Where is the love? It shouldn’t take a bunch of studies and statistics to tell us these guys deserve it!
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In today’s society there’s a lot being said about black men. There has always been a lot being said about black men. The majority of which has not been flattering, and the rest is just not true.
Black people give 25% more of their income to charity than White Americans.
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Trust me when I say this, because being a black man I have pretty much heard them all directly or witnessed or read about them indirectly. These negative narratives have plagued black men like a communicable disease, so much so that black men are in danger of not being loved any more. As black men we’re finding ourselves over and over again singing the lyrics from that Black Eyed Peas song, “Where Is The Love?”
I want to share with you the top five reasons to love black men. And just to be fair, I’m going to back them up with statistics. I could have shared more but I at least wanted to get the love started with these top five. Here you go:
#5 They’re Enterprising
Last surveyed in 2008, African Americans were almost twice as likely as White Americans to enter the firm creation process, with men making up more than 60% of active entrepreneurs. Reynolds, P. & Curtin, R. (2008) Business Creation in the United States: Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics || Initial Assessment. Foundations and Trends in Entrepreneurship. 4 (3). 259-260. DOI: 10.1561/0300000022
#4 They’re Influential
Black buying power continues to increase, rising from its current $1 trillion level to a forecasted $1.3 trillion by 2017, with Black men continuing to dominate as the economic leaders in the Black community. Nielsen Company and National Newspaper Publishers Association. (2013). Resilient, Receptive and Relevant. The African-American Consumer. (4)
#3 They’re Generous
Black people give 25% more of their income to charity than White Americans. W.K. Kellogg Foundation with major contributions from Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. (2012) Cultures of Giving: Energizing and Expanding Philanthropy By and For Communities of Color. (5)
#2 They’re Educated
… Black fathers (70%) were most likely to have bathed, dressed, diapered, or helped their children use the toilet every day.
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Today, young Black men drop out of high school less and enroll in college more than in any other generation in history, with 1.2 million Black men enrolled in college in 2012. Toldson, I. A. & Lewis, C.W. (2012).Challenge the Status Quo: Academic Success among School-age African American Males. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.
#1 They’re LOVING
Among fathers with co-residential children, Black fathers (70%) were most likely to have bathed, dressed, diapered, or helped their children use the toilet every day. Jones, J., & Mosher, W. (2013) Fathers’ Involvement With Their Children: United States, 2006-2010 National Health Statistics Reports (71) 6-7.
So with these top five reasons in mind let’s start giving us black men the love that we deserve. Thank you.
As a black woman I’m the first one to pipe up and say America is far too hard on black men. But most of this is just patently untrue. We get nowhere by countering constant negativity by spinning fairy tales. Our men have their problems– many don’t know love or parent because no one was there or cared to teach them, and many haven’t educated themselves or strived for success because they don’t believe in themselves. But the ones who are out there trying, you have our love and deep respect.