Being a 21st Century Black Man

I stand before you today because there are some damaging statistics facing you young men. When I look at you, I see eager young men who have the potential to be anyone they want to be in the future. I see a doctor sitting next to a lawyer, a politician sitting next to a businessman, and most importantly I see youth ready to start the next chapter of their lives. Unfortunately, society may not view you in such favorable to light. To be honest, I can’t say that society really wants you to succeed. In my opinion, the American society has been holding you back. In an article entitled Plight Deepens for Black Men, Studies Warn, Erick Eckholm paints a dire picture for black men in the United States. According to experts at some of the top universities i.e. Princeton, Harvard, a large portion of poorly educated black men are becoming even more disconnected from the mainstream society (Eckholm). Young black men are not finishing high school. Young black men are being incarcerated at the highest rates. To put things into perspective, when you’re in your thirties 6 in 10 black men you know who had dropped out of high school has spent time in prison (Eckholm). Young black men are facing dismal unemployment rates. I can read of a million other statistics, but I’m not. I will stop right here because you already now what’s starring you right in the eyes. Failure is starring you down and I’m urging you young men to stare right back and say, “Get the hell outta my way.”

You may be thinking, “How on earth am I going to overcome. This lady is crazy?” I promise you there is a way to overcome, you just need to find the tools and surround yourself with the right people and you, my friends, will go far. Nothing will get in your way of being strong, capable young black men. 

 First of all I want you to think black men who embody what it means to be a man. Chances are images of Jay-z, Kanye West, Dwaye Wade, etc. popped in your head. How many of you had President Obama come to mind? Martin Luther King? Frederick Douglas? Thurgood Marshall? That’s a problem boys. Media is defining what a black man should be. Media tells us a black man should be surrounded with money, women, be athletic, and most importantly have the “look.” That’s what has become important in society to prove to others that you’re a man.  My question for you is why are you letting society tell you what you can and can’t be? Why are society and media telling you what you should value? There was a study done by Wizdon Powell Hammond and Jacqueline S Mattis, about the meaning of manhood among black men (Hammond). This duo took responses of what values were most important for these men, and I’m telling you right now that being a “pimp” or “filthy rich” weren’t the values at the top of this list. These men valued responsibility and accountability most of all. This means that these real black men valued being strong black men who didn’t drop out of high school and possibly went to college, who didn’t get locked up, who got a job, and are providing for their families. That was most important to them.  I don’t know what you boys are thinking, but in my opinion society has you guys thinking all wrong. Why would society tell you it’s important to be “hard;” whereas, this study with actual black men is proving that being “hard” isn’t that important, but what is important is being responsible and accountable for your actions in life. I need you guys to think with me for a second, what if you started valuing responsibility and accountability over being “hard” now. Imagine how much things could change for you? Your minds are probably racing with ideas of taking school serious, helping out around home more, dreams of college and careers, but then that ugly head of failure begins to rear it’s head towards you. Now here’s the part of the presentation that I need you boys to pay attention to, the crucial piece that is going to help you tell failure to get the hell outta your way.

As I can’t emphasize enough, each of you young men are very special individuals, and its vital for you to think of yourselves as special individuals in order for this work. In order to do this we are starting an all black young men group at your school. This group appropriately named “Boyz 2 Men” will help you boys battle the statistics that are hurting you, and put you on the path to your personal success. As a group you will work together to empower each other with the help of the two black male moderators in charge of the group. You will begin to value yourselves as unique individuals who are powerful and capable. Many of you may not know this, but this idea of rising up as an empowered collective of individuals is accredited to the Nguzo Saba’s principle of Ujima which means collective work and responsibility (Karenga). I’m not surprised that many of you have not heard about the Nguzo Saba before. The Nguzo Saba is a list of seven core principles of an Africentric worldview, which include, unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Boyz 2 Men will focus on these values in it’s teachings. It will primarily focus on the principles of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, purpose, and creativity.

This group will be a place where it is okay to be black. You will learn about the history of your ancestors who started in Africa, important blacks throughout the decades, and black men of today’s age. In addition, you will be offered tutoring, counseling, and group discussion with your peers and mentors about issues that are important to you. This will help mold you into a strong young black man. the final component of this group is for you boys to give back. You will use your intelligence and creativity to help members in your communities through service learning projects led by your mentors. You will be given the opportunity to help the elder members of your community, in addition to helping the younger boys of your community to stay on the right path towards manhood. This group is placing a great responsibility on you to be active and helpful members of your community and society, but is also helps you on your journey by offering you anything you ask for. As a collective, you will rise up and be everything you can be. In fifty years, when I stand before another group of young black men, I want them to be shouting your names when I ask for black men who embody what it means to be a man.

Note: In Aminfu R. Harvey’s article Individual and family Intervention Skills with African Americans: An Africentric Approach, he stresses the importance of an africentric approach. He states that it is vital to understand be knowledgeable of the African American cultural continuum. He is a huge advocate of services from an Africentric perspective. This Boyz 2 Men group is rooted in empowerment and Africentric principles. It is our sincere hope that by using the Nguzo Saba principles, the boys will become empowered and see themselves as important, unique individuals. We hope to change their views of what a man is from media’s perspective to a more realistic Africentric perspective. Our hope is that these boys will be the future leaders of the African American Community.  We have to start somewhere, and I believe the place to start is in middle school. 

Here’s to change!

Eckholm, E. (2006). Plight deepens for black males: Studies sound alarm. New York Times,    03/20/06,  

Hammond, W. P. (2005). Being a man about it: Manhood meaning among African American men. Psychology of men and masculinity, 6 (2), pp.114-126.

Harvey, A. & Hill, R. (2004). Africentric youth and family rites of passage program: Promoting resilience among at-risk African American youths. Social Work, 49 (1).

Karenga, M & Karenga, (2007). The Nguzo Saba and the Black family: Principles and practice of well-being and flourishing. In H. P. McAdoo (Ed.), Black families, 4^th Edition (pp. 7-28). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.