Week 5
Being a Man About It:Manhood Meaning Among African American Men
I believe that the meaning of what manhood comes from African American men not believing in themselves and having no hope because society has placed that influence upon them for many years.
Until that thought is broken some African American will assume that being tough and being arrested makes for some a manhood. They will have to overcome what has been handed down to them in order to work towards a new definition and meaning of manhood. Dealing with the presumptions of the oppressors and using that to further break down the unity of the African American family.
African American Women and the Male-Female relationship dilemma
To read that these myths still exist is very sad and should be a huge concern for all African American women and men. I do feel that couples of African American have so much more to deal with but on the other hand I feel that couples in general have numerous situations to overcome and can be solved through understanding and patience. We have to stop believing those negative myths and it needs to begin within the African American communities. In the days of slavery women had to assume the roles of husbands due to fact that the males were sold and or sent away to work for another owner. Women had to maintain the household and could not depend on having a male partner in the home due to no fault of their own. I suppose some women still feel the need to assume that role because of uncertainty within the family union. In the current times there is no longer slavery but the system has set it up where many outlets for African American males is a narrow opening for survival and so many find themselves in jail or prison for one reason or another and so we have the women once again taking that role of mother and father.
Limiting and Freeing Beliefs
Having to carry on those beliefs that had been handed down since before Jim Crow era, has made it even more difficult to maintain trust for oneself and no less their mate. If we are unable to control the people, places or things in our lives we let them go, which includes our significant others. Because of the faith that many African Americans hold until this day, have enhanced our ability to appreciate the positive things in life especially the love ones that are apart of our lives.
In Search of Love and Commitment
A system that tears a family apart finds fault in why the unity of African American family is not there. The myth about Black women being so strong willed is the reason why there is a low marriage rate among African Americans, we as women in general search for love with someone who is compatible with us. When you have a society who agrees with the myth that Black women are too loud, hostile and that White women are submissive and quiet is the reason why Black men marry white women is a myth that has plagued some into believing that is true. When we begin to understand why some women feel they need to be strong willed, the reason why they feel that love is not permanent and the reason they search for love outside of the community of which they live is because the oppressor has torn down the unity of the family, have torn down the pride of our African American men and have some thinking that the Black man is not worth our love and commitment to stand by each other through thick and thin and so we abandon those who need us the most. It is like everything else in life we have to change ourselves and way of thinking and everything else will fall into place. We can sit around for another century for the oppressor to change their way of thinking or we can start building up each other and starting new beginnings for the African American community.