How do we foster a place where we fit? Safe spaces for men of color are urgently needed and Billy Flood wants to know how we’ll get there.
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I am at a loss. There is a frustration and anger within me that is mixed with sadness. I cry often and beat my fists into things, rather than people. I write to bear witness to what is happening to my brothers of color. It is not just Ferguson. It is not just the south.
Black men are in danger everywhere…
Where are we to go?
We get murdered perusing merchandise in Walmart…
We get murdered walking down the street with skittles…
We get murdered on the subway platform shot in the back by police…
We get murdered, walking while gay and black in the village of all places!
What’s even more striking is that white people cross the street when I walk towards them. White women clutch their purses. Tell me, why should you be afraid of me, when I’m the one being murdered by you daily?
I want a national conversation to take place, but we are beyond words on the Negro question.
Rage, indignation, anger. That’s where I am, and I do great work to mask it daily. I’m so tired of my beautiful brothers laying dying in the streets and nothing being done about it.
There is truly no justice, and I have no peace.
Where can I go? Where can a black man go and be safe, loved, and welcomed? We can’t go to a store or simply walk down the street. I guess our options include becoming a recluse, or dying.
Some say run to the Church. The black Church has long been a home for black men…Ok, but what if you are gay? The black church is AS homophobic (not more) as the rest of society. I am lucky to belong to an affirming church that loves ALL of me. What about my LGBTQ brothers of color who aren’t Christian or can’t find a church that loves all of them? In other words their whole being?
What is to become of us black men? Where can black men go? Where are our safe spaces? Does anyone even care anymore? Where do we fit?
The place in which I’ll fit will not exist until I make it. – James Baldwin
How do we foster a place where we fit? Safe black spaces for men of color need to be created, and promoted. The old spaces, the barbershop, the church, the meeting hall- these are gone, or quickly vanishing. Where is the new place to find support and healing for people who look like me? Social Media is a rallying platform. Let’s work to create these spaces for the newest endangered species…
The black man.
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Originally appeared at TheKyNegro29 blog
Baldwin was/is correct.Your analysis of the shortcoming of the church is well founded and could be expanded to include non Protestants. I am not a Baptist and am barely hanging on to my Catholic faith. I am reminded daily that if you are black and have not been saved…well,you are NOT getting to heaven nd many will look upon you with great suspicion.As you suggest, from a mental health perspective, black men need a place where they can just be normal.,much less decompress.I can not tell you how overcome with jealousy and sadness I when my nephew,who’s teaching in Osaka… Read more »