I said "their colour and what it brings" to make for an open and general discussion. Perhaps, I could have used words like "advantages" or "benefits" (whether real of perceived) for more clarity. Please note that at the beginning of this thread, my original list included some characteristics of being a successful black man. Yet, I left room for things that are more physical and worldly than "culture, spirituality, mindset, etc.". That way, I avoid being too specific and don't risk excluding people who don't think as deeply as you and I do. Judging from the wide range of responses, many of which I wouldn't have thought of, this approach has definitely worked.
To a degree, but I don't think that a direct relationship exists between your colour, and your outlook on other colours and on the world in general. Colour doesn't have any more meaning than we, human beings, give it. I think that society and sub-groups within it attach certain characteristics that you can choose to accept and validate them, or work even harder to disprove and rise above them. Most importantly, I think it's the experiences imposed upon you because of colour that affect your outlook. And then again, research has shown that 2 people sharing the same experience can follow 2 different paths in life. Personalities and characters introduce some personal differences that even one's colour, culture and religion can't explain. For example, scientists have done experiments where 2 identical twins, separated at birth and raised in different environments, have turned out differently. Why did it happen? Because upbringing and environment play much greater role than we realize. If you could take one thing from this thread, hopefully it would be that what's enjoyable about being a black man varies from person to person. Just so along as it's positive and not limiting, I support it 100%.
I believe that Black Men are the epic heroes of old and that the blood of mighty kings, prophets, and warriors fills our veins. Having been an English major and teacher, I was amazed to discover that the oldest myths and folktales are all African or Semitic; that the epic tale of Beowulf, which many English teachers will push as being the earliest of its kind, was in fact thousands of years late when compared to the stories that were told by the people of ancient Africa, Egypt, Sumeria, and other lands. So I like the feeling of being a walking myth and legend, a link in the divine chain that stretches between our race and all the mysteries of heaven. I know it sounds horrible and stereotypical, but I also like that White society has created such a myth in its own collective unconscious about Black men that they have given us nearly mythical power. According to White society, my rage is enough to burn cities to the ground, my sexual prowess is savage and unrestrained, I am a warrior and killer and destroyer of all that is good. For all you fans of Tolkien or Star Trek, I have always believed that White society views Black men as Klingons or Uruk Hai warriors. Granted, these views are not that great but fear is also a very powerful thing. I believe that Fear and Desire are the real Powers of the human race and, according to White society, we embody both of them. Last, I enjoy the feeling of brotherhood that I get from other Black men. I walk down the street and meet the eyes of a hardcore street hitter and we nod, speak, and keep walking. I like that. I can be anywhere and start talking to another Black man and have him respond to me as though we already know each other. That is something that I don't get from White men and something that I have been told doesn't happen among other White men. Granted, there are a lot of issues between Black men, issues of power, trust, and resentment, but I still find a more meaningful connection with other Black men than I do White men.
I definitely know what you mean here. The other day, in the student center, there had to be at least a thousand white kids (the most white kids i've ever seen in one place), pouring in from all directions. It's summer time, and school is out, so i really don't know where so many of them came from exactly. I think they were holding some kind of church retreat on campus or something. That could explain it. Anyway, I could literally count the number of black people on one hand in there. Even though there was only five or six black people among a thousand, i actually met up with one of them and started having a conversation. It's not like i was in a particular mood to just start having a conversation with a stranger, i guess that us being the only black males in the entire place just made us kind of gravitate towards each other or something. I think that's common among all minorities though. I think they tend to stick together. And whenever i'm walking on the street, i always, and i mean ALWAYS, nod my head at another black man. I either say hello, or i just give a simple nod. I do that with white people too, but sometimes when i'm trying to acknowledge a white person, they either ignore me or just look straight ahead. But with black men, that hardly ever happens. There's always eye contact, and an acknowledgement that follows. There's some kind of invisible brotherhood among black men, and I think it's great.
I would just like to say that for the short while that I have been on this board, this has been the best thread I have read. Props to the man who started it, you just one hip brotha. It's totally restored my confidence in the intelligence and coolness of the people on here, and it's produced some highly creative answers. Of particular note; Genuine (obviously), Bryant, JREMINATOR... and a great big holla to PhillyLove3242... fuck me was that post smokin'! Just to expand on some of the ideas here: I love the unexpected incongruity that arises when a black man achieves something that nobody would have bet on him for. For example one commonly accepted "axiom" might be "black men are stupid". So it does me no end of charm when I see a brotha standing at the front of the class with the best test scores. Or when a bad-ass mofo starts analysing lines of poetry, philosophy or mathematics. It's just like this type of buzz I get. To suprise people in a positive way, and to feel as though I have made an impact or change - well, I guess that's something that everyone strives for and surely enjoy I guess. So as a black man the fact that I get to challenge provisional stereotypes and defeat the predicted norm - that gives me a thrill that's sort of undescribeable (like an Asian friend who once told me the most amazing experience he ever had was a white girl he was going out with say to him "you're the best lover I ever had -- and you're Asian!"). Then there's that whole myth thing Philly was on about. It's like a twin conjunction of Dangerous and Sexy. The idea that WW love us - their men fear us. We are the Dark Warriors, they are the White Princesses... they are taught to live in fear of us... but secretly they also desire us... and we them.... while they look to thier men for security and financial dependance... they (involuntarily) turn to us for lust and erotic climax... they are taught to hate the Dark Side... but it is a cosmic force that beckons them which they cannot deny themselves... like a starving person who tastes the most delicious chocolate... dark and gooey... but oh so fullfilling and satisfying... And we for them. Our carnal instincts and sexual appetites are insatiable. Our mission is to turn them, and we lust after them incessantly. Thier soft pretty white skin. Thier beautiful multi-colored eyes that act as flashcards to thier wild emotions. Thier sweet, champagne-glass shaped breasts... leading all the way down to thier tender.... Of course this is probably all a load of crock. But it's still fun to fantasize and lose yourself in the reality of it all.
Thank you my brotha. I'm glad to hear it. Your and Bryant's posts were both interesting and informative - as I've been told by someone (non-black) I introduced to the boards a short while ago.
I also like the fact that many, if not most, black men look good with little or no hair. In fact, I look younger with shorter hair than with an afro, which tends to age me by about 10 years.
