MANHOOD DEVELOPMENT IS CRITICAL FOR THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF BLACK BOYS! AFRICAN PROVERB! EACH ONE TEACH ONE! LIBERATING YOUNG MEN FROM MALENESS
A frustrating quest for manhood has resulted in an epidemic loss of life among young Black men. And part of the problem is often a lack of guidance from parents. This is not an indictment of the single mothers who often struggle alone to keep their boys on the straight and narrow. To the contrary, it is a challenge to men who abandon their responsibilities at home.
In his book "Visions for Black Men," Na'im Akbar, a professor of psychology at Florida State University, attempts to explain how racism and ignorance of African history have resulted in the emasculation of African American males. To become good husbands, and then good fathers, he maintains, they first must become good men.
"How do we get from being a boy to becoming a man?" Akbar asks. Discipline, he notes, is what frees the boy from being the slave of his maleness. Learning to exercise control over oneself transforms. And boys learn best through example.
Being a good man, Akbar maintains, simply means behaving like one.
As the head of a household, writes Akbar, "You must face a full day of work and then be prepared to respond when, at two in the morning, a baby yells out and awakens the entire house. Despite the fact that you ache with exhaustion, you begin to understand that you are a father now. When the doctor announces that the little one has an ear infection, you understand that you have another set of ears, and the pain in the little ears becomes your pain."
Common sense should have made it unnecessary for Akbar to write such a book. But common sense is not so common anymore.
"So many of our young men get arrested in the boyhood stage of development because they are improperly guided," Akbar writes. "Good teachers are the instruments that help discipline the boy and guide him away from prison and the cemetery."
THE APPEAL AND CHALLENGE:
The assembly of Black men. The Black community is under siege. The mothers and children are calling on God, the ancestors, and men of faith in their community.
Christian Black men
Muslim Black men
Gods and 5% Black men
Moorish American Black men
Black Hebrew men
Black nationalist Black men
African traditionalist men
Afrocentric Black men
These men make up nations and tribes. Their universal language and belief in God, talks about alleviating social injustice, supporting the wayward, the orphans, and women and families against tyranny and oppression.
Allah (God) says if you see an injustice, change it with your hands. If you can't change it with your hands, change it with your tongue. If you can't change it with your tongue, change it with your heart.
This message clearly prescribes for men of faith what our role is within a community, neighborhood, or nation.
By the token, time and through the ages, verily man finds himself lost except those who stand on faith, practice righteous deeds, and share in mutual consultation.
Brothers, our community needs our good works, wisdom, humanity, and brotherhood.
BLACK MEN PARTICIPATION MATTERS!
What do you think our young black men need the most?
0%Guidance
0%Male Role Models
0%Discipline
0%Positive Activities & Opportunities
You can vote for more than one answer.
Comment more on your poll choice and what you think our young black men need.
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