You know, not many positive change has resulted from the “historic” Million Man March which occurred on October 16th 1995 and the fact that “Father’s Day” is rapidly approaching and as a single mother, I would like to address this issue.
I’d like to start with the person who formulated that auspicious occasion, Minister Louis Farrakhan and his organization, The Nation of Islam. Two years ago I attempted to reach out to both so that they could come to South Arlington and fight for the many young African-American males in my community who seem to have been neglected by parents who aren’t fighting enough for their children, a school and county system who would rather put money elsewhere than into making them into positive, contributing members of society and the three churches in the community who choose to have their outreach within their congregations instead of outside in the community. Given the fact that no one and I mean NO ONE responded, is it any wonder that the participants of that day have not honored children, family and community? Hey, Jesse Jackson and The Rainbow Coalition wasn't any different, I got the same results. ZERO, ZILCH, NADA, NOTHING.
I find it interesting that many who attended are members of established churches or organizations allegedly created to be community programs. When I signed my son up for the Big Brother Program, I learned that there was a waiting list for African-American males. As race is not an issue for me on the personal front, it is sometimes when addressing political issues, his Big Brother was a Caucasian male, who was always there for my son. Even though his family has grown and career advancements, he’s still a part of our lives; always there when we need him and I consider him a part of my family. While he and my son’s co-creator are both in law enforcement, only one do I respect. The co-creator has been given opportunities to participate in this young man’s life but he chooses to be absent. Unfortunately, this is a situation that plagues this nation and the million of children, mostly African-American, with often grave consequences to the children, their lives and definetly, to society. I find it quite interesting also that African-Americans make derogatory remarks about Hispanics yet you’ll often see more Hispanic males out with their children than African-American males. My mother used to say, “kettle can’t cuss pot” which basically means one male does not have the right to disrespect another especially when he’s not being the “man” he should be for his children.
I actually have four children, married to the co-creator of two, yet these males dropped the ball like hot potatoes. There’s no excuse for that, on any level. Even if the female is less than mature in their behavior, and we know there’s many of them out there, it’s not about them, it’s about the children. I’ve long held to the notion that having a baby does not a man make. When both of my sons were younger, they had male organs, did that make them men? Gay males have the same organs but do heterosexual males see them as being equal? The bottom line is any male of reproductive age can donate a sperm but how many can actually be “men” and take responsibility for the life they co-created? In the tutoring program in which my son participates, only Caucasian males give their time and effort. Now I do realize that there are, in cities across this nation, African-American males stepping up to the plate but it isn’t enough. In Black men neglecting their children, signalling that these children are not very important, society has picked up the same notion, that’s why monies are not poured into urban communities or primarily Black schools. Know that there is NO excuses in GOD’s sight, none. The male is supposed to be provider and protector of the children, that’s why babies usually call out “dada” first, it’s how FATHER set things up but that’s not to negate the fact that “it takes a village to raise a child”. Christians have been told to “do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed.”[1] Christians have been cautioned, “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, who write misfortune, which they have prescribed. To rob the needy of justice and to take what is right from the poor of MY people, that widows may be their prey and that they rob the fatherless”.[2] Nine times out of the ten, the fatherless are the oppressed, they are the poor but no one can change the fact that an edict was appointed to fathers and it is, “And you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”[3] Remember, sire is the term used for animals, father is the term used for humans, but they mean the same thing. So, fathering doesn’t make one either a man or a daddy.
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