(Please watch and read) Creative Content: Jhay; Voice: Fazl,military man and hood aficionado.
What does it mean to be a Black man in America, today?
(Part 1)
“To be a negro in this country and to be relatively conscious, is to be in a rage almost all the time.”- James Baldwin
It was the year of 2004, I was in the shower singing as per usual, I had just won first place in a track meet( young bolt lol). So you know I was on cloud nine. My joy quickly turned to panic when I heard my step mom screaming “Lawd Jesus”( dramatic jamaican accent) on the phone. My little brother immediately started crying. I still vividly remember my first thought being that something terrible had happened to my father, while he was on his way home from work. I froze and of course the only thing I could do in that moment was pray. I later learned that my father was pulled over, wrongfully accused and placed in jail. He was heading home from work, driving his new white BMW( I loved that car) and turning into an all white neighborhood. Of course to them, this young Black man could not possibly live here or owned that car. My dad apparently fit the description of the person they were investigating. Although my dad had on his work scrubs, gave the officers his license and showed them his car registration they still booked him. He explained to them he needed to get home to take his medication and his house was indeed in this neighborhood. Their claim was that he was being hostile. Thankfully, he was released the next day and the case was dropped.
“Being a Black man in America means staying away from the police, a free land but freedom doesn’t apply to you. Being in fear, worried about your kids, making sure you move into the right neighborhood but then your neighbors don’t accept you because of the color of your skin.”- My dad
Sixteen years later not much has changed, it seems as if progression happens in every aspect in the US except.. police brutality, systematic racism, glass ceilings and much more race related issues. Ahmaud Abery was running in a neighborhood, peacefully. He was targeted and viciously gun downed because he too fit the description of a criminal. An unarmed, young black man. We, Black people, are tired. We are reminded daily that we are viewed as less than, no matter how we speak,or hard we work, dress accordingly or try to appear friendly. We are a threat. Americans value their pets more than the life of a Black human being. The United States has the highest number of mass incarcerations around the world, and the largest number of minorities in prison.
This led me to the question.. What does it mean to be a Black man in America, today?
Most of the answers I received were similar, even though most of these men don’t know each other and stem from different walks of life.
May we learn from this, gain awareness, and hopefully stimulate a ripple effect of change. Love, intentional love can move mountains.
Below you will read their words, their wounds.
“As an educated Black man living in these United States of America, I feel like an aspiring actor that is looking for work, a place in the “industry”..... if only I play this “role” well enough, maybe I’ll be less stereotyped, misunderstood, feared and ironically less envied at the same time.
I know my potential, yet if I refuse to conform to certain norms then it is difficult to get a seat at the table, let alone occupy the head chair. I know that I’m the hunted, and though I’m not guilty of any crimes, I’m guilty of walking around with the most dangerous weapon, MELANIN.....so while being confident and assertive I’m also fearful of what I may be caught doing, while doing nothing. Success here is possible, but it comes with a price.”- Sean Harris, my uncle, a father, a scholar.
“To be a Black man in America is to be an endangered species, feeling of being hunted, threatened or killed just for the greatness that I (we) are about to or soon become.”- Chris Driver, a son, psychology graduate.
“Tired with no sight of rest. Capable with limited opportunity. Free, yet still in bondage. Chasing yet never arriving. Finding wholeness with boundaries. “- Anthony Bolden 29, a husband, Non profit leader.
“As a Black man in America I am hyper vigilant of my surroundings, cognizant of those present and those not around. I am constantly calculating my actions in public, imagining worst case scenarios and ways to de-escalate the situation should it arise.”-Mark Reid 28, a friend, a son, a pastor.
“Constantly fighting stereotypes that’s not even true about us and wondering why people are so scared of us.”- Chad Abram, a lover, an excellent father.
“Honestly, in 2020 being a Black man means you're a threat & expendable. Which is really sad.” Schwinger, an Amazing Flight Attendant.
“Being Black in America means to live in the constant fear that at any moment, everything you’ve worked for can be taken away. Stripped away from you, and you can be dehumanized and made out to be a person who is inferior and capable of baseless heinous things.” - Ethan S. (Musician, Cyber Security Analyst)
“Phew. Being a Black man on this day just feels like being stretched thin. If I try not to focus on the negative and live with unbridled joy, I’m not being aware or woke enough because sadness is all around, but focusing on only the struggle keeps me from really enjoying life. I teeter between happiness and anger/sadness caused by racist injustice. When I feel neither extreme I’m just numb.”- Sasha Diambois, a son, a husband,a speaker.
“Being a Black man in America means to constantly be criticized, patronized, ostracized, and idolized while trying to get ahead in a system that wasn’t built for you to succeed in.”- Calvin Hall,25, a son, a brother, future scientist.
“Being a Black man in America means to always be fighting a losing battle and being expected to win. You could do everything right and they still will find something to hold against you. “- Fredrick B. 24, IT guru, a great friend.
Black men, the most sought after entity, yet the most hunted. Lets love our Black men.
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