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Bonobo

(29,257 posts)
Mon Nov 24, 2014, 10:04 PM Nov 2014

Let's remember, that black men are MEN, and...

A war on dark-skinned people is not just a war on dark-skinned people, it also reflects an attitude towards men. It is, in fact, a war on men and boys.

All too easy to miss or be intentionally glossed over. But just has always been the case, in war and peace, the lives of men and boys are seemingly worth less.

Black men are men and they are victims of violence at the hands of society for being men as well as for being black.

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Let's remember, that black men are MEN, and... (Original Post) Bonobo Nov 2014 OP
Men, women, black white, we all have more in common with each other then the plutocrats. Exultant Democracy Nov 2014 #1
I hear that. Bonobo Nov 2014 #2
You bring up a very good point. Behind the Aegis Nov 2014 #3
Stereotypes used to attack black men are caricatures of the poison-filled attack on men in general Bonobo Nov 2014 #4
You are absolutely right. Behind the Aegis Nov 2014 #5
Most of the issues that disparately affect men are greatly exacerbated for men of color Major Nikon Nov 2014 #6
Nothing illustrates your point better than Marissa Alexander lumberjack_jeff Nov 2014 #7
Another man killed by police. Bonobo Dec 2014 #8

Bonobo

(29,257 posts)
2. I hear that.
Mon Nov 24, 2014, 11:01 PM
Nov 2014

My point is something else though.

You see, one of the reasons for sexism is that men are considered the default. Simply put, things are made for men. "It's a man's world" as they say. And this has some truth to it.

But the flip side is the disregard for the difficulties that face men. They are taken for granted. Men must embrace the struggles of other men. We must understand what it is that we face so that we can understand how to overcome it. It must not be taken for granted. "Attention MUST be paid" as the saying goes.

Behind the Aegis

(54,840 posts)
3. You bring up a very good point.
Tue Nov 25, 2014, 01:13 AM
Nov 2014

There is a large point in stereotyping of men, especially minority men. Look at the anti-gay initiatives, most are focused on gay and bisexual men. With regards to racism, we see some of the most hate-filled stereotypes leveled at black and Latino men.

Bonobo

(29,257 posts)
4. Stereotypes used to attack black men are caricatures of the poison-filled attack on men in general
Tue Nov 25, 2014, 01:21 AM
Nov 2014

Hyper-exaggerated violence, sexual hunger, out of control...

These are all also the stereotypes used to attack men in general. Black men are merely the extreme end of the scale.

Black, brown, gay or bi, a man is a man and when facing violence, let's remember from time to time that these are not merely violence against blacks, browns, gays and bi's, but also violence against men in a society where some of our lives are viewed as cheap.

Behind the Aegis

(54,840 posts)
5. You are absolutely right.
Tue Nov 25, 2014, 01:30 AM
Nov 2014

For an example, the recent Israeli/Gaza conflict. "Women and children!" That was the rally cry. "Baby killers!" Another one used often. Another would be the kidnapping of the boys in Nigeria. The amount of coverage the girls got was astronomical, not so when it was 45 boys. I know the numbers were greater with the girls, but aren't children, children?!

Major Nikon

(36,899 posts)
6. Most of the issues that disparately affect men are greatly exacerbated for men of color
Tue Nov 25, 2014, 08:32 AM
Nov 2014

Things like our lopsided system of justice, men's health, and education all affect men of color to an even greater extent. That's why I think it's rather sad when people try to conflate women's advocacy with racism. It makes a helluva lot more sense to conflate men's advocacy with racism as those two things actually do have a directly proportional relationship.

We should also remember that while gay men often face a separate set of issues, they are often the most adversely affected.

 

lumberjack_jeff

(33,224 posts)
7. Nothing illustrates your point better than Marissa Alexander
Wed Nov 26, 2014, 10:42 AM
Nov 2014


Racist system? Her victims are black too, ladies.

Bonobo

(29,257 posts)
8. Another man killed by police.
Wed Dec 24, 2014, 04:26 AM
Dec 2014

It is a war against minority men first, but it is also a war against men.

Why is this important to say? Because men have to be aware of violence all around them too.

At any moment, they may be considered a "threat" and killed or beaten.

Would it be reasonable to list not having to worry about being shot by the police as an example of "female privilege"?

Draw your own conclusions, but fathers and mothers are hopefully honest enough to admit that in America, at least, the danger of violence by law enforcement is disproportionally born by men/boys.

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