Crisis in Black America

Do you ever feel that the black community is at war with itself or that we are our worst enemy?

I live in Atlanta, Georgia, a so-called black mecca,  where I see things daily that make me question the unity that supposedly exists among us.  I see it not just in the workplace or the home but in everyday life, from rude store clerks to a mass transit system that fails people of color.  Blacks have also been pushed out of the city in record numbers despite black administrations.  I could go on for days with other examples of dysfunction in our community, such as the scrounge of black-on-black crime.

But let us not jump to conclusions concerning violence in the black community.  Most of it stems from the feeling of disrespect either from other African Americans or those outside the community.  The legacy of Jim Crow has been flipped or turned inside out to make it seem as though we are the problem, and it never fails or even leads to issues like colorism. 

Colorism, stamped out during the black and proud Sixties and Seventies, has risen again in the Twenty-First Century. Young black men often discredit dark skin African American women on social media or refuse to date them all together in direct response to a baseless claim that lighter complexion is somehow supreme to darker skin, some say fueled by the Hip Hop culture. It has even begun to affect older generations of African Americans or how we interact with one another in business and dating.

What has caused this resurgence in the once-held belief that light skin is superior to darker skin in our community? Some blame the Rap industry for the preponderance of fairer skin African American men and women portrayed in videos and on popular T.V. programs like Love and Hip Hop that present their standard of beauty. Others simply think it's an unfortunate outcome of slavery that's ingrained in our DNA and may not go away. Whatever the reason, it is weakening our community and must stop.

Another situation involves the ongoing struggle between heterosexual and gay black men that dates back to the Seventies.  Although there may be a truce between them today due to changing social norms, tensions still exist.  Straight black men often feel that gay black males get treated better in a white male-dominated society or are perceived as less of a threat and thus offered the best jobs, education, and other advantages, which is likely, true.  Overall,  they see them as a threat to black masculinity with their mannerisms,  thoughts, or outward appearance.

Straight black men even fault gay or bisexual African American males for the rapid spread of HIV in black America. They contend that if they would practice safe sex or deal with their kind exclusively, it would cut down on the high rates of AIDS in the black community since many of them transport the virus from prison once they reunite with women, which has a trickle-down effect in urban and rural areas, even though most experts blame the alarming rate of HIV infections among blacks to a lack of testing for the disease and access to the latest life-saving medications to treat it. 

Gay black men, on the other hand, see their straight African American male counterparts as having the best of all worlds. They get acceptance from others or escape the ridicule of their sexual orientation or lifestyle and avoid relentless bullying as a youth.  They add that heterosexual black men also enjoy an advantage in the dating world as a broader community, especially in rural areas where gay communities may be virtually nonexistent.

Black men in the LGBTQ community also purport that if they excel in the workplace, it is because of their diligence in seeking education and nothing else.  While some black boys may pin their hopes on sports or "rapping" to succeed or fall victim to crime, others who question their sexuality may spend more time hitting the books with less distraction, becoming well-sought-after lawyers, doctors, nurses, and scientists.  

In addition to the crisis between straight and gay black men, exists a battle of the sexes in the black community. Some say it started in the 90s with black female discontent for black men and has ballooned today with the help of the internet as their boyfriends and husbands accuse them of having lost their identity or way in the world with their mode of dress for instance, or argumentative nature which makes them difficult or impossible to deal with.  It's a troubling assessment that impacts marriage and family in black America as many black men choose to remain single or date outside their race.

Black women, in return, see African American men as stagnant or caught in limbo today. They point to the dwindling number of black men in corporate America or upper management, which affects their earning potential.  However, many black men have worked traditionally in the blue-collar industry, where jobs have declined or been shipped overseas.  In addition, black women accuse black men of not being willing to engage in committed relationships or that they would rather play the field despite black women's longing to be with them, although the great majority of them date or marry women of color.

Discontent in the black community, whether real or imagined, hits us especially hard.  Asians, Hispanics, and whites are building businesses or shoring up capital for future generations instead of throwing shade, fighting over turf, or who looks the best in a lame attempt to fit in with the majority. Instead, we should focus on economic development, education, or redefining the black family.

Despite the mounting challenges, being black means the world to me. I've studied the history of my people since the third grade or wrote plays glorifying our lifestyle. Black music is what binds us, especially 70's Soul. It makes me smile, cry or slip into serious thought. Our politics or protest build communities while our standing in the world unites others. Lastly, the business acumen we share, especially in the entertainment, government, and service sector, provides a much-needed income. Let's hold tight to the values that make us whole instead of bickering or standing in the other's way.