Helping Our Young Black Men - Part 2
Click here to read Helping Our Young Black Men-Part 1
Any time I’m out in the community the question is often in my mind, how can we help our young black men? Just over a month ago I was on the shuttle between Grand Central Station and 42nd Street and Times Square. A young black male got on the train, dressed like he was going to an interview. He had an apple pie from McDonald’s, which he proceeded to eat. When he was done, he threw the box and bag on the floor underneath his seat.
I quietly got his attention and asked him why he did that and told him that there’s a garbage can available just outside of the train’s door. He looked at me and apologized for throwing it down on the floor, but would not pick it up. When the train stopped, he got up and I picked up the trash and threw it in the garbage can that was no more than six feet from the train door.
Was I heated? Sure. Did he not respect himself, the environment or the perception of others on the train who were looking at him? Should I say something else to the young man? How would he respond? Would he lash out or yell at me? But I approached him to inquire why he didn’t pick up his own trash. He thanked me for picking up his trash, but his logic was that he couldn’t pick up his trash because he already threw it on the floor. He had already done the deed and it was too late to correct it.
After a few more questions, which revealed he was out searching for a job, my response to him was, “how can you expect something great to open up for you if you can’t even have integrity with something small?” We continued our conversation for a few moments longer before we had to part ways. Hopefully, the encounter helped him out in some way. It helped me to see that we all need to be involved in our own development.
How can we help our young black men? We can spend time with them to help them see that even if they do something stupid - it’s not too late for them to correct their mistake - even if doing so means a blow to their ego. If we care about someone… we will say something to them to help them.
What do you think?
-Allen Paul Weaver III -
Tagged with: empowerment • integrity • teens • young black men
Filed under: Risks and Opportunities • Self-Help • Sociology
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One comment
Unfortunately in this culture we have allowed boys to remain boys well into their 40’s and beyond, and for many they are not taught to be men and assume responsibility.
I was just talking to a male friend about this Allen, yes this is an issue particularly with Black men this is an overall problem increasingly with many men. Now I am not one to present problems without solutions. This starts at the home, and many of our homes today are run by a single parent, usually a mother. These boys get everything they want, many never have to work or earn a living or even a allowance, and the young women are taught to be leaders, work, go to college, and embrace womanhood at earlier ages.(Although a worldly notion if it)
The young men often stay in their video games while mommy does everything for them. These very boys then go out and expect everything to be handed to them in the world, taking little to no responsibility for their actions, with the finger always pointed to someone else… other than themselves.
I’d say to anyone who is reading this to examine their hearts as a parent. Are they being biblical examples to their children? Many are not. This is not perfection, this is the daily striving to be like Jesus in every aspect of their lives. Children learn through them and eventually imitate them. What is your reasoning for doing anything in your house? If it is not of Christ, you are setting up your children for a fall.
As for young men, fathers need to teach their sons to be MEN. Carry themselves, respect of elders, respect of the opposite sex, and they should learn through how you treat their mother. Don’t tell your son to do things of which you have no intention of doing, it is the most deadliest thing you can do as a parent.
As for young men and women, do not use your parent’s lack of teaching as an excuse, you now have an obligation to rise to the occasion. Many know better (some genuinely don’t know) but choose to do otherwise. I could write a novel, but it is starts with a renewed changed mind to follow in the ways of the Lord. Easier written than done…