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Tuesday, 27 June 2006 15:48 |
 | | Roland Martin |
CHICAGO ?? When I was the news editor of Savoy Magazine when it was led by New York-based Vaguarde Media, there was a dream cover I had in mind: Ossie Davis, Earl Woods and Richard Williams under the title, ?®Authentic Manhood.?∆
The vision I had wasn??t several pages filled with the sad tales of black men headed to prison, but the faces and stories of the known and unknown who toil away everyday, doing their jobs, raising their children and in other words, ?®handling their business.?∆
We
never got a chance to do that cover, and unfortunately, two of those
men have since died ?? Davis, one of the world??s greatest actors, on
Feb. 4, 2005, and Woods, the father of golf star Tiger, on May 3.
But there are others who could fit the bill, and there is no doubt that I??ll get the chance to make it a reality.
Why? Because I have grown tired of the image of black men being nothing
but hip-hop hucksters, ex-cons or illiterate individuals who can??t
graduate from high school or take responsibility for their
out-of-wedlock children.
A few weeks ago, The New York Times ran a piece on the sad plight of
young black men in the inner-city, and that led to a plethora of
discussions around the nation.
The Washington Post has embarked on a year-long series exploring the
state of black men in America, and they, too, have jumpstarted a lot of
discussion on the issue.
When these two national publications turn their eyes on the black man,
other media outlets begin to take notice. Hopefully, it won??t just be
about what??s all wrong with black men but what??s right.
Oh, I know
brothers have long complained about the treatment they get in Terri
McMillan??s books and in other literary works. They also decry the
stereotypes they see projected on television and the big screen. But
you see, I don??t really care. There are fine examples of strong black
men ?? authentic black men ?? all over the place. The question is whether
we really want to look.
For me, I simply look at my father ?? Reginald Lynn Martin Sr.
He??s not some high-powered attorney or a big-shot doctor or an
entrepreneur. My dad is one of the millions of black men who raised
their children to have self-respect, study hard, share a love for
Christ and be respectable members of this society.
I??ve very protective of my father. Not because he needs me to be, but
because I love him and he??s my hero and I refuse to allow someone to
denigrate him.
I recall a conversation with a woman who tried to say something
negative about him, and tired of her comments, I said, ?®That??s the last
time you will ever say anything negative about my father.?∆
When I look in the mirror and see a strong black man who is Godly,
resolute, defiant, strong-willed, educated and unwilling to compromise
his principles, that is nothing but a product of my father and mother.
And whether it??s this syndicated column, my radio show, my commentaries
on TV One, the book I??ve written and the one I??m currently editing, or
the pages of the Chicago Defender, I am committed to sharing the wisdom
and knowledge he put into me.
Former NBA star Terry Cummings, in an interview on my show on WVON-AM,
said that in order to change young black men today that have gone
wrong, you have to change ?®their reference point.?∆ If all they see is
negative, that??s what they will come to know and accept.
When I??m asked who are my mentors, I don??t mention prominent
journalists like Max Robinson, Ed Bradley or celebrities Michael Jordan
or Bill Cosby. Nothing against those men, but none of them fed me,
clothed me, beat my behind when I acted a fool in school or hugged me
when I walked across the stage at graduation. The only black man to do
that was my father.
Focusing our attention on the negative elements in our community is
important so we can address them. But we also must provide the
necessary balance in order to paint a true portrait.
For every so-called man who isn??t handling ?®their business,?∆ it??s time
to man up. Because were it not for Reginald Lynn Martin Sr. doing his
part, I wouldn??t be able to write this and challenge you.
Remember, what you do today can affect your children??s children. That??s the kind of legacy you should want to leave.
?ÿ
Roland S. Martin, editor of The Chicago Defender newspaper, is author of ?®Speak, Brother! A Black Man??s View of America.?∆
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