why you gotta put it out there like that? These are stereotypes!”
Cut the bullcrap! I’m honest with myself about the members of the black community. Anyone can look around and see that there are two sides. I know which side I’m on and which side is screwing us up. For a long time (up until very recently) I thought there was a way to save those on the “nigga side,” but now…. I see the writing on the wall. My side can’t do a damn thing in this world because society is steady judging us by the majority (the niggas). We move to the suburbs hoping and praying we can get the hell away from the niggas only to have one of them move into the subdivision and do something wrong thereby making it hard for us (the black people) because we’re judged as a collective. Maybe we can’t realistically separate ourselves but damn if we can’t try. We as black people have our flaws too but they are nowhere near as bad as the issues niggas have. The niggas reading this will say I’m racist against my own. This is not the case. I don’t hate niggas... I just want to stay as far away from this group of screw-ups as possible. After years of trying to help niggas I’m done. If niggas changed their ways and became productive members of society I would embrace them with open arms. However, most of them don’t want to make a change. Most of them don’t want to do better. I have finally faced reality. They love living in ignorance. It’s the only thing they know. If niggas
came over to the productive side they would probably be bored. You can’t teach someone (a grown person) something they should have received from their parents (good sense). You can be educated and still be a nigga. These individuals gained a book education but never left the “hood mentality” in the hood. They smoke weed like it’s going out of style. They might sell drugs while in college (some might even be middle class so they don’t have a reason to do the shit that they do....not that there is a good enough reason in my book). You can be wealthy and still be a nigga. Niggas are typically out for themselves. It’s understandable that they might not want to help their fellow niggas but it’s not acceptable that they don’t make an effort to help those who are trying to help themselves. It is not a mystery why successful black people get their education/business and get the hell out of dodge/away from niggas (thereby giving the niggas a reason to call them “sellouts” or question their blackness). Niggas will try to bring you down to their level. They love misery and they want company in their misery. Bringing your overachieving ass down to their level would probably make their day. It frustrates them when they are unable to get the best of you. Meanwhile instead of paying the niggas any attention black people go off and live their lives in suburban neighborhoods (while only helping those who help themselves). Now that BLISS!!!
sounds
like
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COMMENTARY
Why Black Men Continue to Suffer, And Why It Must End Now By: Author/Writer
I
recently read a report stating that black male joblessness is the highest its been in 40 years. In addition to being the least likely to have gainful employment, we are also the ones who are most likely to end up in prison and without an education. These glaring facts don’t even include astronomical rates of black male homicide, HIV infection, alcoholism, heart disease, etc. As it stands, black men are at the bottom of the barrel in nearly every statistical category. You don’t get this kind of devastation without highly coordinated participation and strategy, even by the victims themselves. All parties, including us, have played a role in creating the hell on earth that defines the existence of the black male in America. Here are just a few factors that have supported the continued destruction of black men:
1) Good old fashioned racial discrimination: As much as we’d like to believe that black men choose their own demise, the reality is that there are significant challenges even for those who do all the right things. President Barack Obama, arguably the most powerful black man in the history of the world, has constantly had his qualifications challenged by those who don’t believe that a black man should be running the country. President Obama’s experience is replicated in nearly every corporation, factory, university and restaurant in America. My academic advocacy for black men led to tremendous ostracism from my colleagues at Syracuse University, where my 13 years of postsecondary education and 14-hour a day work ethic were unable to trump
the color of my skin and the fact that a black man has not been tenured by any department in my business school in over 100 years of operating history. But I don’t feel sorry for myself, because I hear from thousands of brothers across the country who do everything in their
power to succeed, but are still being told that they aren’t as capable as the white guy down the hall. In fact, it all starts when black boys hit the first grade. 2) Black males buying into selfdestructive images in media: Apparently,
someone wrote a book years ago which says that nearly every image of the black male on the radio or television must consist of someone who is either busting rhymes, dunking a basketball, throwing a football, getting high, getting drunk, getting arrested, having sex with every girl in the world, wasting his money on ridiculous jewelry, not going to school or carrying a gun on his hip. These images are absorbed by young black boys at such an early age that many of them don’t have a chance. Before the young man can discover his greatness, it is crushed like a grape by the sick, sad and disgusting influences which lie all around him. Many black males who seek to escape this cultural tornado are ridiculed by those who’ve decided to drink the
kool-aid. Some are shot by other black men from the wrong side of the tracks. Some are influenced by the fact that they receive more adulation for winning a basketball game than they do for passing a math test. Such perceptions are reinforced by every corporation that tells the conscious rapper to act like a buffoonish thug to sell records, every woman who rewards her man for “keeping it hood,” and every parent who doesn’t correct their son for having five or six babies mamas without having a job. We’d be lying to ourselves if we didn’t acknowledge that our own counterproductive choices don’t sometimes lead to our demise. 3) Politicians who just don’t give a damn: This is not meant to be an essay to pick on the two black males in the Obama Administration (the President and Attorney General) who’ve hardly
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HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS? Why Do Blacks Hate Being Called African American?
But We’re Quick To Claim Indian Blood or Puerto Rican in Our Family. By: Tina Clark
I
spent a lot of my childhood wondering why so many white hate Black people. I wondered why all the other colonized, brainwashed people of color (who white folks also despise) hate Black people. Most of all, I wondered why so many Black people hate being Black
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and presumablymost likely descended from Africans. I cranked my brow at the fact that my mama not only wastes money on red, white, and blue paraphernalia but, most importantly, my mama has said all my life over and over again–
ly, it nearly killed me. When I set off for college, I thought, It doesn’t matter that I’m Black. I can go out into the world and be what I want to be. America can defy its history if I try hard enough. My sister always called me white anyway. I wasn’t “like the other Black folks“. I liked to read and write. Being black to “I ain’t no African.” I’m descended from dark-skinned Indi- some people means anti-education. This ans. I ain’t that black. We got Italians and is wrong for two reasons: Germans in our family.Your great granddaddy on your grandfather’s side was 1. Black people in this country were Mexican. You’ve got Native Ameri- intentionally and lawfully barred from being educated (which means as an opcan cheekbones, see there? Your great grandparents on your pressed and enslaved group they were grandma’s side are both mulatto. not allowed to read or write therefore Africans are old nasty, stuck-up, they were not taught or allowed to go to greedy folks–they don’t like Black school generally). folks over here no way and won’t 2. The American education system is a white supremacist education system on say a word to hep you. Those are some of the words the whole and it seeks to hide, misrepthat encouraged me to pursue the resent, and outright lie about its violent harmful, brutal, stunting environ- racist history. Look no further than HB ment of a predominantly white in- 2281 in Arizona for some evidence. Can ternational institution of. Literal- you hear a cynical laugh? Why is it so
wrong to be Black? What’s wrong with being Black? I always thought as a child, in school watching videos of brutality against protesters by police and racist whites, reading testimonials of violent rapes and lynchings of Black women who were enslaved and even after slavery, looking at photos of lynched Black peoples, men, women, and children beaten, broken, dismembered, tortured bodies. America was not going to protect us when it could get away with it. Why does blackness inspire so much hatred and violence from other races? I was born Black and female. I didn’t ask to be. Its part of who I am. Why does everybody want to be anything other than Black? “I ain’t no African.” Despite those words from my mother, I now have strong Black female, gender fluid identity that is growing stronger and healthier everyday. I have prayed to my ancestors and try to at least do what I think would make them proud. As much
as I wish it existed the way it does in my fantasies, I now understand that Black unity is part myth; my childhood and experiences as a young adult have taught me this. Still I feel as if the struggling I endure is not in vain and I am not alone. I take pride in my Blackness and I try everyday because many of my ancestors fought and suffered and lived and died so I can have this chance. No I’m not through-and-through African, as in I wasn’t born in any of the prominent African nations where there are brown folks that look like people in my community. But I believe in the voices and spirits of those who have come before me and the strength and power that has brought me this far, here, today. That which will not let me die in the face of pain and adversity. That which shelters my heart and makes me to laugh and cry and continue to love.
OUR PERSPECTIVE Black Youth Are Trapped in a Culture of Hopelessness And Facing an Uphill Battle in the 21st Century.
STEP UP BROTHERS! THEY NEED US! Black youth in America are fac-
ing an uphill battle when it comes to success. Traditional institution and age-old strategies are being stretched to find solutions to stop this accelerating trend of hopelessness and despair. Why have we found ourselves in this place? What got us here? With 70 percent of black children being born into single-parent households, many of us would suggest that the lack of a stable family structure has a great bearing on where we are today. Everyone that I knew as a child had a strong home environment. While our fathers weren’t perfect, they did provide us with the necessities of life - food, clothing shelter and, most importantly, guidance. Just as important was the fact that there were grandfathers, uncles and cousins who served as father figures. So all of these black men were always around, telling us that we could be something in life.
isn’t the way it has to be. As we skip into the new millennium, the state and welfare of black youth is in peril. While there are some pockets of excellence, there are too many valleys of despair. Black youth are trapped in a culture of hopelessness. Time-honored phrases like “yes sir” and “thank you” have been replaced by “wuz up” and “whatever.” Boyish looks and charm have been replaced by acting and looking too old too soon. High expectations have soured into no goals. The concept of “It takes a village to raise a child” has turned into “Make it the best way that you can.”
Ask a young black male today to identify the late rapper Tupac Shakur or Colin Powell, my guess is that only 10 percent would recognize the first black secretary of state.There is something drastically wrong with this picture. While this is the social malaise that black youth find themselves in, we cannot allow this to be the future. Teddy Pendergrass sang in one of his many hits, “Wake up everybody, no more sleeping in bed, no more backward Our entire neighborhood took thinking, time for thinking ahead.” an interest in our development. I both admired and feared the men Individuals and groups, both black in my neighborhood. We all knew and white, must decide to be an that if we stepped out of line, our elixir for this problem. Any person elders would be there to kick us can mentor a child. It takes only back into place. There was an a willingness to serve. Teachers, unwritten rule in black neighbor- counselors, coaches and adminishoods that the men there would trators must take up the mantle of take care of us and make sure that hope and design programs for black we were OK. This was just the youth as early as pre-school, so they way it was. What we have now can start school on the right leg.
Mentoring groups must re-double their efforts to save black youth from the social influences that place a higher value on designer-label oversized clothing than on schooling. Places of worship must redirect their efforts toward strengthening black youth and the family structure. Don’t just adopt a family for Thanksgiving or Christmas, adopt the family for the entire year, tutoring the kids or exposing them to meaningful extracurricular activities and helping the parents develop budgeting skills or job-interviewing skills - whatever they need to become self sustaining. While partnering activities are on the rise, there ought to be more of them. Schools, cities, social service agencies and places of worship all have the ability to form alliances. Businesses also can play a major role by sponsoring programs and events. Our communities grow stronger when all of their parts are viable and valued. Watching a generation of black youth disappear before our eyes is not an option. Talking about the problem, while admirable, will not stop the decline. Turning our backs on it and pretending that it doesn’t exist won’t work either. Let’s roll up our collective sleeves and do something that will help young black youth have a bright future.
Why Black Man Continue To Suffer Continued said a word about disproportionate black male unemployment and incarceration. Nearly everyone in Washington is tone deaf to the struggles of black men. If whites were going through one-half of what we’re experiencing, we’d believe our nation to be in a state of emergency. When I ask the political types what they are doing to address unprecedented black male unemployment, I hear that the rising tide will lift all boats(translation: If we help the white folks, then black people will benefit as a side effect…. kind of like Trickle Down Economics). When I ask about black male mass incarceration, I hear something about an 18-to-1 differential in the sentencing between crack and powder cocaine representing progress (18-to-1 is a little ways from true equality right? Just checking – and this doesn’t come close to addressing the problem). When I ask about employment discrimination, I hear about the end of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, helping gays in the military. Let’s be clear: All of these political gains are nice, but almost none of this matters to black men who struggle to get ahead on a daily basis. The truthful translation of all of this political cowardice and double-speak is that it’s simply unprofitable (politically, economically and otherwise) to advocate on behalf of black males. Marginalized men don’t make a difference at the polls and with black males effectively becoming the social cockroaches of America, the political backlash for black male advocacy is simply too strong for morally-bankrupt politicians to endure. Effectively, we’re locked out of most forms of political support, not simply because we don’t have adequate coalitions in our communities, but also because there are other groups which seek to punish those who help us progress in this society (i.e. which is why even most black politicians in Washington are afraid to address clear, rampant and easily verifiable racial inequality). The result is that black men must unify with one another. Organizations such as 100 Black Men of America do a great job of getting the ball rolling, but much more must be done. When the black man dies, the black family dies, so we are in all in this together. As it stands, black children are filling the cradle-to-prison pipeline like never before, unmarried black women are being murdered in droves by a
frightening HIV epidemic, and all of us are experiencing a shocking degree of post-traumatic stress disorder after enduring unspeakable urban tragedies at an early age. All of this must stop and it must come to an end right now. When you see a black boy acting like an ignorant thug, correct him. When your brother or boyfriend has five kids that he’s not taking care of, get in his face about it. When your son brings home bad grades from school, take him off the basketball team and get him a tutor. In addition to addressing individual accountability for the challenges of black males, we must have zero tolerance for our society’s insistence upon keeping black men at the bottom of the socio-political barrel. A path must be made for those men who make good choices and seek to do the right thing. Our society, jails and schools create more criminals than hip-hop music could ever create. Institutions that do not hire African American males must be confronted with a ferocity that they’ve never witnessed before. Politicians of any race who are too cowardly to speak up on black mass incarceration or unemployment must be fired from their jobs – power means nothing without having the courage to use it. Similar to the spirit that created the Million Man March in 1995, black men must come together to form empowered, aggressive and thoughtful political coalitions that fight for no-nonsense solutions to our problems. This must be done to protect ourselves and to support our families. Our families must also stand with us, for there are millions of black men who are committed to challenging ourselves and each other to do better. As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, the state of black male existence and employment is at a 40-year low. But this 40-year low is preceded by a 400-year old problem. If we continue to address the problem in the same ways we have in the past, we will continue to reach the same conclusions and find the same faulty solutions. It’s time for a new day in black male America and that day must come right now.
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