Tag Archives: Gay Black Men

Experts Call for Early Focus on Black Boys’ Nonacademic Skills

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Education Week: Experts Call for Early Focus on Black Boys’ Nonacademic Skills

From the article…“Stanley Howard, the founder of the Chicago-based Law and Civics Literacy Institute for Urban Males, wondered how educators can best boost educational outcomes for African-American males in a political context in which many Americans seem to be thinking: “Now you have a black president. What are you still crying about, bellyaching about?” He added, “What if black boys are economically obsolete?”

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Black boys who become men (If homicide or suicide doesn’t fall upon them) are economically viable in our society: They feed the prison industrial complex, Black men are incarcerated at an alarming rate in America.  We know that there more than likely to be locked up six times more than their white counterpart.  The rate among Black men is 3,119 per 100,000.  (Heather West, William J. Sabol, and Sarah J. Greenman, “Prisoners in 2009,” Bureau of  Justice Statistics Bulletin, December 2010.) 

 

The Rise of Prison-Industrial Complex

  • In the last 3 decades – prison industrial complex had been developed in the US– confluence of special interests that has given prison construction in the United States a seemingly unstoppable momentum.
  • Since 1991 the rate of violent crime in the United States has fallen by about 20 percent, while the number of people in prison or jail has risen by 50 percent. Increase because of imprisonment of people who have committed nonviolent offenses. Instead of community service, fines, or drug treatment – to a prison term, by far the most expensive form of punishment.
  • politicians, both liberal and conservative, who have used the fear of crime to gain votes;
  • impoverished rural areas where prisons have become a cornerstone of economic development;
  • private companies tap into $35 billion a year spending on prisons
  • Spending on corrections since 1980s increased 5 times; there are more than 1000 vendors that sell corrections paraphernalia;
  • The growth projected 5-10% annually;
  • Private prisons keep 90,000 prisoners from 27 states
  • “Bed brokers,” rent a cell facilities ($20 to $60 a day with $2.50-5.50 commission per man-day); trucking prisoners hundreds of miles through the country – threat to public order; escapes;
  • Wackenhut Corrections, second largest private-prison company has ravenous $1 billion a year;
  • U.S. Corrections Corporation – the largest private-prison company wants to buy and run all state of Taxes’ prisons;
  • globalization of the private-prison business: British private-prison company, Securicor, operates two facilities in Florida; Wackenhut Corrections is now under contract to operate prison in England; three prisons in Australia; and a prison in Scotland. It is actively seeking prison contracts in South Africa.
  • 1 pay phone in prison generates $15,000 a year; MCI installs phones for free;
  • Government officials whose fiefdoms have expanded along with the inmate population.

 

The Invisible Dragon

Tracy Morgan and Black Homophobia

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I applaud Tracy’s apology for his homophobic rant in a recent comedy skit.  I have long acknowledged my stiff opposition to all LGBT violent speech, discrimination, and physical assaults.  I love Tracy Morgan’s comedy and will not stop watching him on my favorite TV show, “30 Rock” or a HBO’s comedy special.  However, I also congratulate Tina Fey, whom did a wonderful job in condemning his routine and denouncing such garbage.  Mr. Morgan used a total lack of judgment in light of recent young people committed suicide because of their sexual orientation.

Again, his skit was insensitive, hurtful, and dangerous to young ppl facing constant violence from homophobic individuals.  Hate speech and violence against LBGT individuals cannot be tolerated: regardless of person/s or forum used for it; Homophobia language demonstrates a lack of education from its speaker.

This brings up an entry point concerning the Black community and its high moral stance against homosexuality.   Nearly, 94% of African-Americans claim an affiliation with religion, specifically Christianity.  Through research and general knowledge the Black community’s position toward the LBGT community is well-known and a point of emphasis in the Black church.  NO GAYS ALLOWED!!!  This consensus is laughable if it wasn’t so miserable.

The Black community, who screams for constant equality and social acceptance find themselves the most homophobic group in America.  Who the hell cut off the lights?Despite chronic urban violence, high homicide rate, mass incarceration, massive illiteracy, high unemployment, and lingering health issues…(I would run out of strength in my fingers to continue our national forecast).  Yet, homosexuality, we find defective and deserving of our wrath and must be condemned in all spaces. (again, who cut off the lights?)

I am not a religious person, nevertheless I sought its membership in the past on a few occasion.  (Thankfully, I failed)  Religion, like politics creates strange bedfellows.  I have come to realize pious individuals find it assessable to manipulate their religious oath to suit their vices. In other words, it’s only a sin when others do it, surprisingly, the same (pious) person will shout to the mountain top about homosexuality.  It is a facade, albeit, a clever transparent smoke screen,…

Just in….BREAKING NEWS!!!

Black people are members of the LGBT community and frankly, listening to my gay and lesbian friends more than one imagine.  However, robotic mannequins preaching God’s wrath against the devil’s army believes theirs souls are different.  BullS—T!  Black Christians and non-Christians are more similar than opposites in my experiences.   For instance, both groups lie, steal, cheat, commit adultery, and ask God for forgiveness, and on the other hand both accomplish good deeds.  In fact, there exists no proof that a pious person will obey their religious mantra faithfully: Not even the fear of God will hold some back from their hidden vices.  However, Homosexuality is not a vice, it is two humans sharing a relationship and hopefully a loving one.

In closing, Blacks lead the country in HIV/AIDS new infections, our young people are dying, yet we bury our heads in the proverbial sand called ‘religion.’  I do not know if Tracy Morgan is a religious individual, this is not about his faith, but about Black America’s hypocrisy.  I did not have to forgive Tracy, we say dump things at times, I am one who does it more more than once.  Nevertheless, Blacks need to clean up the religious rhetoric concerning homosexuality, you’re not fooling anyone.  Cut the lights back on, please, I beg God.

The Invisible Dragon

Dragon’s Daily Word, “Spiritual Pain”

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You will not wish, cry, or pray away what is bothering you spiritually.   You will not tithe, donate, or give charitably away this divine irritableness either.  Sadly, only the clever and immature attempts to barter with nothing.  As we know, the purgatory starting line will continue to reappear with this thinking.

The tao te ching, bible, quran, or motivational books are useless concerning your spiritual uneasiness.  Being an accomplished reader does not gain favor. Renewing one’s consciousness requires rigid inner reflection and determination.  As a result, old belief patterns should become susceptible to refutation.  “Out with the old and in with the new.”

But, unchaining false realities, harder than imagine.  Why you ask?  Because the chained consciousness lives with soreness as an acceptable feeling.  Hence, the doubtful spirit becomes easier to fake as real in public.  In the end the inflexible consciousness unwilling to trust her inner being will pain religiously.

Self-cultivation is a one-person journey.

Get going…as hard as it will be…get going.

Miles Davis

The Invisible Dragon

A Helpful Affair, The Video

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Picture by Robert A. Williams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depression and Gay Black Men, Silence in the Hood

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draw8african

Thanks, “K”. Karen silence as you mentioned generates more difficulty than intervention. The African-American’ culture represents a small unit within a larger paradigm pertaining to mental illness’ stigmatization. Unfortunately, inside America many groups face discrimination and alienation each day. (e.g., GLB, Person with Disabilities)

Conversely, untold numbers of mental illness suffering occur in darkness surrounded by whisper in African-American’ communities. Families ashamed a love one may require mental attention speak softly around the inevitable. Often only until the mentally ill family member becomes unmanageable will a break in secrecy occur. So, a trip to an improvised emergency room brings temporary relief; consequently, these trips occur often until a major eruption happens inside the family unit.

Black People suffer from Depression

Usually African-American lack funds for better healthcare and they routinely intake mentally ill family members through emergency rooms for services. However, these services are band aids and mentally ill family members often are unable to speak with a psychiatrist. It’s a vicious cycle, families keep it a secret and when conditions force medical attention, its handicapped by lack of quality health care.STAYLRG

African-Americans continue to mistrust mental health care in America for this reasons and others. A past systematic often racist and discriminatory process crippled the relationship between America ‘mental health care and African-Americans.   African-Americans mistreatment and categorization by mental health care soiled the perception of “Equal Health care” in African-American communities.

Mental Illness exists in the Black community and we need to break down barriers imposed internally and externally now. Preventative health measures have been shunned by outrageous denial, biblical causation and mis-education.  Also, the same silence is in affect concerning another killer;  HIV/AIDS and black men.

Black Men are Gay and its ok

Preventative health measures have been shunned by outrageous denial, biblical causation and mis-education.  Also, the same silence is in affect concerning another killer;  HIV/AIDS and black men.  In the case of homosexuality among black men, its denial has ravaged the community and particularly black women.

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AIDS is the No. 1 cause of death for black women ages 25 to 44, beating out heart disease, cancer and homicide. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, black women made up 67 percent of AIDS diagnoses among women in 2004 and of all women living with AIDS, 64 percent are estimated to be black. In one HIV study, 34 percent of black men who have sex with men reported having had sex with women, even though only 6 percent of black women reported having had sex with a bisexual man.

A recent study indicated some bleak statistics, “Half of gay men in Chicago who have HIV did not know they were infected, and two-thirds of infected black men were unaware,” “It’s a terrible thing, but it is not surprising,” says Jim Pickett, director of advocacy for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

Although the sample of men tested were only 600 a troubling paradigm is forming in the Black community.  Silence and denial does not work as a framework to a healthy community.  Our long refusal to accept homosexuality now reaches possible epidemic levels of infections among black men and women.

“Thirty percent of gay black men in Chicago tested positive, the study showed, while Hispanics and white men had rates of 12 percent and 11.3 percent, respectively…A quarter of blacks aged 18-24 tested positive. More than 37 percent of blacks aged 25-34 – the highest of any age group – tested positive, ” says Jim Pickett.

“What we think we’re seeing here is the shifting sands of two epidemics,” says Nik Prachand, an epidemiologist with the city of Chicago’s STI/HIV/AIDS division. “What we’re seeing right now is a new surge in (HIV cases) with black (gay men).”

Get our heads out the Sand

How long?  What response shall be called.  Homosexuality among black men can no longer be hidden, gay black men in the closet does more harm than good.  We must accept sexual preference before to late.  Our only hope to save a generation will be to accept their lifestyle, so we can talk to each other.  Heterosexuality and homosexuality are not different with AIDS, and must move forward and give freedom.  The same freedom we desired for our skin color.  We must educate ourselves and our community concerning HIV/AIDS.

Conversely, mental illness and HIV/AIDS refusal of cause and effect; and the systematic wiliness to cover ourselves with a transparent veil dismantle our culture. African-Americans must stop mis-education surrounding mental illness and HIV/AIDS. We must accept and begin education and social responsibility surrounding these two killers. Today.

 

The Invisible Dragon