Funny, black women can extoll the virtues of their womanhood all day, screaming “I am a diva” from the rooftops…yet no one ever knocks them for doing so. In fact, it’s actually celebrated everywhere from the media to church. Black Girls Rock has become a cultural statement for black women of this generation.

But when a black MAN proudly and unapologetic extolls the virtues of masculinity, he’s ‘overcompensating for something that’s really missing.’

I don’t follow the double-standard in this line of reasoning…

To me you sound like one of those dudes who believes he must go along and cater to the modern female psyche in order to get along. I can assure you: you don’t.

And though I appreciate your comments, even the sly disses and subtle greasy-speak, I have to disagree with you on a few things.

Most CEO’s for one, actually DO own the corporations they preside over. You’re limiting your analogy to the Fortune 500 list, and leaving out the millions of mid to small sized corporations that make up the bulk of American businesses.

And you have to understand something: the kind of stuff I speak of goes over most black men and women’s heads, primarily because we are so far off base with the way we do things nowadays, the lowest common denominator among us is often seen as the standard.

We live in a climate where it’s not popular to be a man. This is not just a black thing. It’s systemic throughout the western world. But since this is ThyBlackMan.com, we’ll keep it about us.

We extoll the virtues of black womanhood, which is good; but do it while we put down and attempt to silence the voice of black manhood.

When you silence the voice of black masculinity, you get imbalanced churches full of women and ‘moist’ men.

You get reality TV shows that only depict black men as either homosexual or too immature to man up and marry the women they’ve dated for years. These shows have some of the highest ratings on TV, thanks to sisters who watch that mess religiously.

You get gangs of lost boys roaming the streets, seeking their manhood through the barrel of a gun; who’s proof of having graduated into manhood usually comes with a felony and a prison record.

When black manhood is silenced, you get an army of wounded, hurting sisters attempting to raise the next generation of black men, absent of any real masculine image to model their son’s manhood after.

So instead of raising men, they’ve raised a bunch of overly emotional girlie-boys filled with feminine energy, who don’t know whether their sex organs were designed to fit into a woman’s ‘entrance’ or a male’s exit…

I listen to sisters all the time speak about their expectations of the kind of man they desire. Their expectations are concrete. Very ‘take it or leave it.’ Again: having solid dating standards is virtuous for females, but black men are expected to dumb ourselves down, slack our standards, and not roar too loudly, less we make black women feel inferior.

I…don’t…follow…this…line…of…thinking…

Only a truly strong woman can deal with an equally strong man. What I find to be the norm is that sisters who call themselves ‘strong’ usually are attracted to men who are weak. They know they should want better, yet they seem intimidated by brothers who have their ish together and won’t be easily manipulated by ‘a big butt and a smile.’

Only a handful of sisters prove to be the exception; and most of them don’t stay single for long…

It would take a book to express all my thoughts on this subject. Make that an encyclopedia! But suffice it to say, your remarks left me shaking my head for a brief moment. And again: it’s not just you. It’s a systemic way of thinking that has seized hold of this generation and led it off into captivity; a captivity I am determined to see overturned in my lifetime.

I welcome all feedback.

You were preaching to the converted for a moment.
I think you went left when you added that take it or leave it
credo. A few years ago while studying some literature on
leadership skills I learned something new.

The author stated that those that adopt an all or nothing
attitude usually end up with nothing. Due to they’re
unwillingness to compromise or make adjustments with the
very teams they desire to lead, they miss the ultimate
goals, and lose out on valuable team players.

Now when you talk about a CEO, well, in the business world
as you may know the Chief doesn’t always have the last
word. Especially if the company is publicly traded.

Actually a CEO is someone selected by the owner or board of the
company to make changes “for the better” I might add.
Let’s use Steve Jobs for example. He wasn’t the owner of Apple.

Now on the level of relationship between man and woman
what fun would it be to have a mute, just enjoying the ride as
a companion?

There have been instances in some organizations where a certain
individual that was not the owner or founder came along
and made significant improvements and maximized profits dramatically.

You are the man but I heard it said once that when we over emphasize
or manhood and masculinity then we are overcompensating for something
that’s really missing.

Now am I a fan of smoking blunts with hood rats and having no ambition?
By no means. However that same hood rat can change it up one day and
surprise you.

Obviously these aren’t MY feelings, but I can’t help but wonder if most of our sisters and the others out there don’t feel this way…