Disappearing act: what has happened to black men?
“When an elder dies, a library burns to the ground.” Amadou Hampate Ba
This quote holds true in every community but more so amongst people of colour. The slow extinction of human libraries, particularly those of BAME groups, is a quiet tragedy widening socio-economic and wellbeing outcomes. This extinction is being experienced more acutely by black men.
It is important not to degrade the issues faced by all members of the human race, and more specifically, other minorities, by perpetuating the idea that all black men are blameless victims. However, the fact that the black man is one of the most feared, demonised and targeted members of society needs acknowledgement. Decades of systemic racism and societal displacement have resulted in black men becoming the most likely to be unemployed, incarcerated and killed violently. And while many black men can fight against adversity and achieve success, they are heavily scrutinised by people who fail to understand the black experience and refuse to learn about it.
In a world designed to oppress and silence them, black men have been forced to adopt different personas to survive. They are often seen as one of the many equally damaging stereotypes ranging from the hyper-masculine thug to the simple-minded people pleaser. They are rarely afforded the freedom just to be themselves. These stereotypes have far-reaching consequences on how black men are perceived and treated in society.
The hyper-masculine thug persona is often thrust upon young black men. It is a stereotype used to justify discrimination and violence against them. This stereotype is used as a tool of oppression, from stop-and-search policies to the school-to-prison pipeline. It has led to black men’s mass incarceration and painted them as a threat to society. People from BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) backgrounds constitute only 14% of the general population in England and Wales but makeup 25% of its prison population. Black men, in particular, are three times more likely to get arrested in the UK than whites and represent 13% of the prison population. This is despite the fact that black men are no more likely to commit crimes than any other group. No other demographic group has fared as poorly persistently and for so long.
On the other end of the spectrum, the simple-minded people-pleasing black man, typically seen as more acceptable in society, is just as damaging. He is the one that is always smiling, always willing to help and never complains. He is the one that deflects when asked about his experiences with racism or discrimination. He is the one that downplays his intelligence or successes because he doesn’t want to make others feel bad. This persona leads people to believe that racism doesn’t exist or that if it does, black people are just overreacting. And while it may be said that this persona is a survival tactic, it ultimately silences the black man and his experiences. It is, however, sometimes the only route to “success” for the black man, especially in the corporate world. And despite erasing many aspects of their natural personality to climb the corporate ladder, they are still vastly underrepresented in these spaces. This is despite commitments from Fortune500 companies in the wake of the BLM movement to do better.
This underrepresentation is seen in all aspects of society, from teachers to doctors to politicians. From a young age, young boys are shown that they don’t belong by the absence of black men in these positions and those alike. They are told that their dreams and aspirations are invalid because they don’t see anyone who looks like them doing those things. This is why black men need to be visible in all aspects of society so that the young boys can see that they, too, can achieve their dreams, regardless of the odds stacked against them. As adults, black men are less likely to seek medical attention and are more likely to die from preventable illnesses. And, if they seek medical attention or counselling for mental health issues, they are less likely to be taken seriously by their doctors or misunderstood by their therapists. They are also less likely to vote. And even when a person of colour has a role within politics, they are perceived as having “sold out” to get there and unlikely to effect any change that will positively impact or protect the black community.
This is not a coincidence. This results from a system designed to keep black people in their place. A system that relies on the dehumanisation and degradation of black men. A system that has gaslit them into believing that their lives don’t matter.
In reality, black men are complex individuals with a rich history and culture. They are not one-dimensional beings and should not be defined by the limited narratives that society has imposed on them. We need to start seeing black men as worthy to end this cycle of discrimination, underrepresentation and exclusion. We need to start valuing their lives and contributions. We must start fighting for their rights, just as they have always fought for ours. We must ensure they are around long enough to pass on the lessons they have learned to the next generation and restore the pride and value in being black that has been lost over generations. They need to be allowed to design the legacy they leave behind.
Only then can we begin dismantling the system designed to keep them down.
Only then can we create a future where black men are free to be their true selves.
Only then can we create a future where black men are valued and respected members of society.
And only then can we see black families and communities thrive in a way that they have been denied for far too long.
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