QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The tragedy for young black males is that they are so easily dunned by a vision of manhood that can only lead to their destruction.” – bell hooks

USING FILM TO CRITIQUE PATRIARCHY

White Supremacy = The twister.

Black Men = Jo and Bill.

Patriarchy = The barn full of sharp metal objects.

Patriarchy is often portrayed as a refuge for black men living in a White Supremacist society, but in reality it only exacerbates the destruction of black men.

THE PRISON OF BLACK PATRIARCHAL MASCULINITY

As a black man living in the United States, I know all too well the prison that Black Patriarchal Masculinity can be. Growing up the cell that I was placed in was small and rigid, a place for conformity rather than creativity. My masculinity was policed at almost every turn. My wrists were too limp I was told, my walk not boyish enough I was told, and my interesting in all the wrong places: dolls and balls as opposed to just dolls.

What brings me to the topic of black patriarchal masculinity is a chance encounter I had the opportunity to witness. A black male was walking by and I overheard a young Hispanic girl, no more than 12 years old, remark that he “walked like a girl.” As I heard the young girl utter that the black man “walked like a girl,” something in my mind went off. I began to think about what black masculinity was in the society I live in. What about the black man walking by made the young girl feel he was crossing some threshold of masculine acceptability. What had made a young girl, a Hispanic one at that, recognize something in that black man that went against whatever she had been taught in her own community and society.

The prevailing narrative of black masculinity in this society seems to be predicated on a few things. Black men are to be full of rage and always apt to commit violent crimes, we’re supposed to be hyper masculine and hyper sexual willing to fuck anything and be the carrier of superhuman sexual abilities. Also, due to our race it seems, we are supposed to embody an idealized version of masculinity. Both the dominant culture, and many blacks themselves have internalized this false notion of black men embodying a “true” definition of masculinity.

There seems to be an endless barrage of black men depicted in the media to fit into the narrow narratives constructed around black masculinity. Incidents of crime are reported on frequently, remarking on the latest black man to kill, maim, or rape someone. Sports and music provide the perfect backdrop for introducing the narrative that black males are hyper masculine and hyper sexual. Videos by popular artist populate mass media where in black men brag about their sexual prowess and their heightened masculinity. The black man is thought to, and conditioned to believed that he embodies the very best of patriarchal masculinity, and that this is a virtue.

That an eleven year old girl could recognize in a random black man that he embodied something that she had been taught to pinpoint, to see as anomaly was striking to me. It is a testament to the fact that our children are being conditioned from a very early age to police the gender of themselves and others. What business does an eleven year old need with policing gender? Adolescence is, and should be, a time of much experimentation and exploration, not the sight of rigidity and policing. And that this young girl was a member of a different racial group, indicates that patriarchal black masculinity is being communicated to other communities. It’s not unusual to meet someone of another group who is surprised or disappointed that a particular black man does not embody a particular masculine ideal. When I tell people that I don’t play football or basketball, and that I don’t have a bad chick by my side they seem let down. I’ve destroyed some illusion of black masculinity and manhood that they had harbored.

Masculinity, in my opinion, should be a site for creativity and diversity. No black man should be forced into a prison of rigidity by a society expecting his masculinity to be one dimensional and one note. As a black man who is an advocate of feminism, I know that I have a responsibility to make my masculinity a site of resistance. I make sure that my thoughts and actions promote a view of black masculinity that is rooted in a respect for femininity, and anchored in a multifaceted harbor.

It is imperative for black men to fight for our right to be free of the prison of black patriarchal masculinity. We are more than rage, anger, violence, and sexual conquest. Our masculinity, much like we are, is and has always been diverse. We must make room for in our cell for a diverse black masculinity.

The future of black masculinity lies in its ability to break free of the prison cell it has been forced to reside in. Black masculinity must seek out a wide open field where diversity and creativity is celebrated and fostered. We must resist those who insist on our singularity as black men. The prison cell that is patriarchal masculinity must no longer be the site where black masculinity resides.

MY ENVIRONMENT

Depending on my environment,
I may have to deal more with homophobia than racism,
or vice versa, but my fight is always for all people.
Even in the midst of white supremacy,
I am going to critique patriarchy.
Even in the midst of homophobia,
I am going to critique classism.
The environment producing a particular form of bigotry may change, but my effort is the same.
I work to end all systems of domination.

THE DIVERSITY OF MALE BEING

A tiger isn’t less of a cat because it’s not a lion.
It’s the same way with being a man.
We can be diverse men.
No need for hierarchy.

The tiger, leopard, panther, cheetah, and lion are all cats.
They just put their own spin on being a cat.
Put your own spin on being a man.

Nature is full of diversity.
Hundreds of different trees.
Hundreds of different plants.
Yet we want all men to be the same?
Sigh.

Even if most men are oaks,
Why can’t I be a redwood?
Even if most men are jaguars,
Why can’t I be a lynx?
Embrace the diversity of male being.

TRANSPHOBIA

I’m sick of gay men harassing trans people. It’s not for us to tell trans person’s what their sexual orientation is.
So many hateful and ignorant people hide behind “it’s just an opinion.” It’s not just an opinion. It’s someone’s life at stake! Transphobia is not cool. Not from gay men with trans friends. Not from trans people. Not from anyone!
It’s funny how a person claims to not be transphobic BUT they “just” know that when trans women have sex with straight men it’s “gay.” Saying “I have a trans friend,” “My best friend is trans and they don’t care,” “I’m just giving my opinion” does not justify transphobia.

MY BROTHERS

Anyone else see how fast some straight black men choose ‘straight brotherhood’ with white men over ‘black brotherhood’ with gay black men?

Maybe its just me, but I notice it all the time and thats why I have no illusions about black unity. Straight white men have a better shot.

For many straight black men they would rather align with straight white men than to embrace their black gay brothers. Happens all the time.

It’s not unusual to see a white guy accepted into the group of black men, but you’ll be hard pressed to find an openly gay black man.

WHEN I SPEAK

I am black,
but I do not speak for all blacks.
I am gay,
but I do not speak for all gays.
I am an atheist
but I do not speak for all atheists.
I am a feminist,
but I do not speak for all feminists.

AMERICAN DELUSION

Does the murder of a foreigner, even an “evil” one, make you feel pride in America?
Does the murder of a foreigner, even an “evil one,” make you feel gratitude for America?
Does the murder of a foreigner, even an “evil one,” allow you to bond emotionally with others?

LOWERED EXPECTATIONS

I am more than the lowered expectations patriarchy sets for me.
I am more than the lowered expectations homophobia sets for me.
I am more than the lowered expectations religious fundamentalism sets for me.