FATHER’S DAY: PROVIDING AND PROTECTING BLACK WOMEN

Part II: Another Trouble for Black Women

By Dion Evans, RMGradio.org

The Black woman is unprotected and it is time for the Black man to wake up – HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!

In our last article, we mentioned “White, Hispanic and Asian women all have the men in their respective ethnic groups looking out for their interest; providing them protection and ensuring their survival and financial stability.” Such was mentioned to lift an advanced question – who is ensuring the same protection and provisions for the Black woman.

Father’s Day is one of the least celebrated “holidays” known to American society. Quotes were intentional because in the Black community, for the most part, Father’s Day is not celebrated due to the overwhelming absence of fathers in the home. Oh, don’t get it twisted, just because a father is in the home doesn’t mean much “fathering” is actually taking place either.

In any event, Father’s Day is time for Black men to challenge other Black men on some simple truths that will, hopefully, ensure better protection of our female counterparts.

Now, some will ask “do Black men need to be in relationships with Black women to ensure their provisions and protections”? My answer is “no.” Black men don’t need to date, marry or shack with Black women to ensure their survival. As mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts and nieces – Black men can make a difference – if we take proper actions to reverse our national stats in several areas.

CHALLENGE #1: WIN THE WAR AGAINST HIV/AIDS

According to the CenterS for Disease Control, “In 2006, black men accounted for two-thirds of new infections (65%) among all blacks. The rate of new HIV infections for black men was 6 times as high as that of white men, nearly 3 times that of Hispanic/Latino men, and twice that of black women.”

On the week prior to Father’s Day (June 12^th – 18^th) – every adult Black man should challenge 10 young Black men to consider how sexual decisions can destroy potential relationships that replenish Black male existence. It is not a deep biological truth, but if Black women are not giving birth there will be no more Black men in existence. There is a name for this – EXTINCTION.

CHALLENGE #2: WIN THE WAR AGAINST INCARCERATION

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2009 Black men accounted for 13% of the U.S. population but made up 40% of the prison/jail population. This is compared to Whites at 66% population with 34% incarcerated and Hispanics at 15% population and 20% incarcerated.

On Father’s Day week (June 19^th – 25^th) – every adult Black man should challenge 10 young Black men to consider how personal decisions have consequences that can remove them from the fabric of society. Meaning, if you are one of the incarcerated statistics – you can’t protect your community from redlining, exploitive politicians, self-hating advertising/marketing, exploitive housing and/or outsiders acquiring employment opportunities that should remain in the community.

CHALLENGE #3: WIN THE WAR AGAINST SELF DESTRUCTION

According to the Centers for Disease Control, homicide is the leading cause of death among African American males aged 15-34 years.

For the entire month of June – every adult Black man should challenge one young Black man to reaffirm a commitment to the sanctity of life. Our greatest child-bearing statistic group leads the homicide category and therefore we are losing a generation of life-givers to destructive life patterns.

If Black men continue to neglect addressing these three areas – currently ravishing our community – the end result will be what many have feared to be a century’s old goal; for the Black population’s total annihilation and extinction. How will the Black man respond? HAPPY FATHER’S DAY: Meet the challenge.