(ThyBlackMan.com) James Baldwin once asserted that one of the gravest things that every black man realizes is that in America, there will come a time when it is quite simply “his time.” This was Baldwin’s way of informing the world that even the thought of black men causes angst, consternation, and an unprecedented comprehensive disdain among a large population of Americans, although difficult to comprehend, many blacks are counted in this number.
Undoubtedly, every black man is maligned by the dastardly misdeeds “his kind” has either perpetrated or been accused of perpetrating. The alluded to accusations and the very real consequences that flow from them form a crucial part of what it means to be black in America.
It is difficult to argue against the assertion that the “brand” of being a black man in America has been damaged beyond repair. One needs to look no further than the presence of an overanxious lynch-mob composed of hateful whites, angered black men, and frustrated black women, not to mention other populations motivated by hateful thoughts about what they believe it means to be a black man in America for verification. The irony of this ridiculous situation is that the vast majority of black men have little to do with the 
development of the anger and bias opponents harbor in their hearts.
If nothing else, I pride myself on being reasonable and open to both constructive criticism and new information that would lead me to reconsider prior perspectives. I must tell you that a recent incident involving Brennan Walker, a 14-year-old African-American male who missed his school bus and got lost while attempting to follow the bus route to school, has caused me to correct my earlier statement that ‘Life has taught me that every black man is maligned by the dastardly misdeeds “his kind” has either perpetrated or been accused of perpetrating by those around him, regardless of the circumstances.’ As previously mentioned, I have always sought to be accurate in the summation of my environs. Therefore I have corrected the previous statement to read as follows, ‘Life has taught me that every black male is maligned by the dastardly misdeeds “his kind” has either perpetrated or been accused of perpetrating by those around him, regardless of the circumstances.’
The actions of Jeffery Zeigler, a retired Detroit firefighter, toward the 14-year-old black male child reveals much about how certain segments of our nation view black males, even children.
Brennan Walker was apparently lost as he attempted to trace the path that his school bus traveled on a daily basis and approached a random residence for directions. Home surveillance tapes show the child approaching and knocking on the residence’s front door. Walker would later inform reporters that he could hear a woman inside yelling “‘Why are you trying to break into my house?’ I was trying to explain to her that I was trying to get directions to Rochester High and she kept yelling at me. Then the guy came downstairs and he grabbed the gun. I saw it and started to run. And that’s when I heard the gunshot.” That shot would lead to Zeigler’s arrest on charges including assault with intent to murder. The disgraced retired Firefighter is being held on $50,000 bond.
Far too frequently Black America refuses to believe bigots when they display their nasty perspectives in even the most shocking and grievous manner possible. It is this refusal to “call a spade a spade” that under girds the mother of Brennan Walker, Lisa Wright, reaction to the attack on her child. “After watching the video and hearing the wife say ‘why did these people choose my house?’ I knew it was racially-motivated. I don’t know what other ‘these people’ she could possibly have been talking about. He was by himself.” Wright goes further to lament the unfortunate reality that there are adults who shudder at the appearance of a random black male who has not done anything to offend or threaten them.
If provided the opportunity, I would love to tell Ms. Wright that neither black males nor those who love them have ever had the luxury of not believing bigots, regardless of their race or ethnicity, when they express their signature hatred for all things black. Although it is unfashionable to express the following, however, it is obvious that black males have historically been denigrated in spaces varying from popular culture through mainstream conservative political commentary.
The truth of the matter is that it is this pervasive maligning that best explains the pervasive belief among all American populations, including segments of Black America, that black males, regardless of age, are a veritable menace to society incapable of making any positive contribution to society. Considering such an overwhelmingly negative perspective, black males’ success or failure in navigating this minefield serves as the supreme determinant in their lives.
When one considers the high stakes of life, it is imperative that African-American parents socialize their sons regarding what they should do when faced with the pernicious evils of racial bigotry. I am confident that after being shot at by a white homeowner for knocking on a random front door that 14-year-old Brennan Walker would agree that any decision made by black males, even one as rudimentary as seeking directions to school, could be their final decision.
The question facing Black America is not how we teach tolerance and understanding to figures like Jeffrey Zeigler, rather how we increase the odds that black males are not shot down in the street for no apparent reason. It is a difficult task, yet one that I am confident will yield far greater results than merely praying for our enemies or wasting precious time carrying signs and signing songs among our avowed enemies.
Staff Writer; Dr. James Thomas Jones III
Official website; http://www.ManhoodRaceCulture.com
One may also connect with this brother via Twitter; DrJamestJones.
