I was handed this book, Forty Acres, by my wife’s cousin. No description, just, “I think you’ll like it.” I read it over the next two days, putting it down when I had to but anxious to pick it up and finish the story. The novel by Dwayne Alexander Smith has flaws, in my opinion, but it makes you think about “Black noise” and the logical cure as presented in the plot.
“Black noise” technically isn’t a thing you can look up in the dictionary. Yet as described, I recognized it instantly as a thing that exists and affects almost all Black men in America. The book’s flaw is that it doesn’t even once consider that Black women experience “Black noise” to at least the same degree. The majority of Black male characters in the book think they are treating their wives well, yet they lie and cheat to pursue their cure, justifying their actions by their women’s lifestyle.
So what is Black noise? It’s a disease, an interference that affects all Black men, keeping them from freeing their minds. The protagonist, attorney Martin Grey was told:
“I can heal you of your sickness. I can quiet the black noise in your head. But you have to open your mind for the cure to work. Can you open your mind, brother?”
The supposed villain, Dr. Kasim, invites Martin to join his group of high-achieving Black men who have pierced the black noise to live their best lives. You have to read the Forty Acres to discover the cure for black noise. Dr. Kasim is not wrong in his diagnosis, but you may recoil at the treatment.
On another note, just as some people see Killmonger as the true hero in the Black Panther movie. One could wonder if Martin Grey acts as he does because he’s too brainwashed to see the light?
I thought to myself; this would make an exciting movie. Netflix is developing a movie/limited series; produced by Jay-Z and written by the Luke Cage creator, Cheo Hodari Coker. It’s being described as a cross between The Firm and Get Out!
Forty Acres is great escapist literature. You’ll spend some time thinking about the reality of Black noise and whether the cure is the proper solution.
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This post was previously published on William Spivey’s blog.
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You may also like these posts on The Good Men Project:
 White Fragility: Talking to White People About Racism |
 Escape the “Act Like a Man” Box |
 The Lack of Gentle Platonic Touch in Men’s Lives is a Killer |
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