Don't Forget about Black Women

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Opinion Pieces

Friday, 27 April 2012 02:30

By Chante' Codrington

In this post slavery era, the black community is not only in a deplorable condition, but it is already destroyed. In this post slavery era, one of my main concerns is black women.

What is going to happen to black women in this twenty-first century when the majority, if not a considerable number of black males, are dating outside of their race? This question has been occupying my mind for the past few months. I want to say I am no saint. I transgress this very same issue. There is a lot to be said, so I am going to make this conversation as civil and pleasurable as quick as possible.

Addressing the issue of race, a non-black male colleague of mine asked me, “Why does it always have to be about race?” which is a very valid question. I use to ask the same question when I was younger, and became very annoyed whenever someone made the smallest issues about race. Given the knowledge I now possess about black people’s history and heritage, which I write explicitly about in my book, A Note to Black Men – Why We Are… Where We Are… Who We Are…! soon to be published, I firmly stand at the forefront of black empowerment and appoint myself messenger to and ambassador of the black community.

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So to answer my non-black colleague’s question: black people account for almost 50 percent of prison populations in America, according to the American Correctional Association (ACA); according to cbsnews.com, while unemployment among the general population is about 9.1 percent, it’s at 16.2 percent African Americans, and a bit higher still for African American males; it is well studied, recorded and documented that government officers are more likely to shoot at or arrest a black person than any other race. We as a society cannot continue to turn a blind eye to these facts and figures, amongst many others, and simply resolve to think that black people are just unlucky. At the same time, non-blacks are not obligated to sympathize or empathize with the struggles of black people. What is being asked of non-blacks, particularly whites in America, is to acknowledge that there are genuine differences amongst the different races and to acknowledge that we are not all treated equal.

In addition, David Brooks, an op-ed columnist for The New York Times, noted in his book, The Social Animal, which became number one on the New York Times Best Seller’s list, “An African American man can do as well with a white women if he earns $154,000 more than a white man with similar attributes." This is an indication that we are not all the same. There is a lot more to be said here, but I will leave it to my readers to dissect in their own time.

I asked a trusted black female associate of mine, in her early forties, what is going to happen to black women in this twenty-first century when the majority, if not a considerable number of black males, are dating outside of their race? She replied, “Who cares if black men date outside of their race. Can’t black women do the same too?” Of course I should mention that my trusted black female associate has already found her black prince charming and has been happily married for almost 20 years. So rightfully so, she isn’t concerned. David Brooks, in the same book, The Social Animal, also said, “Women (no matter what race) resist dating outside their ethnic group much more than men do.” So no, black women can’t just do the same too.

I decided to ask a black female coworker of mine who is in her mid-twenties. This black female co-worker, in my eyes, is representative of what black women should be (next to my two sisters): very respectful, elegant, keeps to herself and doesn’t gossip. She responded, "We’ll get bitter and probably kill them and their spouses." As harsh as those words were, I felt her pain and passion towards the black community. Also, I respected her highly for her honesty.

Shortly after, I thought, any officer who would dare arrest my female coworker for murder would have to come through me. How could anyone want to harm someone as beautiful and precious as her (and by her I also mean black women as a whole) regardless of the wrong they have done or might have done. Within that I gained an insight of the role God expect black men to play in society and ultimately the world – protectors.

 

In the book of Mark, chapter three verse 27, it reads: No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. This is precisely what America has accomplished with the black community. America throughout the generations has portrayed black males as thugs and peasants in the main stream media creating a self fulfilling prophecy to young black males of today’s generation.

Black males are then targeted and thrown into jails receiving stiff prison sentences, other black males due to Hollywood participate and are made to believe homosexuality is right and acceptable, few black males become successful but end up marrying outside of their race while the remaining black men in the black community do not have a clue as to the war that is being waged against them.

The destruction of the black community is also perpetuated partly by the music industry, particularly Hip-Hop and Rap. The Hip-Hop and Rap community encourage the younger generation of black males to call black women by derogatory terms such as “bitch” or “hoe.” Other races participate in Hip-Hop and Rap too but let us be honest, black people dominate it; music is in our blood. The Hip-Hop and Rap community deceive black males into placing their love and trust in money rather than their black sisters.

Also, Hip hop and Rap hypnotizes black men into forsaking black women by surrounding the black artist of the music video with non-black female models. The black models that are shown are seen as a nuisance and usually has to dress more provocatively to get as much attention.

At the end of the day, whether it was a young black male who was innocently shot and killed or a reputable married black male in the public eye was caught having an affair, it is black women who endure the most pain and suffering within the black community.

That son who was innocently shot and killed has a mother who now has to deal with the unnecessary loss of her son for the rest of her life, that reputable married black male in the public eye who was caught having an affair has his black wife who now not only has to deal with the stigma of being black but she now has to deal with the embarrassment of an unfaithful husband to her friends and to the public. There are non-black wives whose husbands cheat on them but they have other things going on for them; their race is not at the bottom of the social ladder.

Who God bless let no man curse. So is true for the opposite: Who God curse let no man bless. Here is the judgment: black people are cursed of God. This curse will continue to reign over the black community until the black community of their own accord possess the knowledge of why they are, where they are and who they are in this twenty-first century.

The time has come for the black community to be rebuilt. Black men, I am not saying that we should not date outside of our race, feel free to do so. There are beautiful non-black females in society, inside and out, who are worth dating. But always put a black woman first regardless if we are in an interracial relationship. If black women seem to be nags it is because we black men made them so; we black men have been taking from black women all this time without their permission and without returning what we borrowed. That is stealing.

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The Proverbs state whatever we steal we are to return it sevenfold. Whatever our black women ask of us black men let us be sure to give it to them. Black women, I want to be one of the first black men to apologize; I apologize for the cynical acts I have done to you, harmful words I have said towards you, and negative thoughts I have thought about you. Please forgive me.

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