This appears to be quite a random blog, but reader think not. I have been meaning to write this blog for a while now. Now, before I move on any further let me just add that I am not putting down or not appreciating the overall creation of other males. However, I can only really speak from experience.
It’s fair to say that to often we as an audience are presented with images of Black men who are under achieving academically within educational settings or under-performing in their everyday lives. This is most apparent within media. You can sometimes become blinded by the negativity presented to you on your TV screens or within your newspapers which continually show you images of black on black crime and young black males getting no where fast.
Of course, you have to wonder why so many black men fail, even now in 2008. I mean, has there ever been a better time for the black male to succeed. They are influential in so many fields now, more than ever before. I remember talking to Father once about this very same thing. When he was growing up in the UK who did he have as a black male to look up to. For him there were many influential black men. But look at the amount that is around now. Black men excel in Business, Media, Sport, Music, Writing, Creative Arts, the list is endless.
Let me not forget to mention that the impossible happened this very year. A black man was made President of the United States, a feat that was only dreamed about and deemed only as the unattainable dream. The same dream that great Black Iconic figures like Martin Luther King JNR had to die before it was realised. Let me just say that of course, many blacks are not convinced by this, after all biologically Barack Obama is of mixed raced heritage. I’m sure you will agree that this is another item, for a whole new blog. 🙂
It is the continual negative images of black males which sometimes leads you to thinking that good men are a dying breed. But, from my own experience I am blessed to be surrounded by multitudes of beautiful and inspirational men of colour who work extremely hard. It is these black males that make me so proud and honoured to be in their lives. I have male friends who are becoming fathers at young ages, but are stepping up to the plate. They themselves were often without fathers themselves growing up. They did not have a male figure in their lives to help teach, shape and mold them into men. But with a solid upbringing by their mother’s they became strong black men, men who take care of their children and teach them how to be decent and contributing members of society.
I know black males who are successful Actors, Photographers, Singers, Business men, fathers and entrepreneurs. I know young black males who are holding down two or three jobs, many who are slowly but surely climbing up the career ladder and I know many who fight against oppression or the postcode lottery and branch out of their boy areas to building fulfilling and inspirational lives away from the poverty in which they were born in to.
The man in my life is going through his own personal trials, it seems that no matter how hard he tries to better his life and circumstance, he hits one brick wall after another. It is often painful to see how many issues he has to face. However, no matter how difficult things get or no matter how long he feels deflated for, he bounces back. I like to think that it is my love and the support I as his woman gives him, but I also know that it is the strength of his character.
I once had a picture of a black man and a black woman wrapped up together, their skins tightly intertwined. It was a beautiful image and it highlighted to me just how beautiful black men are. The different shades, chocolate, caramel, fudge… 🙂 You get the picture. What about the body, the contours and the different and unique body shapes. The way black men sing and dance- the voices of Boyz to Men ring off in the background. I’m in awe of the amazing, beautiful and captivating black brothers within my world and outside of it who are creating wonderful lives for themselves and many others round them.
Francis, Simon, Joe, Densel, Kosher, Leonard, Aaron, Michael, Alphonso, Dontae, Phil, Jevon and all the other inspirational black men who have crossed my path. This is for you. 🙂
x
The views expressed in this blog are not the views of Flavour Magazine.