For many years it has been acknowledged and reported negatively how troubled and maligned the black family has been portrayed. This type of portrayal more often than not always seems to raise its ugly head in the most inopportune times. In times like these however, many reasons and remedies have been introduced to uplift spirits for accomplishing stability for true familial order. How can people of color come to grips with reversing trends of trepidation and tribulation of failure? The state of emergency involving components for a strong and committed family hinges on several factors that must be addressed.

I will share reasons why the malaise continues, give my views on solutions, and offer a few caveats to support reasons why there’s a silver lining with the right levels of commitment to succeed. It has always been my contention that charting the right course for prosperity in any scenario borders on how well one adapts to the embodiment of empowerment concerning aggressively using and pursuing effectively the resources to enhance the quality of life. Moreover, being in position to reap benefits has been fraught with all types of catastrophes not allowing black males to rise above mediocrity. Why is this? Who is to blame and what can be done to give a sense of hope in strengthening our resolve?

What Perpetuated the Angst?

It has been arguably noted with much passion and heated debate the reasons why our families are torn asunder, why our communities are disenfranchised and why black men are facing troubles in the world. Some will tell you that it stemmed from slavery and has emanated to the proportions we face now where divide and conquer tactics were used to separate us from familiarity, decimating the strength in numbers reality. You have those that cater to the mentality that we’re not cohesive enough to form coalitions to network favorably to pool resources, and others yet, who cotton to the fact that institutionalized racism is the main entity keeping us in check.

My views are mixed and somewhat pragmatic as I feel that there are a myriad of reasons why things are the way they are, all of the above notwithstanding. I feel that the folks of the lighter persuasion wanted to maintain control and to skewer the scales to make sure parity would be non-existent and to change the laws to enforce racist attitudes. It’s certainly true that slavery set us back, and that the latter is still an issue. These are the proponents that have played a part in embellishing separate but unequal concepts that fueled segregation, and perpetuated the Jim Crow mindset, et al.

What Can Be Done To Eradicate This?

Shared intimacy for the betterment of espousing keeping families together and allowing our black men to do what it takes to excel has fortitude if a few changes become prevalent. First and foremost, black men need to ‘man up’ and take responsibility for their own livelihood. They need to stop abandoning their wives and children, and most importantly, educate themselves beyond their immediate disposition for a better image. Secondly, our Savior Jesus Christ has given a blueprint to follow and has decreed that faith without works won’t get it done without spirituality playing a major part in making any type of transition. Finally, a better job of enabling upward mobility is paramount in this equation. I feel that the triumvirate of self, family and community must be prerequisites for the right tracks to be laid for any destination to uplift the black family. The village is still viable and there’s quite a bit of wherewithal that can be used. Here is my rationale in a nutshell:

* Self – This is so important to me because in order to go forward, one must know from whence you came. Educate yourself to be recognizant of why things are the way they are and elicit change within.
* Family – When both parents are steadfastly weathering the storm it makes for the greater part of the whole to feel how important it is to work together to maintain order. Hopefully the head of the household would instill in his children how essential obedience is and why as a united front it will take more to see through the next component to play a major role.
* Community – Empowerment of the community means bridging the digital divide, keeping money within the communal compound and insuring that entrepreneurial concepts be perpetuated so that the money we spend is regenerated back to let it flow among ourselves.

The Silver Lining

I’m tired of seeing my people being pulled from pillar to post trying to find and sustain the value system that worked for our ancestors but has failed us miserably. As a father, brother and husband I too have shared the deepest fears in all of the capacities listed above, and have had the proudest dreams in my attempts to understand why familial order isn’t demonstrative for our children to be obedient, for them to embrace much more than what the hip-hop/gansta lifestyle would bring them. Today’s youth and the value they place within their environment (or lack of same) makes me wonder aloud what has been lost or compromised at the expense of a family bound together for a common cause. Restoration means that young adults and boys finally realize the need to pull their pants up from around their butts and that young ladies stop allowing them to manipulate them accordingly.

The silver lining is making sure that your election and calling is sure by committing to a life of righteousness, looking to Him to supply all of your needs and to eschew all forms of apostasy. If and when this is intact, I feel that the black family will rebound from this predicament and emerge even stronger.