Quote:
Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
Cultural critic and writer Orde Coombs said to me not long before he died, "Brothers don't have the support you women do. We don't have the people or publications or intimate relationships with each other that you have, assuring and affirming and guiding us to live healthy lives."
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I agree with the overall gist of the article. But the above statement really bothers me. I'm not one for excuses. You either do or you don't, the why is not necessary. I really do not like to hear excuses like that one. If you don't like the way something is, do your best to change it. Don't tell me all of the reasons why it's wrong, change it or shut up.
I love my black brothers, I truly do. But, I hate to hear them complain about all of the various reasons why their lot in life is not what they want it to be. "The man is keeping us down, you women are too hard on us, y'all look so goo and we're so easily tempted . . . ." Blah, blah, blah. Excuses like those upset me because they ignore the scores of black men who have their lives together, like my father and boyfriend.
Life isn't perfect, but the Black Man can and will achieve. The only person who can keep him down is himself.
*I am stepping off my soapbox and returning to my normal height of 5 feet.*