Empowering Black America through Holistic Engagement
 
The Black Man Leads or We are Dead in the Water

The Black Man Leads or We are Dead in the Water

The Black Man Leads or We are Dead in the Water

black-men-2Life for me has been a journey, and one of the greatest lessons that I have learned is that this journey is not about me. It is so much bigger than me, and the only way that I “fill my space” in this world is to see the bigger picture, find my place and answer the bell.

With that in mind, I identified one of the greatest problems facing the black collective, and that is that black men, who are supposed to be the leaders, spend an exorbitant amount of time doing one of two things: Celebrating themselves or attacking and degrading another brother. This is a learned and conditioned behavior that has served to launch our people on a path of ambiguity, destitution and hopelessness.

Understanding this has ignited a passion in me to think beyond myself, to understand that I am not the answer, but simply one element of the equation, which leads to the notion that the problem cannot be solved until the entire equation, with all of its complex elements (men, each a leader and influence in their own right) are all present and actively involved.

Not only is the presence of these male leaders important, but the willingness to celebrate and support one another is equally important. We have been conditioned to compete against one another for time, exposure, popularity and wealth, when our power is in standing together as one powerful and complex organism that, in and of itself, is greater than any machination of white supremacy.

The Odyssey Project is a reader-supported site. GIVE to ensure that the voices of the marginalized are heard!

There is a reason that black men have been under constant attack from the moment we arrived on the shore of this cursed land; we are the answer to the ills of our people. It is our women who provide the elevation of our race, through their gift of spiritual nurturing; however, it is the vision, power, natural aggression, and courage of the black man that will lead us forward.

With that being said, I would like to celebrate some men who are doing their part to prepare our people. First of all, here is our list men of greatest impact of those currently on the battlefield.

1. Dr. Na’im Akbar, Ph.D.
2. Neely Fuller Jr.
3. Dr. Claud Anderson, Ph.D.
4. Dr. Boyce Watkins, Ph.D.
5. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan
(No particular order — their order of relevance changes each day)

The above men have taken the platform given to them and they have made it “do what it do.” It does not mean that I agree with everything said or done by these men, but they have put in the work, while so many criticize from the sidelines, and anyone who has been on the battlefield for any amount of time understands how difficult it is to fight for a group of people who are often working against you.

Now, for those brothers who are spitting fire on their pages daily. They don’t get the exposure that the aforementioned men receive, but their messages provide lethal power to the masses who will simply engage them with an open mind.

1. Elgin Bailey — A straightforward brother with a pedigree that underwrites his boldness and commitment to the cause. He is not one for useless and non-productive debate, so those who simply want to argue and complain, his page is not the one for you.

2. Will MrBlakhawk Williamson — The Owner of Black Hawk Media, Will uses his company to address issues in our community, and he provides the leverage we need through the media in the black community. We need more men like this in this specific role.

3. Craig Samuels — Craig drops knowledge as if it were a hot potato, but what is seen on the surface is only a sample of what lies underneath. He is that person that doesn’t have to raise his voice to make his presence felt. He is the Godfather.

4. Jason Richardson — Life in its rawest form. You may not like what is said, but I dare you to dispute the facts. Warning — dudes who are moist, and women that are hyper-emotional should avoid this page at all cost; there is absolutely no catering happening there. Rated R+

5. Jay Morrison — This brother has seen both sides of the game, and he could easily be eating somewhere on the sideline and living that life, but he is putting everything on the line and his message about “unification” needs an ear.

Since this article was initially published, a number of other brothers have risen among the ranks, here is my honorable mention: Damian Hunter, Michael Jordan, Michael Blanchard, Quinon Brooking, T. Scott Porter, Atum Ra, (The Entire membership of Melinated Men of Action), Tommy Scott, Claras Brown, Dennis D. Johnson…. (To be continued)

Do I agree with everything any of these men say or do? Absolutely not, but contrary to popular opinion, I don’t have to agree with everything they say or do in order to stand with them. I simply need to believe that they love my people, and that they are committed to delivering the truth as they see it. Everything else will straighten itself out in the natural order of things as we come together.

IMG_1599
Dr. Rick Wallace, Ph.D.

You will never see me openly criticize either of these individuals, which will only serve to expand the divide and exacerbate the dissension and tension between our people. I celebrate these men for standing up boldly on their platforms and speaking without regard to public opinion and in respect to being politically correct.

Finally, I do not have a problem with a black man beating his chest and declaring his might. In fact, the doctrine of false humility has conditioned the black man to behave in a lowly manner that is far below his capacity, in order to make those around him feel more comfortable. I am not a fan of shrinking and pretending to be less; however, it you are going to beat your chest, I have but two simple rules:

1. Be willing to celebrate others who are handling their business as well.

2. Be able to fit the pants that you have jumped into, understanding that your gift and power is not for self-service, but for the service of your people.

I am honored to celebrate these men, and I encourage you to stop by their pages and check them out. ~  Rick Wallace, Ph.D., Psy.D.

 

2 Comments

  1. J.Scott Porter

    Brother this is why I believe we are connected
    1.You speak from the heart
    2. Your content it’s factual
    3. You got a heart
    4. You’re transparent
    And I believe we can make something happen teamwork makes the work.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.