Monday, December 1, 2008
The Black Male in America
I was curious to find out what seems to be the general consensus among black folk regarding the current state of the black male in America especially since the election of Barack Obama. A lot of people think that we are making or have made considerable progress in this country. How true is this? Considering racial profiling, the disproportionate number of black men incarcerated in this country, black on black crime (among black males), etc. This seems to be a very serious questions that are looming in the black community.
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4 comments:
The irony that I see in the current state of America is the growing gap in reference to the black male. It seems as though everytime we make a stride forward, there are several strides that pull us back. With that being said, this gap that has been created is growing larger. Although we may have elected our first African American male into office, there are males that have accumulated lots of general attention being sentenced to several years behind bars. It makes one question will we ever defeat the stereotypes that imprison our people, damage our mentality, and inevitably destroy our sense of community?
I believe that the black male is becoming more and more discriminated against more in the open now. When i look around my city, i see more of us black males not in schools, unemployed, homeless, etc... Its pretty sad and makes me feel that its just more pressure on my back to be better than my peers just to be considered valusble to society.
I believe the racial profiling against young black men really goes both ways. With the election and the President being a black man all the young black males should know that anything for them is possible and there's really no excuse for anything but the best. It's a sad thing though because like you said there are so many young black men with no jobs, not in school, in jail, hustling, because they feel like its no way out. There is always a way out and its up to the person to make a difference. Some of the most powerful men in this country are African American and theres no reason why the boy on the corner can't be the next best thing. He just has to have the hope in his blood and even though most of them do, they aren't sure how to attain their goals or even get started, so they resort to what they know. I hope with the election the young black men out there realize that they can do anything and do better for themselves. Starting by portraying themselves better because every little step helps to end racial profiling and sterotyping.
Ace...I agree that black males seem to discriminated against more and more....I believe that because we are making great strides despite the fact that many are homeless, incarcerated, on the corner selling drugs, not in school, unemployed, etc...the black male has come a long way, think 50, 60, 70 years ago, our future looked somewhat bleak and dim....systematically ripped from our families, thrown in jail for whatever "they" wanted to, denied the basic of human rights and respect as a man...we have come far but even with the election of Barack Obama (a mulatto in their eyes...that's ok for "them")our accomplishments in government, traveling to space, entertainment, media, engineering, mending our families, slowly grabbing our youth back from self-destruction, etc. we have come far and it scares a part of white America.
Yes, it is pressure on you to be better but remember your peers are considered, by white America, other black males, so to be valuable to society would mean being better that the white male and excelling better than them....your peers are not considered a value to society. We are still pretty much ignored and taken for granted even though we are doing a lot better.
Don't be discouraged because there is hope and will we will eventually be recognized as the men and leaders that we truly are...after all we are the ORIGINAL....that was ordained by the Most High...No one can ever deny that or take that away (from the black man!). Ya Dig!
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