Dear Black Men

During this time of remembering and recognizing our heritage and legacy, I am more acutely aware of the struggles our men have and are continuing to face. Our Black men are under attack and Satan knows that if he destroys the man, he will be able to unravel the fabric of our families, shake the foundation of our faith, and destroy our very lives.

I was having a conversation with my son and some of his friends and I couldn’t help but wonder if I’ve done a good enough job conveying to them the weight of their responsibility to us, as Black women, our families, the church and our communities.

This letter is written from the heart of an African-American mother to our African American sons, brothers, husbands and fathers.

Dear Black Men,

We as Black women hear you. We understand that you need us, for that need was determined at the dawn of creation. We as Black women have been clear on our purpose, our role, and our responsibility and we’ve shouldered our weight, and in many instances, your burdens 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 little boys to be kings and our little 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 our homes.

We recognize the battles you fight. Yes society has painted you as worthless, shiftless, and useless. Yes the government is structured to hold you back and keep you down. Yes ‘the man’ despises, loathes and spurns you and the very ground you walk upon. And yes, we as Black women are sometimes angry and want to give up on you. But, these are not your greatest enemies. Your greatest enemy is that YOU have allowed Satan to control YOUR MIND.

Worthless, Shiftless, Useless ------ Only if you believe that you are
Held Back and Downtrodden ----- Only if you lay 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

We need you to be the men God destined you to be. We, as Black women, 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
ADORE you unconditionally if you LOVE
SURRENDER our all to you as you SUBMIT your all to God

The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Our beloved, Black sons, brothers, husbands and fathers, 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 allow God to transform your mind (Romans 12:2), creating in you a clean heart and renewing a write spirit within you (Psalm 51:10).

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

Bible Verses:

I Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

I Corinthians 16: 13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

I Timothy 3:4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive.

II Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.