Given the Signs of the Times, I thought the time was ripe to put this one out there…
Back in my rambunctious youth, which included in part, an “Afrocentric” phase, I and my friends at the time would pride ourselves on being “critics” of just about any and everything; we had pithy answers for questions hurled at us, and we gave those we considered less than satisfactory to us or the “community” no quarter in our recriminations.
Part of our critique had to do with those who had gone on before us; in our shortsighted and woefully misguided view, they either hadn’t done enough, or had done too much of the wrong things. To back up our critiques, we would cite Kenyatta, or Nkrumah, or Lamumba as examples of Brothas keeping it real. Of course, Malcolm got favorable mention as well.
One day, while hanging out at the old UNIA building in North Philly (which still stands today as a landmark of sorts), my buds and I were doing the “critique” thing again, until one of the Elder Brothas, Brotha Battles, had all he could take.
He lit into us.
First, he outlined what life was truly like back in the early 20th century for Black folk in general, and Black Men in particular; how “nightriders” were common, how Black soldiers returning home from war were lynched at in their uniforms, how grown Black Men were expected to avert their eyes and step off the sidewalk when White Men came along. How Black folk didn’t have the option of voting, couldn’t take a number one or two at a gas station, couldn’t try on clothes at stores, you name it. He questioned all our loud talk-empty loud talk-that we would engage in, from the comfort of a building that was built on the backs of our ancestors, at a time when merely doing so-yes, even in a place like Philly-could definitely have guys like Brotha Battles, if not severely beaten, killed outright.
Then Brotha Battles proceeded to ask us some simple questions: had we registered to vote? Of course not, that was whacked, etc et al. Alright then, he aid, what was our plan, since his generation had obviously failed so badly? We bloviated some more in response, until finally Brotha Battles got up from the table and simply said to all of us:
Either you’re part of the solution, or your part of the problem.
And walked out.
We youngbucks sat in silence.
That saying above, you’re either part of the solution or your part of the problem, was a popular one amongst older generations of African Americans during the Civil Rights struggles of the 60s and the years immediately following them in the 70s. As goals were achieved and dreams were realized, the saying seems to have fallen out of favor. At least I can’t recall anyone saying any such thing of late.
But with the Mancession-and that’s what it is, make no mistake-continues unabated, and as I hear more and more accounts of relationship stress as a result of, at least in part, the economic hard times afoot, its something that comes to mind, as I read more and more, about life on the Black hand side.
On this note, not enough can be said-if the Mancession, so named because the economic downturn has hit Men disproportionately harder than Women, is true-and it is-then Black Men in particular have been dealt a one-two knockout combination. We’ve been covering the matter of Black Male employment issues here at the O-Files for the better part of the year now, and I suspect we’ll do a bit more, seeing that this is the second year of the Mancession, with a referendum on President Obama’s term in office looming large in less than two months; it will be a time of deep reckoning and questioning for Black Men.
Let me kindly suggest, that among the questions Brothas should pose, especially to perhaps their biggest critics, Sistas, is simply this:
Are you part of the solution, or part of the problem?
This is a highly valid question, for a number of reasons.
For one thing, it has been documented that Black Women have benefitted far more from the mass social movements of the 60s and 70s, on just about every major life measure one can think of, than Black Men; meanwhile, Black Men have indeed gone backward. None of this is to say that Black Women have *caused* this; but it is undeniable to argue that what I’ve just stated above is so. Only someone who isn’t being honest, would argue otherwise.
We also know, thanks to a recent study/book published by the University of Chicago, that Black Men get far and away less help and support from the nation’s various social service agencies; indeed, if you’re a Black Man and you fall on hard times, your chances of winding up out on the streets, is very real. For all their bluster, Black Women know for a fact that they can get help when they need it-and quite a few have availed themselves of just that. Black Women may have their problems and may not be as valued as Ms. Ann, but they know they can get help if things go bad-from staying with family and friends, to getting full-on assistance from all levels of the gov’t. Black Men, in aggregate, can’t.
Yet, many Sistas don’t seem to have any problem in the least excoriating and scapegoating Black Men for their being victims of circumstance during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression-another era of tremendous suffering for Black Men. It doesn’t seem to dawn on Black Women that not only do they get a serious thumb on the scale at just about every juncture, but that Black Men get shunted at every turn as well. They don’t seem moved by the most basic of facts, that by now are evident to all but the most hidebound individuals, that the whole of the country is suffering, and that Black Men especially, have been put on the edge of the cliff…with quite a few going over it.
Many will feel justified in kicking their longterm mates, hubbies and even flesh and blood, to the curb-giving rise in the minds of many Black Men, to thoughts that perhaps the rappers were onto something after all. Others, while not physically removing such “dead weight” from their lives, will nevertheless feel justified in criticizing their Men, even while they head off to work for Big Gubment.
What’s fascinating to me in all of this, is how so many Sistas react in these situations; they don’t seem to have a “we” mentality-all of a sudden, it’s “me” and more importantly for this discussion, a “you ain’t” mentality. Yet for all the pretenses of power & influence so many Sistas have, one would think that in times like these, they would put all of that to good use, and help their Brothas out. Many Sistas, as noted above, make their bread and butter working for the State either directly or indirectly-which means, they’re close to politicians in one way or another. Indeed, its hardly a Brotha who at one point or another, hasn’t been regaled with name-dropping asides from a Sista, in some “career” capactiy, has been in the presence of so and so, rubbed elbows with Mr. or Ms. Muckety Muck, was at a big confab with a bunch of “big names”. Many Sistas pride themselves on “networking”, on knowing errbody. They spend large chunks of their time online at work, emailing back and forth, texting and what-not to and fro, essentially running off at the mouth on company time. Yet when the rubber hits the road, and their own Man needs help, suddenly they become amnesiac; their big mouths clam up; they’re invalids who can’t do anything.
Or is it rather, they won’t do anything?
It all comes as a shock to the system and a punch in the gut to those Black Men who have played by the rules of society and got nothing but recriminations in return, backed up by excuses from their own gov’t as to why they can’t get the help that even recently arrived illegal immigrants can recieve. The insult is added to the larger social injury, when the one ally they thought they had, in essence, turns on them, too; contrary to the popular mythology, Black Women aren’t as loyal and “ride or die” as they like to shout at the tops of their voices to have us believe; what they really mean by such declarations, is that they were, or would be, loyal to those topshelf Brothas, who now can exercise their mating options, and decide it’s time to upgrade-usually to a White(r) Female. But when it comes to the rank and file Brotha-as the Signs of the Times will bear witness to-Sistas won’t have much problem ditching him when it is necessary to do so.
It is for this, among a great many reasons, that I have said that the African American Male, is truly a Man without a Country. In so many ways, shapes and forms-many of which, the keen reader with a sharp eye will notice-I’ve have been making the case in recent months that to be Black and Male in America, is to be Persona Non-Grata, *regardless of what you do*. Indeed, I am at a loss to think of another such blogging effort, that has attempted to lay things out in such a fashion, from birth all the way to the highest public office in the land. Sure, some among you will attempt to put a good face on what I’ve laidout, will make the case for “fighting the good fight”; and we all certainly know others, who will rationalize their “it ain’t my fault” mentality, simply shrugging their shoulders and blaming the guy for being a cripple when they had a role in breaking the Man’s leg in the first place. But the point, in cold, brutal fashion, is made: being Black & Male, is extraordinarily hard in ways not even Black Women can understand.
Or care to.
Because of the inherent fragility of Black relationships to begin with, it isn’t a stretch to say that this Mancession will see quite a few such unions go down in flames; my guess is that it will bring relations between Black Men and Women to an all-time low, as if that were even possible, and this I take no pleasure in saying in the least. What I have concerns about, and what is likely to be lost in the shuffle even in the Age of Obama, is what I’ve laidout here-that of all America’s Men, Black Men in particular, will be the Mancession’s biggest victims; and that Black Women, in aggregate, will be accessories to this national crime, after the fact.
I say that because, Black Women will have decided, one way or another, as to whether they’ll be part of the solution, or a part of the problem. The early evidence, as we have it, doesn’t look encouraging.
Time and history will be my judge, as to whether I was right or wrong.
If you’re a Sista reading this, and your Man is under the gun economically, as far too many of us are these days, and you find yourself having a go at him for his economic plight, you have to decide-are you part of the solution to his life, or are you part of the problem? Because I can assure you, that he has more than his fair share of problems just living day to day (don’t take my word for it, Jigga said it best), and doesn’t need any help from you or anyone else adding to them on that score. What can you do to move things along in the right direction? Are you being productive and constructive? Are you bringing all your education and know-how to the question, to solve problems? Are you up in those politicians faces, demanding to know why so many Black Men have been out of work, for years, for decades? Have you talked to the people in your social circle, about helping your Man out in one way or another? How many have you talked to? How many job leads have you helped your Man to get? If you see yourself as a “strong Sista”, well, the times we find ourselves in now, is the acid test to ascertain the veracity of your (here to fore unconfirmed) assertions. Put up, or do yourself, your Man, and the rest of us, a really big favor:
Please. Shut. Up.
Thank you.
Now adjourn your asses…
The Obsidian
