BLACK MEN AND BOYS (BMB) NEWS
This page is dedicated to articles and news relating to issues faced by Black men and boys.
MAGIC is part of the BMB 2025 campaign.
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TRANSFORMING CONDITIONS FACING BLACK MEN AND BOYS
by Bryan K Echols
Today I share my perspective and thoughts with a heavy heart. I am in my hotel room in Oakland, California and I have just watched the verdict of Johannes Mehserle play out on the local Fox affiliate with hopeful anticipation, but also prepared to hear the worst and sure enough, the worst is what I heard. The jury passed a verdict for involuntary manslaughter in prison with time served leaving only 72 days to serve on a 2-year sentence. The Grant family wanted 14 years to life, but 2 years was the sentence given by an apologetic judge who stated that he did the best that he could do. Shortly thereafter the lawyer for the Grant family, Mr. John Burris gave a statement that is still ringing in my ears. One of the many mind blowing thoughts he shared was, “This case is a profound statement that No, it is not fair, and Yes your life as an African American can be taken from you without cause.” He was answering these questions to him in preparation of young African American males that may ask him, “What happened?” He then went on to say, “Michael Vick was sentenced to four years for cruelty to dogs…this sentence says the life of Oscar Grant and African Americans is not worth much.”
So here we are faced with the question of what can we do to transform the conditions of Black men and boys? As I started to answer this question, the list grew long, very long; but I decided to focus on few things that we could do together. First we must begin by highlighting and telling our own positive stories. An African proverb states, “Until the lion has his own historian, the hunt will always glorify the hunter.” I read a blog about the Oscar Grant case and the insensitivity that exists toward black men and our plight is sickening. Many say that we are whiners and troublemakers and that we should stop complaining and living in the past. This view is a classic blame the victim mentality because our stories are not told enough and from the correct perspective. Stories that show black men and boys succeeding on a daily basis, being fathers, creating and pursuing ideas that improve humanity, who work to create positive images of us and who sacrifice daily for others outside of their family networks. When images are not the image that we do not want portrayed, we must pressure the large media conglomerates that have shown us in an unfavorable light.
Second, we need to improve the education system and make sure that our young people are being educated, prepared to be at the forefront of industry advances and not excessively expelled or suspended. We need to move our young people from education that keeps them in the bounds of the lower levels of society. Today one of my bright lights that graduated at the top of his high school class is struggling with his calculus and computer science. He is questioning himself about truly belonging in a prestigious east coast university. I have to make sure that his confidence is not shattered. He was not prepared to deal with the pace. We must prepare our boys to compete.
Third, we need Black men to be able to provide for themselves and there families. One of the many reasons why Black fathers are not present is because they feel inadequate with what they can and cannot provide for their women and children. Vance Jones stated that wind power in the plain states of America could have the potential to be as prosperous as a Saudi oil field. He said that the steel that would be needed for the wind turbines could bring back every steel town in America. We must prepare our men for a green economy, by not only being workers, but also by putting them in the place to employ others.
Finally, we need to implement a unified rite of passage/3 tier male mentoring initiative where each participant will be mentored by an elder, a peer and young person. In this structure each man in the community has value because he is fellowshipping with individuals who view him as an asset and friend and not an enemy and a stranger. In these structures men and boys could share information, talk about the many problems that we face as Black men in America, but also heal, learn how to be better fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, mates and friends. We also could learn best practices and duplicate those structures for the advancement of our people. Improving the quality of life for Black men and boys is improving the quality of our communities and this country.
I am the Executive Director of a Chicago based not for profit that focuses on youth leadership development and improving the lives of all residents who reside on the south side of Chicago. One of the many things that we do at MAGIC (Metropolitan Area Group for Igniting Civilization) is working with other communities and its various components to improve the quality of life for Black men and boys in America. MAGIC is part of both OSI’s Campaign for Black Male Achievement and 21st Century Foundation’s BMB 2025 Campaign. Both campaigns are working hard on changing the current plight of black men and boys all over this country.
Articles and sites of interest to BMB.....
Improving the lives of black boys
2025 Campaign for Black Men and Boys
The Chicago Community Trust article
Town hall meeting focuses on improving life for Black men and boys
Community forums encourage alternative thinking and engagement
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