It would be both disingenuous and dishonest to state that young African-American males enter this world on the same footing as their counterparts of any other racial or ethnic group. According to many medical studies, African-American children are born with natural abilities such as being able to hold up their heads, sitting up, and focusing on objects that others are incapable of achieving. So, Black males enter this world further developed than all of their male counterparts.

I do not need to tell you that other studies monitoring the development of Black males throughout their lifetimes reveal that they are by-passed by their male counterparts in every way imaginable. In many ways it is startling that a populace that entered this world at the forefront of development ends last in the race of life. The most reasonable question that one could ask about this matter is a singular-word of “Why?”

Although the above question is brief, an accurate answer require volumes. No one should doubt that so much happens to Black males during their lifetimes.

This understanding of the maddening twists-and-turns that occur in the lives of African-American males informs my bemused look regarding an incident at a Walmart in Wood River (Il.). Apparently a White police officer was filmed harassing two Black males, Jermon Best and Diangelo Jackson, for entering the shopping establishment while wearing protective masks.

Much of the haranguing has occurred regarding two points: (a) if the wearing of protective masks were against Walmart’s policy as the officer cited, it actually isn’t, and (b) if this were an occurrence of racial profiling. I refuse to equivocate on such silly matters and will dedicate this space to an ancillary issue that I term the grind of being a Black male in America.

Although rarely commented on, Black male lives vacillate between a frustrating cycle of “micro-aggressions” and major incidents of racial bigotry and institutionalized racism. Racial matters hover over Black males like unpredictable clouds who seem to block the Sun’s radiant light according to their own whimsical nature. Every Black male understands that neither a formidable socioeconomic status or professional accomplishments protect them from the unpredictable winds of racial bigotry and the torrential storms of institutionalized racism. The incident at the Wood River Walmart testifies to such.

Let’s be clear regarding what occurred. The unnamed officer made the decision to harass Best and Jackson based solely on their physical appearance. History proves that the most assured activating agent to White prejudice and bigotry is the presence of Black males. We cannot forget that the seeds of racial bigotry occurs via an American socialization process distributed via school curriculum, television, movies, life experiences, and kitchen tables.

Not even my most fervent desire to escape this damning truth has paved a path for me to consider the police officer at the center of this storm as an outlier. Unfortunately, he is a fairly typical representative of this nation’s most plentiful creation. At their best, Americans leave the impression that there is little hope that the ill-fitting concept of racism will ever reduce beyond gentlemanly political correctness. Despite what most would like to think, the absence of blatant uncouth racial bigotry is not the same as the presence of racial equality and/or justice for the darker brother/sister.

The revelation that the absence of blatant uncouth racial bigotry spewed into the public sphere by our countrymen does not signal the presence of racial equality and/or justice would be a great starting point for a riveting discussion regarding what is wrong with young Black males. Yet, this is a difficult discussion for the entire nation as it would invariably place much of the responsibility for the plight of Black males at the feet of each of us. One thing is for certain, the collective ignoring of this matter will not lessen its impact on Black males and the nation. It will simply grow worse as time goes along like an unchecked virus. And as we all know, an unchecked virus is a very dangerous thing.

Dr. James Thomas Jones III

© Manhood, Race, and Culture 2020.

I thank you and appreciate you visiting Manhood, Race, and Culture.

If you enjoy the content that you find here at Manhood, Race, and Culture.

It would be greatly appreciated if you would consider purchasing one of the following books.

• “Foolish” Floyd: The Life & Times of an African-American Contrarian.
• Creating Revolution as They Advance: A Narrative History of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense