We have come to see the experiences of Black males, especially young Black males, from a very narrow lens. Not all Black males, have or will, live the street life. In todays society, not all Black males even grow up in the inner city & attend urban public schools. Im hearing of more occasions of young Black males living in the suburbs & attending suburban/predominantly White public & private schools. Their reality may look far different than the young men attending a St. Louis Public School, but that doesnt mean that they dont have challenges or cant connect with the realities of other young Black men. Their reality is trying to fit into a school where the administration, staff, & student body may not be very welcoming. They may be getting a better education, but their suffering culturally & dont have the support needed to help their holistic growth. We have young men that are bused from urban areas, to suburban areas to attend school. Their reality is being bused out to another community to go to school & coming home to live in impoverished neighborhoods. They have to wake up two hours earlier than their suburban peers, just to get to school on time. If they participate in extracurricular activities, they may not get home until 9p.m. & still have homework to do. Lets talk about how the systems that are supposed to protect, teach, & nurture them, actually have low expectations. Lets talk about how theyre expected to code switch by the dominant society, yet ridiculed for talking White by their peers. Yesterday, a professor from Washington University, spoke of a young Black male student having challenges finding his voice & speaking out against injustices. I gave her my contact info to give to him, because I can relate to the relate of being a Black male in the world of Higher Education, & the struggle to find your voice & to be heard. The street life isnt my story & it never will be. My story is one of a nerd, big brother, one often described as too nice in my younger years, & one with a heart for people. My story may not be broadcasted on TV, glamorized in the hood, or relevant to some, but its my story. Not only is it my story, but its the story of many Black males. This doesnt allow me to disconnect & acknowledge a reality or point of reference other than my own, but does allows me to present a prospective that may not get acknowledged much. All Black males arent lost or living in a state of turmoil. Some of us have goals & aspirations. Many of us will achieve things that most wont think we can. I say all this to say, lets expand the conceptualization of what the Black male experience is, expose & speak on ALL aspects of it, & seek to advance the collective more than self. We are all Brothers, regardless of the side of the tracks we come from. WE ARE ONE!
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 15:28:07 +0000
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