Black Man's Image: Check Yourself before you wreck yourself...

Just when I thought we just might have a level playing field... ok, at least the field was stabilizing just a tad..... Just when I thought the image of the black man as a responsible husband, father and career man was finally at the forefront.... Just when I thought the gangsta image was pushed back to the underground... Just when the image of the black man as a woman beater was done away with... just when I thought reckless, violent behavior had taken a hiatus in the wake of President Obama's election.... Just when I thought the stereoptype of a sex starved perverted brotha would be a thing of the past... Just when I thought our image in America would improve and those unacceptable behaviors would dissipate......

I see:
Tyler Perry's photo plastered all over the community dressed as a disheveled old woman on her way or residing in jail... emasculating the newly minted image of a strong, responsible man taking care of his family, loving his wife and loving this country.... Some say I'm taking this too seriously, but I just think we have gone way too long with the cross dressing just to make us successful (I should note that my wife strongly suggests that I go to the mall and get my dress and wig if someone offered me the same millions that Tyler Perry gets - but I'm just saying...)

Chris Brown beats down a woman - most likely Rihanna.... reinforcing the notion that our youth are out of control and we have no respect for the women in our lives..underscoring the myth that most of our men are women beaters always one step from the long arm of the law... Why are we not teaching our young men to respect the woman? They can disagree without violence and degradation. Why aren't we teaching our young women that testing the limits of a man's anger with taunts and challenging his manhood because they know he won't smack them is unacceptable??..Why can't we learn to work out our disagreements without a smack down.... And if it is learned behaviour, then why can't we break the cycle???

Suge Knight gets beat down... again! This time, Akon's manager gives him the one two to the jaw... ok, is it me or is Suge Knight just too old and perhaps too rich to be getting into scrapes...I mean c'mon dude!! Death Row is over and that whole gangsta thang is old as hades... besides how much more humiliation do you have to take before you get a clue!!! And dayum, is it me or is Akon's camp just outta control... didn't he just get acquitted or something for beating down some fans? This violent behavior in and around the hip-hop game has got to stop... somewhere somebody is saying "see, you can take the n***a out of the hood, but you can't take the hood out of the n***a.... We have got to do better!!!

I see Jermaine Jakes, son of TD Jakes getting arrested for indecent exposure and lewd behavior... This guy goes to a public park which is known for sex crimes and activity, pulls his peepee out, and masturbates in front of undercover officers... How contrary, embarrassing and downright trifling... Now, I'm not necessarily knocking this guy for his reported sexual orientiation or proclivities... awww let me stop lying, this was way wack and the brotha needs counseling ....

And all this happened within the last week!!!!

In my estimation, in the wake of the election of President Barack Obama, we have a propitious opportunity to beat down the negative stereotypes of the black male. And for a minute there, it looked good for the brothas.... and now this.... We have got to do better!!!