Black Men's Issues
Challenges Center of Discussions at Annual Conferences
Date: Tuesday, June 20, 2006By: Michael H. Cottman
For the past few weeks, through high-profile newspaper articles and during major black conventions, the subject of black men has been at the forefront of discussion. On June 2, The Washington Post introduced a new year-long series, entitled "Being A Black Man," that will documents the challenges black men experience in American society. Last week, 100 Black Men of America held its 20th Annual Conference, where the symposium topics included the social and economic conditions facing black men.
This week, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition held its 35th annual conference in Chicago where New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin spoke to black men. And next month, at the 27th annual convention of the National Black United Front in Baltimore, black men will also be a major focal point.
Coincidence? Not likely.
Dr. Conrad Worrill, Director of Inner City Studies for the Jacob Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies at Northeastern Illinois University and a co-founder of National Black United Front, said researchers have been trying to figure out what makes black men tick since the 1930s, and that 2006 is no different. "We have two elements at work," Worrill told BlackAmericaWeb.com Monday. "You have researchers and public policy analysts trying to figure out the phenomenon of what's wrong with the beast, classifying black men as a dangerous species; and you have our independent challenge to black men to be more responsible. And for those who are trapped by drugs and incarceration, we encourage them turn their lives around. We're working independently to address problems among black men," Worrill said. "The researchers are trying to find a solution to the Negro problem."
At the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition's Men's Luncheon on Monday, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said the city has received $10 billion in federal aid and called for black men to "step up" and help rebuild New Orleans. "Brothers, there's an opportunity unlike no other that has ever faced us. (New Orleans) does not have the expertise," Nagin said. "This will be an economic boom like you’ve never seen. Let's partner together because if we don’t, the big companies will take it ... We must not be too shy to buy from black businesses, but we also can no longer be mom and pop shops."
For its series "Being A Black Man," the Post published a poll last week and asked the question "What does it mean to be a black man?" and the results of a survey of 2,864 people, including a sample of 1,328 black men. Some black men said that being a black man in America is often a roll of the dice and always a challenge. "As a black man, you often think things can go either way," Todd Boyd, a professor at the University of Southern California, told the Post. "You could be that guy in the penitentiary, or you could be that guy on everybody’s television screen." The article about the survey, which dominated the printed Post's front page on Sunday, was the most e-mailed article for most of today, according to Richard Prince, who writes a diversity column, Journal-isms, for the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education.
"The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, often emotional," Kevin Merida, the associate editor who is coordinating the series, told Prince’s Journal-isms column. "It has come from all over the country. People wanting to tell their own stories. People wanting to offer themselves and their expertise as resources. People wanting to suggest new avenues of exploration. People expressing surprise, then gratification that black men would be featured so prominently and portrayed with complexity in the Washington Post, etc. "Of course, there are a few who have wondered aloud: Why do black men deserve such treatment? And, what about a series on 'Being a White Man'? But such comments have been relatively few."
"As with a story about poorly educated black men in March in the New York Times, and with 1995's Million Man March, the series appeared to tap into a deep hunger to discuss the subject of black men," Prince wrote. Inside the Post, sources told BlackAmericaWeb.com that some white reporters and editors were careful not to discuss the series in detail publicly while some white journalists privately questioned why the newspaper published a series specifically about black men. A recent news item in a blog published on MediaBistro.com called "Ambivalence About 'Black Man's Project?'" suggested Washington Post columnist Courtland Milloy has some concerns about the newspaper’s internal response to the series.
"Courtland Milloy isn't happy about the Post's internal reaction to their Black Man series," the online article said. "From their [The Post’s] internal critique board: "The absence of any postings about the black man series (beyond superficial accolades) tells me more about race than the series itself ever could," Milloy said. "This newspaper launches a project to examine the so-called "attitudes and perspectives of black men," and our response is, essentially: no comment. Why?," he asked. "The Washington Post could have published these same stories with the same prominence--as part of the regular coverage. Why not? If it takes a special project to value human interest stories when the human is "black," then its not black men that need examining; it's the Post." Meanwhile, the discussion about black men continued last week in Atlanta during a celebrity-packed conference sponsored by 100 Black Men.
Speakers included Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Lee Haney, eight-time Mr. Olympia, Magic Johnson, Bill Cosby and author Michael Eric Dyson. Telain Ware, a spokeswoman for 100 Black Men, said the five-day conference featured a town hall meeting on the impact of civil rights and claiming the economic opportunities that exist in America. "It's about staking our claim," Ware told BlackAmericaWeb.com. "We need to work together and support our own businesses." During the conference, Ware said founders of 100 Black Men chapters were honored and, like African fathers centuries ago, they shared oral histories of how their accomplishments during the past 20 years. One of the highlights, Ware said, were workshops for black youth -- middle school and college -- that were entitled: "Issues Facing the Black Student."
"Students were told it's okay to pursue hip-hop, but they were also told to pursue their passions and the money will come," Ware said. "And they were told they need a back-up plan." Young people from all walks of life were also shared their own personal stories of challenges, tragedy and achievements, Ware said. "Grown men were wiping tears from their eyes listening to these stories from young people," she said. Ware said celebrities like author Michael Eric Dyson, Magic Johnson, Bill Cosby, Andrew Young and Dr. David Satcher spoke to students and interacted with many of them. Authors also read from their books, discussed their works and talked about how they became successful. "They took time out to talk to young people, not just show up for a speech and a photo," Ware said. "I saw kids whose lives will be impacted for years to come."
Ware said that during the summit, Delta Airlines announced a partnership with 100 Black Men where Delta Sky Miles can be donated to the organization's mentoring and educational initiatives. She also said AT&T presented $75,000 to 100 Black Men for a new mentoring program, and Wal Mart gave $100,000 for a financial literacy initiative.
Date: Tuesday, June 20, 2006By: Michael H. Cottman
For the past few weeks, through high-profile newspaper articles and during major black conventions, the subject of black men has been at the forefront of discussion. On June 2, The Washington Post introduced a new year-long series, entitled "Being A Black Man," that will documents the challenges black men experience in American society. Last week, 100 Black Men of America held its 20th Annual Conference, where the symposium topics included the social and economic conditions facing black men.
This week, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition held its 35th annual conference in Chicago where New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin spoke to black men. And next month, at the 27th annual convention of the National Black United Front in Baltimore, black men will also be a major focal point.
Coincidence? Not likely.
Dr. Conrad Worrill, Director of Inner City Studies for the Jacob Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies at Northeastern Illinois University and a co-founder of National Black United Front, said researchers have been trying to figure out what makes black men tick since the 1930s, and that 2006 is no different. "We have two elements at work," Worrill told BlackAmericaWeb.com Monday. "You have researchers and public policy analysts trying to figure out the phenomenon of what's wrong with the beast, classifying black men as a dangerous species; and you have our independent challenge to black men to be more responsible. And for those who are trapped by drugs and incarceration, we encourage them turn their lives around. We're working independently to address problems among black men," Worrill said. "The researchers are trying to find a solution to the Negro problem."
Black civil rights activists and educators like Michael Eric Dyson have told BlackAmericaWeb.com that, although black men experience racism and discrimination in American society, brothers should move beyond the conferences and workshops and work diligently to improve the quality of their lives, their communities and their families. Worrill said he has been working in the movement since the late 1960s to help improve social conditions for black men. "We use the Malcolm X model for black men," Worrill said. "Malcolm went to jail, got out and changed his life. He's the model for black men to use their talents and their gifts to turn their lives around. That's what our independent movement is all about."
At the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition's Men's Luncheon on Monday, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said the city has received $10 billion in federal aid and called for black men to "step up" and help rebuild New Orleans. "Brothers, there's an opportunity unlike no other that has ever faced us. (New Orleans) does not have the expertise," Nagin said. "This will be an economic boom like you’ve never seen. Let's partner together because if we don’t, the big companies will take it ... We must not be too shy to buy from black businesses, but we also can no longer be mom and pop shops."
For its series "Being A Black Man," the Post published a poll last week and asked the question "What does it mean to be a black man?" and the results of a survey of 2,864 people, including a sample of 1,328 black men. Some black men said that being a black man in America is often a roll of the dice and always a challenge. "As a black man, you often think things can go either way," Todd Boyd, a professor at the University of Southern California, told the Post. "You could be that guy in the penitentiary, or you could be that guy on everybody’s television screen." The article about the survey, which dominated the printed Post's front page on Sunday, was the most e-mailed article for most of today, according to Richard Prince, who writes a diversity column, Journal-isms, for the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education.
"The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, often emotional," Kevin Merida, the associate editor who is coordinating the series, told Prince’s Journal-isms column. "It has come from all over the country. People wanting to tell their own stories. People wanting to offer themselves and their expertise as resources. People wanting to suggest new avenues of exploration. People expressing surprise, then gratification that black men would be featured so prominently and portrayed with complexity in the Washington Post, etc. "Of course, there are a few who have wondered aloud: Why do black men deserve such treatment? And, what about a series on 'Being a White Man'? But such comments have been relatively few."
"As with a story about poorly educated black men in March in the New York Times, and with 1995's Million Man March, the series appeared to tap into a deep hunger to discuss the subject of black men," Prince wrote. Inside the Post, sources told BlackAmericaWeb.com that some white reporters and editors were careful not to discuss the series in detail publicly while some white journalists privately questioned why the newspaper published a series specifically about black men. A recent news item in a blog published on MediaBistro.com called "Ambivalence About 'Black Man's Project?'" suggested Washington Post columnist Courtland Milloy has some concerns about the newspaper’s internal response to the series.
"Courtland Milloy isn't happy about the Post's internal reaction to their Black Man series," the online article said. "From their [The Post’s] internal critique board: "The absence of any postings about the black man series (beyond superficial accolades) tells me more about race than the series itself ever could," Milloy said. "This newspaper launches a project to examine the so-called "attitudes and perspectives of black men," and our response is, essentially: no comment. Why?," he asked. "The Washington Post could have published these same stories with the same prominence--as part of the regular coverage. Why not? If it takes a special project to value human interest stories when the human is "black," then its not black men that need examining; it's the Post." Meanwhile, the discussion about black men continued last week in Atlanta during a celebrity-packed conference sponsored by 100 Black Men.
Speakers included Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Lee Haney, eight-time Mr. Olympia, Magic Johnson, Bill Cosby and author Michael Eric Dyson. Telain Ware, a spokeswoman for 100 Black Men, said the five-day conference featured a town hall meeting on the impact of civil rights and claiming the economic opportunities that exist in America. "It's about staking our claim," Ware told BlackAmericaWeb.com. "We need to work together and support our own businesses." During the conference, Ware said founders of 100 Black Men chapters were honored and, like African fathers centuries ago, they shared oral histories of how their accomplishments during the past 20 years. One of the highlights, Ware said, were workshops for black youth -- middle school and college -- that were entitled: "Issues Facing the Black Student."
"Students were told it's okay to pursue hip-hop, but they were also told to pursue their passions and the money will come," Ware said. "And they were told they need a back-up plan." Young people from all walks of life were also shared their own personal stories of challenges, tragedy and achievements, Ware said. "Grown men were wiping tears from their eyes listening to these stories from young people," she said. Ware said celebrities like author Michael Eric Dyson, Magic Johnson, Bill Cosby, Andrew Young and Dr. David Satcher spoke to students and interacted with many of them. Authors also read from their books, discussed their works and talked about how they became successful. "They took time out to talk to young people, not just show up for a speech and a photo," Ware said. "I saw kids whose lives will be impacted for years to come."
Ware said that during the summit, Delta Airlines announced a partnership with 100 Black Men where Delta Sky Miles can be donated to the organization's mentoring and educational initiatives. She also said AT&T presented $75,000 to 100 Black Men for a new mentoring program, and Wal Mart gave $100,000 for a financial literacy initiative.
posted by Mr KIT @ 1:39 PM
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