Black Men, We Need You More!
/This is my response to the Letter, Black Women, We Need You (http://unapologeticallyblack.org/black-women-need/ ).
Black Men, We Need You More! (http://unapologeticallyblack.org/black-men-need/ )
Dear Black Man,
We as Black women hear you. We understand that you need us, for that need was determined at the dawn of creation. We’ve been clear on our purpose, our role, and our responsibility. We’ve shouldered our weight, and in many instances, your burden too. But…
It’s time YOU recognize your power and your worth.
It’s time YOU reclaim your rightful place in our hearts and in our homes.
It’s time YOU protect and guard us, recognizing that we’re valued and more precious than rubies.
It’s time YOU teach our boys to be kings and our girls to be queens.
It’s time YOU fight against injustice and stand for truth and honor.
It’s time YOU serve as the priest of your homes.
We recognize that you need us, but you need to recognize that we’ve been here all along. However, more than needing us, you need to be the man God destined you to be. We, as Black woman, will gladly:
Follow you if you LEAD
Support you if you openly SHARE
Trust you if you are TRUSTWORTHY
Please you if you show RESPECT
Stand by your side if you STAY
Praise you if you’re REPUTABLE
Encourage you if you’re MOTIVATED
Surrender our all to you as you give your all to God and SUBMIT
Adore you unconditionally if you learned how to LOVE
We recognize the battles you fight. But, you’ve incorrectly identified your greatest enemy. Yes society painted you as worthless, shiftless, and useless. And yes the government is structured to hold you back and keep you down. And yes ‘the man’ despises, loathes and spurns you and the very ground you walk on. And yes, we, the Black woman, sometimes are angry and want to give up on you. But, these are not your greatest enemy. Your greatest enemy is YOU.
Worthless, Shiftless, Useless ------ Only if you believe that you are
Held Back and Downtrodden ----- Only if you lay down and stay down
Despised, Loathed and Spurned ----- Only if you care about another man’s opinion of you
Misunderstood and Abandoned ----- Only if you push us away and fail to walk in your destiny
The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Our beloved, Black brother, we need you to take the first step. We’ll never love or support you enough to help you be the man you need to be. Change can only come about as you take the first step.
We’ve loved you then and we love you still. We’ve always loved you and we always will. Let our love serve as the launch pad from which you fly and then soar.
From My Heart to Yours,
Davenia Lea, Ph.D.
Author, Naked and Unashamed
Black Brother Tribute
