1. A LIVING DOG IS BETTER THAN A DEAD LION
Black men are lions by nature; this is
evident by many of our proud natures and defensive postures. We are quick to assert ourselves, protect our
territory, and stand up for our rights.
This is a good thing, except when it comes to incidences involving
police. Today, we have a heightened
awareness about this, because of the black men whose deaths which have recently
topped the headlines. In scenarios
involving the police it is better to be humble and comply. A wise black man should assert his rights later
through official complaints to the police force or by filing a lawsuit in the appropriate
court. Being aggressive when confronted
by police has and will continue to get unarmed black men killed by white police
officers, who have the force of judge, jury, and executioner within their side
arms. It has become a custom for the
police force to be sued and for the family to receive large settlements, but of
what use will those moneys be for you if you are killed? A dead man can’t spend a coin.
2. DON’T TELL YOUR LEFT HAND, WHAT YOUR RIGHT HAND
IS DOING.
This age old wisdom was actually a quote of
Jesus. It means to keep a level of
silence and secrecy about your affairs and to not broadcast what you do, or inform
others about the good things that are going on in your life. This truth has practical value in black male
culture. Unfortunately, jealousy, envy,
and self-hatred are contemporaries of black culture and often those who would
see the good that has befallen a black man ended are those of his own household
and community. If you watch the A&E
show, “The First 48,” then you have witnessed firsthand that many victims are
set up for robberies by “friends.” It is
also common knowledge to those who are immersed in the drug game, that those
closest to the dealers are the ones who turn them in to the police and also work
with the government in prosecuting them.
Misery loves company and putting the miserable in your business is a
good way to see the happiness you are experiencing brought to an end.
3. AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION BEATS A POUND OF CURE.
It’s a proven fact that a regular oil change
extends the life of your car. Similarly
it is a medical fact that regular exercise and a balanced diet of: fruits,
vegetables, grains, and lean sources of protein extend the quality of life and wellness
of the human body. These are generally accepted
and widely held truths practiced by many black men. Preventative caution, however, does not seem
to extend to the practice of wearing condoms to prevent unwanted pregnancy and
more importantly, sexually transmitted diseases. According to the CDC (Centers of Disease
Control) Blacks represent approximately 12% of the U.S. population, but
accounted for an estimated 44% of new HIV infections in 2010. They also
accounted for 41% of people living with HIV infection in 2011. Frighteningly, unless the course of HIV in
the United States changes, at some point in their lifetime, an estimated 1 in
16 black men and 1 in 32 black women will be diagnosed with HIV infection.
4. YOU LIVE BY THE SWORD, YOU DIE BY THE SWORD.
Blacks are two times more likely to die
from gun death than whites according to the latest information by the BMJ a
race, sex, and state specific study. That means blacks are 200% more likely to
die as a result of gun violence than whites! As a black man those are
staggering numbers. http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/4/9/e005628.full.pdf+html
Wrap your mind around these figures: From 1980 to 2008, 93% of black homicide
victims were killed at the hands of another black person. Not blown away yet? Conceptualize this: From the years of 1976 to
just 2005, (214,661) black males from the ages 14 to above have been murdered
at the hands of another black male. This
figure represents more than the total deaths in World War I, the Vietnam
conflict, Iraq and Afghanistan combined!
If you live by the gun you die by the gun
and after the violence is committed the authorities make short work of us in
the courtroom and continue to fill the prisons with black bodies. As black males we comprise just 6% of the
total U.S. population, we disproportionately however account for over 70% of
the prison population. Who knows what
these dead or imprisoned black men could have accomplished with their lives
given their many talents, but all of their potential is brought to nothing with
the poor choice to fall for the okey- doke and sell out for the street life.
5. THE JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A
SINGLE STEP.
We are all co-regents in a Google society
that wants search results right now. We
want our food, cars, and women to go even faster, but we must conceptualize in
our spirits that some things only come to fruit with time. A lot of the hearts of our young men faint
and their minds turn astray, when they see the amount of work, effort, and
sacrifice that is required to achieve the education and certification of their
chosen career field. Imagine a 10th
grader from an impoverished home whose hungry, has pressing needs for clothing,
and needs heat to stay warm at night, visualizing that it will be 6 years
before he obtains his Bachelor’s degree and has the wherewithal to meet his
right now needs. His dream is actually do-able, but in the immortal words of
George Clinton, “You can’t visualize what you can’t see.” To such a person his
dream would seem impossibility when viewed next to practical reality of his
existence.
Although the challenges our young black men
face are awfully daunting, they can be met and overcome, but it won’t happen
overnight. Initially, it will be a
single baby step; with the measure that ten baby step equals one giant
step. It may be 10,000 giant steps to
the goal, which must be segmented and taken over time. We should make part of the education to our
youth be that; large goals can only be accomplished though dedication of
purpose, focus, diligence, and a sustained effort. We need black males who have achieved “success”
from all professions to return and witness to the black youth, that the
ultimate prize is worth working and waiting for. Think About It.
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