"Changing the current status of African American men in American
society will require much more than a few intervention programs,
special education courses, and teacher training. This is an
issue that began hundreds of years ago and was compounded by
hundreds of years of intentional and consistent oppression that is
tied to larger American power structures and extends beyond the
educational community to the political, economic, criminal justice,
and multimedia arenas." (Jenkins, 2006).
This week's readings were thought provoking and at times, emotionally difficult to read and to accept. There is no doubt that black men/black society have been dealt a cruddy hand at life and have huge, and at times - insurmountable obstacles to overcome. The article by Jenkins does a great job of systematically and logically listing out the challenges faced by African American men...and how society and culture addresses, challenges, or facilitates.
The article on "homosocial development" amongst black makes took me by surprise. The topic never crossed my mind - I don't think. But then again, one always reads about how black men are non-committal to families, like fathering children with more than one partner, or the "Million Man March!' Good grief - this article took a very different and more positive/constructive approach - I thought. Who woulda thought a barbershop is a place to express platonic love of one another? Interesting. Very interesting...and refreshing outlook too. I am glad the author encourages others to conduct research on "platonic love" amongst black men = in neighborhoods, in fraternities, or at the barbershop.
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