Black people continue to parrot words and phrases we hear others use, without asking basic questions. As a conservative black man, I’m told by blacks and whites alike, that I don’t understand the struggles of the “black community”. Too many black people are quick to talk about the “black community” yet cannot define what the black community is. So, like Matt Walsh, who asked “What is a Woman?”, I am going to ask, “What is the Black Community?”, and maybe a deeper question would be, what qualifies you to be a member of the black community.
I’ll start my definition by using the words of Calvin O.L. Henry from an article he wrote in 1995, where he states that the black community is black America. He goes on to say that members of black America are citizens of the United States of America, and that the community is a concept that goes beyond the color of one’s skin but is the experience of being black in the United States. The Black Community is a society whose culture is waiting to be re-defined. This definition or concept is not designed to ignore other Blacks in the Americas, but to evolve the strength and power of Blacks as citizens of the United States of America. Too often Blacks in the United States function as if they are not citizens. Henry’s article goes on to discuss the need for black Americans to hold political leaders accountable for changes needed to empower the black community. He discusses education as being a tool that black Americans must use for social change, to educate its youths and to correct the miseducation of and about the black community. Accountability and taking on leadership roles are discussed as well. Interestingly enough, he points out that as blacks work at becoming agents of change, they most be aware of those in the community used to divide the black community.
I do not believe this general definition of the black community is what is being talked about today, for the most part. The black community is divided and unsure of the direction they want to go. Just like our current president said, “you ain’t black” if you don’t agree with the current edicts of the black community. The black community is not open to voices or ideas that come from the political right, even though much of how they used to live, was in accordance with the political right. A black conservative is not allowed to be a part of the black community and many times are symbolically removed from the community for “not being black enough.”
A gentleman whose name is Marlon Brown, recently made some strong points about what the black community is today. Today’s black community is made of poor uneducated black people. It is comprised of unwed mothers with children from multiple baby daddies. Their homes are in the worst parts of town but very close to the abortion clinic, that most of them have visited. Attempting to get a good education and leave the projects for a better life is frowned upon. Wearing pants that sag below your ass and then some, and women wearing clothes that expose their tits and asses are signs that you are a card-carrying member of the black community. Twerking, using foul language, calling each other “nigga”, listening to rap music that glorifies sexual promiscuity, drug use and killing each other, signifies your membership in the black community. Selling drugs on the streets and recruiting others to do the same brings immediate acceptance into the black community. Blaming everyone but yourself for where you are in life, is a badge of honor in the black community. Worshipping at the altar of Barak Obama, Maxine Waters, Al Sharpton, Ben Crump, and the like, bring you high praise in the black community. As long as you always vote Democrat, your place in the black community can never be revoked.
Mr. Brown ask a very simple yet poignant question: why are these considered good qualities to be associated with the black community? Why, as black Americans, don’t we say, “You ain’t black” if you are not a productive citizen, if you haven’t successfully complete high school and are either going to college, joining the military, or going to trade school. Black Americans should be saying, if you want to be a part of this black community, you need to abstain from having sex outside of marriage and with multiple partners. You need to speak proper English, and dress for success in the global economy. To be a part of this thriving black community we need people who are willing to take risk, become true leaders, and listen to and respect the thoughts and ideas of everyone. In a prosperous black community, black people don’t call each other “nigga”, and they praise any black person who has achieved some sort of success. We don’t sit on our hands waiting for government handouts in this black community. We don’t cower behind wrongs done to black American decades ago and use that as the reason why we can’t succeed today. We stop saying that successful black Americans are an anomaly and we all can’t get what you got.
The exciting thing is, this black community does exist, but the mainstream media and our so-called black leaders, who are living the American dream, don’t believe that’s something you can do living in the “black community”.
As the late, great Rush Limbaugh said, words mean things. As long as the black community continues to allow itself to be defined as a group of people who have no hope or chance; as a group of people who can only hope to make it from the crumbs thrown to it by the government, then the black community will continue to be a place housing a group of people I don’t want to be associated with.
Until that black community makes a consorted effort to see themselves as something better than who they are, they will never achieve the success they are looking for. In that regard, I’m okay not being black enough for Joe Biden and the black community he panders to. I’m okay being a part of the thriving, striving, achieving black community you choose to ignore. Joe Biden’s black community has no room for me, but with open arms, the real black community accepts you, is willing to work with you and show you how in one generation you can change the entire trajectory of your family. It won’t be easy and with success there will be failures but if you want it, you’ll get after it.
For a deeper dive into my perspective on the black community and changing the black American narrative, check out my blog titled “Changing the Black American Narrative” It's time for the black community to decide who they are and who they want to be.
Or we just divide into two distinct groups and call it a day. Either way the choice, as always, is yours.