"What had become of black men in the decade since hundreds of thousands of them flocked to the National Mall in a day of impassioned speeches, self-reflection and pride?"This is the question that sparked a group of journalists, editors, reporters, and support staff at the Washington Post to launch a multimedia series called "Being a Black Man" that ran in the newspaper from June 2 to December 31, 2006. Regarding the series, the Washington Post received more than 4,000 emails and comments.
It was probably a mix of the subject matter and popularity of the series that prompted the staff to release a book by the same title.
BEING A BLACK MAN: AT THE CORNER OF PROGRESS AND PERIL (August 2007, PublicAffairs) is a collection of essays discussing the lives of black men.The book features an introduction by Pulitzer Prize-Winner Edward P. Jones and is divided into three parts: Where We Are, Who We Are, and What We're Talking About.In the introduction, the book's editor, journalist Kevin Merida writes, "Our attempt was to absorb the experiences of black men and allow them to be seen and heard in uncommon ways--their challenges explained, their complexities examined, their lives reflected upon."
Thus the book includes a diverse selection of narrative-driven pieces. "Singled Out" by Krissah Williams looks at the interactions and relationships between black men and women. In "His Last, Best Cause," Darryl Fears wrote about Damu Smith, an activist who spent his life fighting for injustices but lost the battle to colorectal cancer, a disease that he didn't fight enough. An interview with Bob Johnson, America's first black billionaire, discusses the crucial steps necessary in creating more abundant black wealth. Columnist Eugene Robinson provided a great essay called "Not Just Any Walk-On Part" which begins with the line, "Barack Obama walks black." Robinson then goes on to use the senator as a springboard for a discussion of cool, blackness, identity, and "keeping it real."
Through its essays, the book poses questions like: Why are so many black men in prison? Where are black men spiritually? What does it mean to be a black man?
Naturally trying to answer these questions is a complicated feat. But there is value in the book's attempt to even approach such a thorny endeavor. Within the pages, you'll see your brothers, cousins, friends, fathers, grandfathers, and loved ones. And perhaps yourself. BEING A BLACK MAN is a worthy contribution to a very necessary conversation.
So, what do you think about the state of black men? Do you believe they are at the corner of progress and peril? And if so, what will it take for all black men to walk down the path of progress?
Comments: (45)
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By: Champion on 9/11/2007 8:35AM
Books like this are always pointless, LONG and OVERopinionated! check me out at http://myspace.com/thesandmanno1
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By: Harry on 9/10/2007 10:05PM
Black men do of course seem to be an endangered specie.It seems in ways we are in the starting gates of the larger civil rights movement. Look at the judical mess in Jena Louisiana. Look at death the row members across America, look at the civil unrest of the black urban youth, look at dwindling numbers of black male college graduates, look at the desparites in health care. Don't forget the economic disparites. There is a hardcore something going on..........the black male specie is indeed endangered. However, I do have hope for a audacious turnaround and new begining of progress and enlightenment. I pray for that brighter day. Thanks for listening signed Harry
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By: Mary B Morrison on 9/11/2007 5:34PM
Awareness and appreciation of self and others is great place for any black man to start. Most black men are disconnected from society, black women and even their own mothers. Some black men chase a dollar like a dog chasing its tail so they lose focus on important things like taking care of their children. Loving their wives. More importantly most black men don't know how to love themselves. The disconnect is repairable if the black man makes a conscious decision to take a stand on the corner of progress.
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By: Lorraine Elijah Brown on 9/11/2007 10:11AM
It's history to keep records of the accompishments of Black men. I'm sure you will be surprise of the successors of Black women. However, group love is power. So get encourage and keep the struggle moving. Being Black is what keeps me going. I'm trying to make my mark in history.
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By: Dennis Wayne Allen Esq. on 9/11/2007 3:02PM
Once we realize who we are and learn that our black skin is a blessing and not a curse we will begin to accomplish more as a people. Success in everything, from relationships to doing business with our own people begins with how we see ourselves introspectly and as a community.
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By: Bret on 9/12/2007 5:28PM
Many of us spend way too much time studying our historical roots that led up to our current circumstances. Then we complain far too much about our current circumstances.
We honest and truly need to leave our past behind us. In my e-book, The Seven Simple Steps to Building Black Wealth, I discovered that one of the key steps is forgiveness of everything that haunts us.
Forgiveness isn't about forgetting, its about freeing our souls, hearts and minds to look forward instead of backward. Looking backward is the reason we are moving forward down the road to peril. When we look forward, we can see the peril ahead, then make the conscious choice to choose another direction.
Beyond that, we need to look optimistically to the future and work hard, get educated and help others along the way to make that future real.
Finally, we MUST stop looking to the gov't and people in gov't as our saviors. Its toxic to our spirit. It will lead to more "Katrina Events" in the future where we find ourselves devastated and destitute with no one to help us. We need to help ourselves, then our families, then our neighbors in that order. Then gov't can kick in to do its part but only after we've done ours.
Peace,
Bret
www.blackwealthnow.com
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By: BLAC on 9/14/2007 7:54AM
BEING A BLACK MAN IS TO FIRST STOP WHINING ABOUT WHAT THE WHITE MAN SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T BE DOING. THE BLACK MANS FATE IS IN THIER OWN HANDS. ITS EMBARRASSING AND MAKE ME WANT TO PUKE TO SEE SO MANY BLACK MALE STILL SO BEHOLDING TO MASSA. EVERY RACE OF MAN CAN COME INTO THE BLACK MANS COMMUNITY AND SUCEED WHILE HE STANDS AROUND ACTING THE FOOL, THE LOSER TALKING DUMB TALK ABOUT WAITING FOR THE WHITE MAN TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT FOR HIM LIKE AN OLD LOST MAID. GET OVER IT. AS LONG AS BLACK MALES CONTINUE SELF DESTRUCT PLAYS INTO THE WHITE MAN HANDS. HE'S HAPPY AS HELL AND DON'T HAVE TO EVER WORRY ABOUT DUSTING OF A NOOSE. BLACK MAN CAN GO AS FAR AS AN EDUCATION AND SELF RESPECT CAN TAKE THEM. THAT DOESN'T MEAN HE WILL BE THE CEO OF THE WHITE MANS COMPANY, BUT HE SURE AS HELL CAN BE ONE OF HIS OWN. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WIHOUT GETTING AN EDUCATION, STAYING OUT OF JAIL, STOP TURNING COMMUNITIES INTO WAR ZONE, STOP FALLING FOR THE WHITE MANS GENOCIDAL TRICKS LIKE GUNS AND DRUGS AND SELF DEGRADING CULTURE.EX:COON/MINSTERL SHOW RAP. WHO CAN RESPECT BLACK MEN WHO DON'T RESPECT THEMSELVES, THIER WOMEN AND NOT PROTECT THIER COMMUNITIES SO THIER CHILDREN AND PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DUCKING BULLETS. WHO EVER THOUGHT BLACK MEN WOULD FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO BE CALLED THE N WORD. ALL THE MILLION MAN MARCH DID WAS SHOWCASE THAT OLD BABBLING FOOL FARRAKAN AND LINED HIS POCKET WITH THE FOOLS MONEY. WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF IT HAD LED TO BLACK MEN UNITING AND STARTING THIER OWN BUSINESSES, HIRE OTHER BLACK MEN SO THEY COULD STOP CRAWLING TO THE WHITE MAN FOR THIER ONLY LIVELYHOOD. THOSE MILLIOM MAN MARCHES WERE A BIG PARTY FOR BOYS TO HANG OUT. IF BLACK MEN REALLY WANT THE WORLD TO SEE REAL BLACK MANHOOD THEY NEED TO MILLION MAN MARCH INTO OUT OF CONTROL BLACK COMMUNITIES, NEWARK, PHILLY, DETROIT,ETC,AND TAKE THEM BACK BY ANY MEAN NECESSARY FROM THE BLACK SCUM THAT HAVE TAKEN THEM OVER INCLUDING THE SCHOOLS. ONCE UPON A TIME REAL BLACK MEN TOOK THIS STAND AGAINST THE OPPRESSIONS OF RACISM WITH SOME OF THE SUCCESS THAT ARE BEING PISSED UPON TODAY.BLACK MEN MUST STOP BEING PUNK A.. BOYS TAKE OFF THIER BOY ATTIRE AT DAM NEAR 40 AND DRESS LIKE MEN AND TAKE CONTROL OF THIER DESINY. IF NOT DON'T CRY LIKE LITTLE SISSY BOYS WHEN WHITE COPS ARE FORCED TO COME INTO THIER COMMUNITIES AND KICK BUTT AND CONTROL THIER DUMB OUT OF CONTROL A'S ANY WAY THEY CHOOSE.
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By: Henry Ballard on 9/12/2007 5:03PM
We are a free standing race of beings. No human has natural authority over us, but some seem to promote that silly notion. The Evil One has entered our soul by telling us to seek the material things in life and that our culture and Soul is not important. We are our worst enemy. Discard the material world and embrace what is rlevant.
Peace
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By: Bret on 9/12/2007 5:24PM
Many of us spend way too much time studying our historical roots that led up to our current circumstances. Then we complain far too much about our current circumstances.
We honest and truly need to leave our past behind us. In my e-book, The Seven Simple Steps to Building Black Wealth, I discovered that one of the key steps is forgiveness of everything that haunts us.
Forgiveness isn't about forgetting, its about freeing our souls, hearts and minds to look forward instead of backward. Looking backward is the reason we are moving forward down the road to peril. When we look forward, we can see the peril ahead, then make the conscious choice to choose another direction.
Beyond that, we need to look optimistically to the future and work hard, get educated and help others along the way to make that future real.
Finally, we MUST stop looking to the gov't and people in gov't as our saviors. Its toxic to our spirit. It will lead to more "Katrina Events" in the future where we find ourselves devastated and destitute with no one to help us. We need to help ourselves, then our families, then our neighbors in that order. Then gov't can kick in to do its part but only after we've done ours.
Peace,
Bret
www.blackwealthnow.com
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By: dont count us out on 9/13/2007 7:26AM
The black man seems to be an endangered species @ harry? (comment 1). That wont happen. No one who didnt put us here as a people, will take us out. We are the most feared for many reasons. Even when we arent into criminal activities. In fact the successful black women and men are the ones the opposition fear the most. The focus should always be on us as a people. No need to single out only 180 degrees of our existence. The black woman is 180 degrees, the black man the other 180 degrees. Put it together you have 360 degrees of love and prosperity when we do it correctly. DONT GIVE UP!!! Give 360 degrees of love not 100%.
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