Often omitted in the chaos surrounding the looming Harris vs. Trump Presidential election are discussions regarding when and where Black men enter. Far too frequently, political campaigns operate without much consideration for Black America in general and Black men in particular. It is almost as if we are invisible, and our pressing concerns fail to rise to the level of being after-thoughts. So, it was pleasing to hear famed actor Wendell Pierce bring up the Black men during an interview at the Democratic National Convention.
Pierce encouraged Black men to vote by reminding them of the following.
There’s blood on that ballot box. Remember those who died in the rivers of Alabama and Mississippi. For them, do the honor and vote.
Black males could be Trump’s Trojan Horse due to them feeling ignored yet again by the Democratic Party and left behind by a world that seemingly promotes the rights of every group except for heterosexual males. Further problematizing this matter are the raging wars between Black men and Black women. More than a few brothers have succinctly expressed their frustrations by stating that they are tired of Black women’s shit.
If Black male issues are left unaddressed, Kamala Harris’ historic White House bid may very well become collateral damage by them either not casting a ballot or unwisely issuing a protest vote for Donald J. Trump.
To his credit, the politically astute Pierce recognizes this matter and the potential fallout from Black men refusing to support the Harris campaign. The celebrated actor poses an interesting question to the Black men who have taken a less-than-desired position regarding Kamala Harris and what she symbolizes in the following quote.
What would make you so fearful of someone who was so beloved of you, who was so loving to you, like your mother and your grandmother and your aunts and your sisters, that you cannot be proud and embolden yourself when you see someone from your community rise up?
Although Pierce’s question holds the potential to pierce the psyche of Black men, it fails at its assignment due to the opposing views that so many Black men hold toward those who failed at their job of nurturing them as children and respecting their manhood in the present moment. To the chagrin of the Democratic Party, a significant population of Black men are willing to cut off their nose to spite their face.
Most agree that such a political strategy is foolish and bound to compromise prior accomplishments. Yet, it is considered a reasonable position by many frustrated Black men. Unfortunately for the Harris Presidential campaign, I do not see the Black men who have decided to oppose her for reasons ranging from her bi-racial identity to her being a Black female, retreating from their dogged position. Such a posture is one that I am unsure that any political party can counter because, at its core, it is illogical yet speaks volumes about how troubled a significant population of Black men are now.
Dr. James Thomas Jones III
© Manhood, Race, and Culture 2024.