Rescuing the Black Man

Rescuing the black man…June 18

I watch the news in my native Jamaica, I watch the news on NCB 4 and I cry. I watch and pray when a crime is being reported. I pray, “Dear God, don’t let him be black”…so sad for a proud black woman to see the face of crime and violence and so often it’s the face of a ‘black man’. I cry for the black man and know that we, the black woman are partially to be blamed for his slow and steady demise.

Mothers, we’re to be blamed for justifying the wrongs of our sons. What happened to the days when if your child took home a pencil you didn’t provide they had to return it or ELSE? Wives/girlfriends, what happened to encouraging our men to do the right thing? When did we lose our souls and accept the ill-begotten fruits of their stealing, rape and murder? When did we begin to truly lose the black man?

Did it begin with the murder of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr? Was it the drug trade? Did we begin to lose our men when we were willing to become ‘baby mothers’ instead of wives? Did it all start when we reverted to back to the days of slavery when the men were studs who were expected to make babies with us for slave labour?

This is a plea from a black woman, who is the wife of a good black man, mother to a black son, sister to black brothers, aunt to black nephews…WOMEN let us get our men back. Let us stop blaming the system for what is happening? Aren’t you tired of seeing our men imprisoned, murdered by their own, by the state, by their own hands? Each day, a black child is left fatherless, and in my beautiful island home, motherless because their parents are being murdered. I know that I’m tired, but I can’t do this alone.

Please, don’t tell me that there are no good black men, because there are…I see them everyday. But you know what, there can be more…WOMEN LET US RESCUE OUR MEN!!! Let’s bring back the black family…

The Prodigal Returns

Wow…I sure missed writing in my journal, but once again life had me by the neck. I’ve been job hunting with little success. “You’re too qualified” is the mantra; especially for part-time posts which are what I really want. I trust the Lord to work His will. If it is His will that I return to full-time employment, then so be it.

My writing has suffered during this time, but I’m back in the wagon and set to get going again. I’ve a number of magazine articles to complete, so those are priorities. I’ve spend quite a lot of time reading and enjoying m son. What a blessing he is…everything he does is a wonderful new experience for him, but also for his doting dad and of course, me.

You know, one thing being down does for you is show you who are your true friends. I’m the type who always tries to call friends every now and then to check in because life is so short. Sadly, during this time very few calls came my way.

Joy W, thank you for calling to “hi’. Also, thanks for dear friends Michele C-B, Velmore L and Sandra G…you guys always remember me. I love you tons.

Dawn B, you wouldn’t know how much I value your friendship, but I do.