It has been such an eventful time in American history that I have neglected to address you through this forum for a while. I have used other forms of social media to document my distress with police brutality, shootings of police, abused and murdered sisters at the hands of black men, and good brothers who have the strength to stand up for what they believe, in the face of great ridicule and potential financial harm. But I thought it was time to take a step back and correspond with my good brothers, for a moment. My prayer is that these words do not fall on deaf ears, but rather they will inspire you to DO SOMETHING!
Malcolm X once stated in a Los Angeles Speech (1962):
The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman.
As a black woman in America over half a century later, these words still resonate in my spirit, because not much has changed. One could argue, that while conditions have improved for blacks in America since the 60's, black women are still the most underrepresented group in business ownership and executive level positions, we still receive the lowest wages out of any other group, despite the fact that we have the highest percentage of graduate degrees out of any other cultural group. Black women are still being debased and disrespected with NO backlash, through every form of media. Black women are still being brutally and sexually assaulted without recourse, by our "brothers." Black women are still giving birth to the next generation completely unsupported by some of our "brothers." Black women are still changing everything natural about ourselves to fit into a standard of beauty embraced by our "brothers," in the pursuit of success. Malcolm X goes on to ask:
Who taught you to hate the color of your skin? Who taught you to hate the texture of your hair? Who taught you to hate the shape of your nose and the shape of your lips? Who taught you to hate yourself from the top of your head to the soles of your feet?
If I ask that same question today, I might receive a myriad of responses. But just as Malcolm X challenged the brothers in 1962, I challenge my good brothers today - love us, protect us, honor us, provide for us. We simply cannot make the collective strides that need to be made for the next generation without unifying, now. My appeal is to the good brothers, to hold the "boys" in their lives accountable. Don't celebrate or condone infidelity, the debasing and abuse of black women in social media and/or real life, or the absentee fathers not providing for their offspring. A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, so if you have a sorry dude in the crew, start holding him accountable to get on your level. It's time for our brothers to be publicly held accountable for protecting us.
I am not calling you out, but rather, calling you in, good brothers. I know so many of you are out here doing the right thing, and that's why I want to celebrate you through the months of September and October. I'm going to kick this series off with a brother who has dedicated his life to creating a legacy for his son, through the betterment of men, young and old! I hope you will be inspired to effect change in your circles and that these small changes will cause a ripple effect of Malcolm's dream becoming a reality. That sisters will be taught to love and respect themselves through the love and respect of their BROTHERS! We honor you, we celebrate you, we respect you and ask for the same in return!
With Love and Sincerity,
One Concerned Sister
No comments:
Post a Comment