Manhood in Crisis: Black Identity

by Robin "Zakia" Elliott
Black men in America are suffering from a manhood crisis. This is part of the reason we strike out at each other so often and so quickly because we are super-sensitive about this. In North Amerika we have allowed the European to define for us our manhood. We have allowed the Europeans to attach to us remnants of their mindset of manhood: "Provide and confront; if attacked you conquer or die." We fail this test from day one because we never viewed slavery as a state of war. By accepting this circumscribed definition and trying to live up to it, we have developed a lot of anger, which causes a process of self-hatred so subtle we don't even recognize it, even as it consumes our very being. We are parodying the white man's psyche and becoming co-conspirators in our own demise, not realizing we possess our own noble purpose and destiny.

We have to define for ourselves our own view of manhood. We don't have to succumb to the beastly mindset and gangster mentalities that mimic Gotti, Dillinger, and Scarface. We have the right to not be things we're not supposed to be, especially in a culture that circumscribes our life with false, rigid roles, producing things we don't need or needing things we cannot produce. Yes, the racism we face, both covert and overt, is part of the reason for our condition, but it is only the symptom, not the cause. Our problem is the disease of dependence that we have practiced since slavery, no different today than it was during chattel slavery when many of our ancestors consigned themselves to the European slave master expecting him to fulfill all their needs. We have to understand that our dependence is based on the fear of taking responsibility for our own destiny. As long as we accept and believe that we are powerless, we will so be. The only thing that holds us back is our own practices, acts, and actions.

We all know that money is power. We have a consumer GNP (Gross National Product) spending index of four billion dollars a year in our New Afrikan community. Can you imagine what we could accomplish if we harness that power and take control of our destiny? We have to dream, and yes, it takes courage to dream. We have already demonstrated the indestructibility of the Black human spirit. Now we have to show our unselfish devotion, patience, and love to save us from the distress of these final days.

We need to set the stage for establishing a self-definition of manhood, starting with the understanding that much of our violence toward each other stems from desperation and fear, rather than from authentic manhood. As Black Men we do not have to live up to any narrow societal image of manhood. We have a duty to return to our God-selves of ancient times-being Healers, Protectors, Lovers of our women and nature, Celebrators of life. Ethical and strong masculinity does not require the denial of deep feelings. We start to die when we are afraid to say or act upon what we feel. We should not be only competitors. We are also brothers, and our true nature is to cooperate with and support each other, finding strength and healing through telling the truth to one another, man-to-man.

We deserve the same right of fatherhood as women in motherhood because fathers are equal to mothers in their ability to raise children. Fatherhood is honorable. Furthermore, we should not be measured by what we produce, in other words, by how much money we make, because we are not merely our professions, making money to support life. Our real challenge and adventure that makes life full is the making of the soul, and Black men do not have to become more like women in order to reconnect with our soul. We deserve to be nurtured and protected as equal partners. And we have to work to learn how to treat our women fairer and work toward a vision of partnership that does not require men to become less than who we authentically are.

-Robin "Zakia" Elliott, Box 665, NCI, Somers, CT 06071 NCX Feb/Mar 1996
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