The Trayvon Martin case bought to the fore the tragedy of the tremendous loss sustained in African American families and communities of Black boys and young men to the politics of being black and male in American society. The leading cause of death of Black males between the ages of 15-34 is homicide. Haki Madhubuti in his book Black Men, Obsolete, Single and Dangerous, addresses this when he states, “the loss of Black men between the ages of thirteen and twenty-nine which is the warrior class, represents a danger of genocidal proportion, (p. 72). It is not a coincidence that Travyvon Martin was killed just merely walking down the street. It is not a coincidence that American streets are filled with the blood of young black males are who are not only shot down by police, but those who have internalized the stereotypical image of the dangerous Black male; the criminal male. It is difficult to not turn on television and see the havoc that young Black males are wreaking on some of our communities, kicking in doors, robbing and taking life–something akin to living in the wild-wild West. And although this reality seriously needs to be addressed, such images feed into racial profiling and stereotyping, scaring the hell out of everybody.
In addressing the issue of crime and violence in Black communities, it is not a coincidence that too many Black boys are without fathers to shield them from repeat and over exposure of mass media in a culture that sells them violence for masculinity; violence for entertainment. With so many missing fathers, and role models who have a healthy definition of masculinity, who is there to protect them against daily assaults to their person-hood caused by racial profiling and stereotyping sold through the mass media? Who is there to protect them against other males who are also sold these same stereotypes, who are also sold violence for masculinity, creating over-zealous police and hyper-vigilantes like Zimmerman, who act, when there is no real danger, and end up killing an innocent boy, like Trayvon Martin who is just simply walking down the street. But even more tragic is that too many young Black males, have themselves internalized these stereotypes, resulting in the murder of far too many like Trayvon Martin, by other Black males.
And there are no voices of protest.
Like many, I was heartbroken and sickened by the senseless murder of Trayvon Martin. I was angered, that at first Zimmerman was not arrested, and how long it took for justice to be served.
The questions that are there always: Who is crying out for the tremendous loss sustained by far too many mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and girlfriends and wives for the devastating impact of the senseless loss of too many African American males. Who is crying out for the devastating impact of loss sustained by family members who lose persons who commit such acts, through incarceration, because they started something without thinking it all the way through, like Zimmerman did, and it ends tragically.
Every time I see that boy’s face, it brings me to tears. Every time I see a boy’s face like his, it brings me to tears.
Not only are families crying, there are many who are crying silently with them, because we too, are sick with grief. And we are all crying because we are just simply sick and tired of this.
Madhubuti states:
“When a people does not have strong, resourceful, energetic, honest serious, intelligent, committed, incorruptible, fearless, innovative and fighting men in a world ruled by the force of men, that people are in serious trouble” (p.71).
Where are our Warriors who will teach and protect Black boys?
Where are our Warriors who will teach and protect Black boys?
Where are our Warriors who will teach and protect Black boys?
The Outpouring of voices of protest was moving.
Let’s keep the movement going!
Let’s keep the movement going!
PLEASE–Let’s keep the movement going!
Madhubuti’s expanded definition of manhood, can be seen on video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSBm2yhoLdw&t=54s
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