NEWS FLASH!!! Martin Luther King Jr. is dead!
During the recent special news report on ABC titled “Out of Control: AIDS in Black America”, the host mentioned 5 reasons why the AIDS crisis in Black America was not being “adequately” addressed (later this week I would like to address this entire program in greater detail. I felt kinda prompted to at least address one of their reasons after reading this article). One of those reasons mentioned during this program: “Failure in Black leadership to address the AIDS crisis” really got my goat (so to speak).
The question that immediately came to mind :“WHAT IS THERE TO ADDRESS?” There are two main ways the AIDS virus is replicating itself in the Black community: intravenous drug use and causal unprotected sexual intercourse (and not some green monkey roaming the streets in the black community biting the necks of our children).
If you are black in this country, then unless you were abducted by an alien as a child and are just returning to earth you have been told in some way, shape or form the dangers of having sex outside of the realm of marriage (this is the part when someone will bring up a few cases where individuals came in contact with the AIDS virus within marriage. Let me stop you right here by saying that while it may be true, this does not represent nowhere near the majority the AIDS cases out there). Although these warnings were mainly religious in nature (”God would not be pleased”), the fact remains that we were still warned about casual sex. While some of you will try to discount those “religious” warnings, let me point out to you in our past history when we actually heeded these “religious” warnings–the AIDS virus was non-existent in the black community! If you are an American (or at least do not live in a third world area), you have been hammered over and over again via television, Internet, school, radio, concerts, albums, songs, stage plays, movies, t-shirts, fund raisers, rallies, lectures, walk-a-thons, workplace, etc. on the dangers of having unprotected sex. But somehow for blacks (according to some) we still need a “leader” (a MLK 2.0) to further address this issue?
Forescore and many years ago, if a young man wanted to date a young woman, he actually became fearful about his “meeting” with her FATHER (depending on the family, it was a “meeting” with both the MOTHER and FATHER). By meeting with the parents (especially the father), this young man knew from the start that he was to treat this young lady with the upmost respect OR ELSE! The parents of the young lady also held their daughter to high expectations.
Now I know by this time at least some of you are rolling your eyes because “…that was then and this is now!”, but I bring this up all for a reason. Anytime I hear the words “Black Leadership”, the first thing that I think about are the men over the years (especially my own father) that helped me to grow from a little boy into a mature man. These men never had an entourage, never appeared on cable news, never held a press conference, never pastored a church, and in some cases never took the black pilgrimage to see the grave site of Martin Luther King Jr. These were just ordinary men who took the time to train me how to stay “on the straight and narrow”.
I get so tired hearing questions that start with “If Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today…?” To be blunt, if King was alive today, he would be seen as nothing more than just another “foaming at the mouth” black preacher who may get a lot of press time, but still remain virtually unknown to our young people except during white-vs-black conflicts. As much as I love the great legacy of MLK, it is time for both the mainstream media and those that accept their perception of the black community to update their definition of Black leadership.
May MLK finally rest in peace and may leadership from our own men come forth!
I agree, Black leadership has been doing their part, Brother Duane. I know in my church we have taught the “Word.”
The residuals of past oppression–yes, past oppression, has left a remnant of masses of people on the outside of traditional mainstream culture. What I’ve found is that many of these young people are literally raising themselves, as their parents don’t come from a good start either. The foster-care system is presently flooded with kids with unstable roots who have no one to mentor them (mentoring beyond the buzz word, meaning close nurturing)…but the government would rather point to Black leadership as the culprit of suppressed people’s sexual actions.
We must become millions of Dr. Kings, if we are to receive the promise.
I tell you, it’s enough to make a negro turn Black!
Comment by Les Lester | August 30, 2006
Come back with a vengence!!!
I agree with you on this one. There has long been a search for the next MLK. Not going to happen in my lifetime or the next. The leadership that we need is the black to return to his family. When men stop having baby mommas, and start having a wife. Then and only then will we begin to see a change in the community. Then we will see the AIDS epidemic lowered, children finishing high school and attending college. The black man at home is the cure to most social ills in the black community.
Comment by Saudia | August 30, 2006
I’m on a definitions kick today (just ask Cobb). A better definition might be: only having unprotected sex within the confines of a monogamous relationship. I don’t use marriage because it doesn’t spell this out (although to some marriage means just that). OK that said, I agree with you on the AIDS issue to an extent. You also have to account for the forces who want to promote the abstinence only agenda, who also like to tell horror stories about condom usage. We have to get serious about sex education, and teach those who aren’t going to be abstinent how to protect themselves, starting at age 11 at least. Duane, I that revisionist good old days history you are pushing with that statement, “that the AIDS virus wasn’t around” when we were “heading God’s word” is a moot point, since such diseases as syphillis, gonorrhea, and, chlamydia…you know good old “VD 1.0″ was running rampant. There has NEVER been a time in human history where folks weren’t having sex outside of marriage. But let me backtrack…I AGREE with you. We don’t need some savior of a black leader to address these issues. Why people want to view black folks as helpless children is a mystery, and an offensive one at that. But then again, I don’t know why everyone expects black people to act and think as one entity in the first place. We weren’t unified when we came over in chains, why expect us to be unified in one culture now? Maybe we need to stop thinking of ourselves as one homogenous group. The idea of THE one black leader/spokesman should also be put to rest, right next to MLK and Malcolm. May they all rest in peace.
Comment by DMG | August 30, 2006
Nice new format…but what’s up with the language? Nnombre (obligado)??
Comment by DMG | August 31, 2006
Excellent article! Keep it up!
Comment by VB | August 31, 2006
Each one of us have an opprotunity to be a leader first within ourselves,family community at large. We are a unique people we have too look at issiues in a dffrent way we have tried so hard to copy the majority race that we countinue to lose our selves in their madness.
Nationwide poll: What is the one most pressing thing that we need to focus on as a people?
We all have heard most of our lives the many ills that plague us as a people. We have been crying, praying, preaching, marching and complaining. But we as a people still seem to have the same problems from generation to generation. We have opportunities to change our plight but we need to focus on one problem first. Is it economic empowerment, drug abuse, sexual responsibility for males and females, family unity, education, political power or health issues? Take this poll to share what you think is the most pressing. Go to http://www.blackprosperity.net to share your input.
Comment by cwhurd | September 3, 2006