In Review: HBCU Homecomings Recharge Millions of African-Americans

There is something special about the month of October. There’s a sweet smell in the air, the birds are chirping, and excitement mounts inside of me and more than a million others who can relate to my college experience. It is Homecoming Season! Some may ask, what is the big deal? Well, I will tell you… this isn’t just any Homecoming, this is Homecoming at a Historically Black College/University (HBCU). At an HBCU, Homecoming is a family reunion, block party, cookout, and any other feel-good function you can think of combined in one. It is THE event of the year for students and alumni alike that is marked on everyones calendar. After Homecoming weekend I return home full of happiness, motivated to keep pushing towards my dreams, and an increased pride in my Blackness and all that it entails. My soul glows from the inside out because it was recharged with all the wonderful examples of Black excellence, intertwined in moments of “let-your-hair-down-ratchetness,” giving me some extra pep in my step for work Tuesday morning (Monday just isn’t an option after Homecoming). 

Why HBCUs Exist… 

HBCUs were created in the post-civil-war era as institutions of higher learning where African Americans were welcome to attend, at a time when most Predominately White Institutions (PWIs) banned Blacks from stepping foot on campus, let alone actually trying to attend a class. For years, HBCUs have provided African Americans a safe space to learn and grow as individuals and into adulthood without the constant second-guessing because of the color of our skin.

I attended Howard University – “The Mecca” also known as “The Hilltop.”

Founded in 1867, Howard University celebrated its Sesquicentennial, its 150th anniversary, this year. One hundred and fifty years of fostering Black excellence by being one of the leading producers of minority doctoral graduates in the country and producing famous alumni such as Thurgood Marshall, Phylicia Rashad, and Zora Neale Hurston. The reason I chose to attend an HBCU for undergraduate is because I was tired of being the only person that looked like me in my classes and in all my extracurricular activities. I was tired of the breezing over Black history only during the month of February. I was tired of the entire class staring at me when we read To Kill A Mockingbird aloud and the word “n***er” was said. Most importantly, I was tired of feeling like an outsider in a world that paints my Blackness as a negative.  

I attended both a PWI (graduate school) and an HBCU (undergraduate and graduate school) during my educational tenure; however, my time at my PWI pales in comparison to my HBCU experience. During my time at Howard University, I learned detailed African and African-American (Black American) history. I also learned that the people of the Black Diaspora are much more diverse than what is showcased (for example, there are vast cultural differences between Black Californians, Jamaicans, and Kenyans). Furthermore, I learned how to better care for and appreciate my natural hair. The negative stereotypes about Black people are dispelled at HBCUs. I grew up in the inner city and my friends and I were constantly fed messages and images of crime, absentee fathers, and poor education within the Black community. But at Howard University, future Black doctors, judges, and engineers roamed the campus having stimulating conversations about current events and plans for the future. It was at Howard University where I realized Black fathers do exist, not just in my circle of close-knit friends, but across the country. It was at Howard University where I also realized there were smarter Black girls and boys like me who came from two-parent households, and not mainly housing projects. Overall, I began to see that I was more the norm of Black America, and not the exception. With every day on campus, I became more comfortable with the Black woman I was and realized my Blackness was a blessing and not a curse, as society would have you believe. 

In a country that seems to remind us every day that our skin doesn’t warrant the same equality or opportunities as others, Homecoming unequivocally reminds us of the power and brilliance that lives within our community. I need that annual experience, and I wouldn’t miss it for anything. 

This article was originally published on 8 October 2018.

Similar Read: Kamala or Bust? 

THROUGH IT ALL… I AM BECOMING

Mrs. Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama has done it again.  For a woman who has been breaking barriers her entire life (first African-American First Lady, most educated First Lady, etc.), I should have known her personal memoir, Becoming, and subsequent book tour would be something to remember. With over 1 million books sold in the first week alone, Mrs. Obama’s ‘Becoming’ is one of, if not THE best-selling political memoir of all time. For a non-fiction book to sell this fast is almost unheard of. I remember all the negativity surrounding Mrs. Obama’s name for the eight years she served as First Lady and was starting to feel like there were more people who were against her than supported her. However, with her record-breaking book sales and unprecedented excitement for her book tour, I am seeing more people are enamored with her just as I am.  (Due to the growing excitement, Mrs. Obama announced additional tour dates, including international stops in both Canada and Europe.)

If you get your hands on a coveted book tour ticket, I highly encourage you to go and listen with an open heart and mind no matter your political party affiliation, sexual orientation, or social status.  The message Mrs. Obama provides throughout her honest conversation with the moderator and audience, is for every woman, with even a few gems for the men who love them.

I was so emotionally moved by the stories Mrs. Obama shared so freely because I was able to relate to many of them. She spoke about topics one would typically only open up about with one or two people within your intimate circle. She expressed pain, anxiety, and fear that she was never allowed to show while being the wife of a Senator and the First Lady.  Listening to her I couldn’t imagine the level of scrutiny she was under in her suffocating world, yet managing to make it all look so effortless.

While sitting in the audience listening to Mrs. Obama speak, I took a second to look around.  I saw women from all walks of life in the audience. From the nosebleed seats to the VIP sections, women of all ages, races, disabilities, and lifestyles looked up at Mrs. Obama in awe that they had the privilege to hear her story firsthand.  I must also give credit to the men in the audience, mainly significant others, equally engrossed in Mrs. Obama’s story.

Her memoir ‘Becoming’ is a page-turner as well.  As I read each page, I feel as if Mrs. Obama is sitting on my couch talking only to me as if we have been best friends for 20+ years.  For so many years I have referred to Mrs. Obama as strong, fearless, and damn near perfect. However, within her memoir, Mrs. Obama became more human.  The fact that she went through many of the same struggles a lot of us face while being such a highly visible public figure is the epitome of grace and poise.  In addition, Mrs. Obama revealed she struggled to find her true path and not be overshadowed, or rather fully engulfed, in the grandiosity of her husband’s growing legacy.  In short, this autobiography is a reminder for all of us to walk in our truth and no matter how tough circumstances become, we are all on a journey where we are ‘becoming’ the best versions of ourselves.

911… What’s Your Emergency?

The opioid epidemic in the United States is continuing at an exponential rate.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 28,000 people died from an opioid overdose in 2014.  In 2015, that number jumped to more than 33,000, then more than doubled to over 64,000 deaths in 2016.  At the current rate, more than 145 people die per day from opioid overdoses, with the majority of those affected living in rural, White America.

The beginning of the opioid epidemic started in the late 1990s.  During this period, pharmaceutical companies began marketing new opioid pain relievers, promising the medical community that opioids prescribed for pain relief were not addictive.  With such reassurance, medical providers began prescribing opioids at higher rates than the staple pain relievers of the time, Motrin and Tylenol. The increased amount of prescription opioids in circulation lead to the widespread misuse and abuse of prescription opioids, as well as an increased use of heroin.

In response to the opioid epidemic, America has funneled millions of federal funding to combat the crisis, with some of the funds directed towards law enforcement programs that assist those battling addiction and facing prison time.  The passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was one of the first measures to combat the opioid crisis.  The ACA required coverage of substance abuse treatment with all marketplace plans. In late 2016, Congress passed the 21st Century Cures Act, which created $1 billion in Opioid State Targeted Response (STR) grants to enhance states’ response to the epidemic.  In 2017, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency and rolled out HHS’s 5-Point Strategy to combat the epidemic.  A Traveling Opioid Memorial was also created to educate the masses on the effects of opioid addiction.

I can’t help but wonder where were all these resources and sympathy during the crack cocaine epidemic of the inner cities in the mid-1980s and early-1990s when the majority of faces affected were black and brown?  Instead of allocating funds to prevention and recovery of crack cocaine addictions, America used billions to fund the ‘War on Drugs.’ Congress enacted mandatory sentencing via the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, with harsher sentences given to offenders of crack cocaine as opposed to powder cocaine at a rate of 100-to-1.

Just recently, Demi Lovato was hospitalized for an apparent drug overdose. There has been an outpouring of support. Fans have even created a hashtag #HowDemiHasHelpedMe to showcase how Demi helped fans with their own struggles. Demi and those battling addiction now are offered rehab and protection from jail, while those who battled crack cocaine addictions were shuttled off to jail by the thousands.  I am all for shifting sentiment as we evolve as a society, but I can’t help but wish that Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse had similar support during their battles with addiction.

The effects of criminalization and mass incarceration of crack cocaine addiction, rather than treating it as a disease, are still felt to this day.  Before the ‘War on Drugs,’ the number of people in the US imprisoned for non-violent drug offenses was well under 50,000. By the year 2000, this number increased more than 6-fold, with the majority of those imprisoned being Black men, according to the Bureau of Justice statistics.  Due to this high incarceration rate, there were more Black men in prison than there were in all of higher education across America. It wasn’t until 2010 when the Fair Sentencing Act was passed did the discrepancy between crack cocaine and powder cocaine offenses reduce from 100:1 to 18:1; however, due to mandatory sentencing, many offenders are still locked up.  The economic setbacks caused by a lack of family unit and poor education will continue to impact the Black community for years to come as they struggle to catch up to their White counterparts.

In the end, I wish Demi Lovato well.  As a healthcare professional, I’ve understood for years that addiction is a disease with constant battles and many setbacks no matter how strong-willed a person is.  I’m certified to administer and carry naloxone, the drug used to temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, and I do my part to ensure opioids are only prescribed for legitimate reasons.  The battle to conquer the opioid epidemic is far from over. In order to resolve this crisis, America needs to do a lot of self-reflection and figure out why are so many Americans self-medicating.

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(Feature image description: Len Bias, drafted by the Boston Celtics with the second overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft. Ironically, Len never got a chance to wear a Celtics uniform.  He unfortunately died from a cocaine overdose 2 days after the Draft.  Artwork by  TruArtist83.  Visit his Website or Instagram for more conscious art.)  

“Woke” Dating 101

In response to Can Someone Be Pro-Black and Date Someone Who is Not Black? 

I pondered over the writer’s initial question, “Can someone be Pro-Black and date someone who is not Black?” In the long and short of it, yes, if you identify as Pro-Black you can date anyone you want. However, the second question, “SHOULD you?,” posed by the author at the end of the article really peaked my interest. In the age of “wokeness” this question of SHOULD a Pro-Black person date someone who is not Black has been raised many times and has led to numerous heated debates. When dating someone with the intent of finding a life partner, one would hope the person you pick is able to understand things about your culture and empathize with your struggles, both past and present. You would hope you can bring them to family and cultural events without them turning up their nose or not understanding the complexities behind why some things just are the way they are (i.e. Black people having a higher level of anxiety around law enforcement).

The majority of human beings are capable of expressing empathy. “Woke” Black people can empathize with descendants of the Holocaust; while, “woke” Jewish people can empathize with descendants of Japanese concentration camps. But in loving your Black heritage in all of your “wokeness,” wouldn’t it be an oxymoron if you preach all things Black but practice all things non-Black in your home? How can you preach about keeping the Black dollar within the Black community when you yourself are fattening non-Black pockets through familial relationships? How can you stress to others the importance of preserving the Black family, when your family is 1/2 Black through your choice of partner or spouse? How can you scream I’m Black and I’m proud but come home and teach your kids I’m mixed and I’m proud? These questions can go on forever. 

I will say the environment in which you are raised plays a major factor in how simple, or not so simple, it would be for a pro-Black person to find a suitable Black person to date. For example, I was born and raised in a predominately Black inner city (and by Black I mean Caribbean, African, and Southern transplants). Here it was easy to find someone to relate to and whom I didn’t have to explain why my friends and family did things certain ways, fought certain fights, or were angered/excited by certain events. However, when I was 15 my parents decided to “move on up” out the hood to a predominately White suburb where I was the only person of color in 95% of my classes. Relating to my new suburban White neighbors and classmates was hard – culture shock even. If I wanted to maintain my dating preferences, I would have to travel at minimum 30 minutes to find a town where the Black to non-Black ratio was more even.

Overall, I think the answer is complicated. Yes, you can be Pro-Black and date someone who is not Black, but you should not want to. With that being said, if a non-Black person is who you fall in love with, as long as they are able to empathize with the Black struggle and help you facilitate Black success then that’s fine; because at the end of the day, to be pro-something does not equate to being anti-something else. 

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Progressive Woman Responds to SOTU

Last night, I went through a wide range of emotions watching the State of the Union address. I typically enjoy listening to this address, as it provides a high level report card on what the President and Congress have accomplished the previous year. I knew to expect some Republican propaganda, as all State of the Union addresses are heavily influenced by the party of the sitting President. However, something about last night was different causing the up and down of emotions I experienced.

President Trump touched on a wide variety of topics, from taxes to nuclear weapons and immigration to the opioid crisis. Unfortunately the common theme used when talking about the majority of the topics was fear. In his speech, Pres. Trump continuously pitted immigrants against Americans; environmentalists versus the coal industry; and the rich versus those who are less fortunate. Comments such as “Americans are Dreamers too;” “clean coal;” and everything he said about MS-13, though reports show White male Nationalists have killed the most Americans than any other political, ethnic or religious group in recent years, shed light on the fear he is striking in America, but packaging under the “Make America Great Again” theme.

Lastly, the showcasing of the many anomalies with all the guests in the audience he told stories about felt more like reality TV than true appreciation and/or sympathy. The Pres. and his team purposely sought out the most extreme examples and shamelessly used the grief of these families to drive his point home. Why did these families subject themselves to such a spectacle, I will probably never understand.

Is Sexism Inevitable?

Cat-calling. Body shaming. Objectification. Anti-feminism. Being a woman in America can be a daily stressor. America, from its inception, has been a sexist and patriarchal country. Forget the standard pressures of balancing school, work, and your personal life. The mere fact you have two X chromosomes means you are subject to certain unnecessary stressors, such as harassment and hyper-sexualization.

From the time a girl is born, society puts limits on her in terms of what she can or cannot do according to her gender. While little boys are encouraged to be wild and explorative, little girls are told to sit and play. And while the little girls are sitting and playing nice, today’s media bombards them with constant images of the “perfect” body, usually in a tight and/or barely-there outfit to highlight every physical asset possible. Little girls learn quickly that much of their worth is determined by their dress size, bra size, and how they rank on the pretty scale of 1 to 10. By the time they reach adolescence the double standard for women has been reinforced, and every day is a constant reminder of their inferiority to men.

When I was in middle school, I remember wanting to join the basketball team at my small private school. I was tall for my age, over 5 feet, when most students my age (boys included) were only 4 foot-something. Unfortunately, instead of being allowed to try out for the basketball team, I was told basketball was for boys and I should join the cheerleading team.

When I was in high school, I remember the day I went to career counseling. I told my guidance counselor I wanted to be an engineer or astrophysicist working at NASA. Her response was, “Ok, but let’s look at other options as well because those aren’t fields women typically do well in.”

When I was in college, I was raped. Like most victims of sexual assault, I did not report it – not to the police or my parents. I knew the system was against me as a woman and I did not want to be humiliated or shamed. Unfortunately in America, when a woman says she is a victim of sexual assault, she is questioned. What did you do? Are you sure? How was it rape if you didn’t fight back? Women are blamed by men and other women for what they were wearing, where they were going, etc., for an action she did not ask for or consent to. When women blame other women for their rape(s); or as in my case end up dating your rapist on top of calling you a liar; it is especially painful.

When I was in my mid-twenties I was working on the corporate side of healthcare. I remember trying to offer ideas in business meetings, but apparently, no one heard me. I decided to assert myself even more as I had seen my male counterparts do. However, when I took that initiative I was labeled as too loud and bossy, and when I complained about the unfair labels I was told I was too emotional. I remember many of my ideas being shot down only to be later suggested as my boss’ original thoughts. 

Now I am over thirty and my womanhood is frequently questioned because I am unmarried with no kids. If a woman at this stage in life gives the slightest impression she enjoys sex, she fears being labeled in a negative way (i.e. she’s a “hoe”, she’s “loose,” etc.), though men are rarely labeled “hoes” for their assumed promiscuity. Whenever I do marry and decide to have kids it will be a battle to get adequate maternity leave.

Most women can relate to similar if not worse situations of sexism and unnecessary stressors during these phases of their life.

The problem with how women are viewed and treated in American society can partially be blamed on women as well. Some women help keep the negative female connotations going by condoning negative male behavior. When President Trump was campaigning and his “locker room talk” about grabbing women by the pussy was leaked, many women dismissed his negative behavior and still voted for him. Daily, I see women tear each other down rather than build each other up, and add negative rhetoric about how a woman should or should not act.

I could go on for days describing the hypocrisies and everyday nuisances of being a woman in America. However, the question I really want an answer to is when will the blame game stop, and when will men start taking responsibilities for their actions? When will men start calling out other men when they do offensive things to women? When will we truly advance from this patriarchal, chauvinistic society?

It looks like times are starting to change. I guess better late than never.

U.S. Virgin Islands Didn’t Make The Cut

Hurricanes have devastated the Caribbean over the past month. Two U.S. territories, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have been hit the hardest. When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, Texas, and Hurricane Irma hit South Florida, there wasn’t much wavering about when the president would visit or his administration’s urgency in responding with aid. The president actually received praise for his response in Houston and South Florida.
However, his administration responded much differently when Hurrican Maria struck Puerto Rico. [As a reminder, these are U.S. citizens – they pay taxes, have social security numbers, etc. According to a recent poll by Morning Consult, 54% of American’s did not know this.]
Many reports state that Peurto Ricans were still waiting for aid a week after the hurricane hit. It took Trump two weeks to visit the island, and it’s safe to say his visit didn’t receive the same praise and welcome he had previously received in Houston. Carmen Yulin Cruz, San Juan Mayor, heavily criticized the president and his administration for their lack of aid and urgency prior to his visit. In typical Trump fashion, he responded with no regard for her anguish and called her a “nasty mayor,” and joked that sending them aid would throw his administration’s budget “a little out of whack.”
All things being unequal in his treatment of Houston/South Florida Vs. Peurto Rico, at least he visited all three U.S. states/territories.
The same can’t be said for the U.S. Virgin Islands, which was ravished by Hurricane Maria as well. Where is the U.S. media coverage? With the exception of MSNBC’s Joy Reed giving Rep. Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands time to detail their recovery efforts, U.S. news organizations have barely covered their devastation. Their devastation was obviously not as bad, not as important, or maybe they’re just lower on the list of priorities for this administration. And instead of the president visiting the capital of U.S. Virgin Islands, or one of their most affected areas, which is roughly a 30 min flight from Puerto Rico, Vice President Mike Pence is visiting instead.
Granted, the Vegas shooting is a tragedy and needed to be addressed. But if you’re a resident of the U.S. Virgin Islands, of whom 76% are African-American, how should they feel or perceive the president and his administration’s lack of aid and recognition in their time of need? The one state/territory that is overwhelmingly African-American receives the least aid, hardly any U.S. media coverage, less recognition from the president’s administration, and not even a visit from the president himself?
The president did meet with Gov. Kenneth Mapp of the U.S. Virgin Islands on a Navy amphibious assault ship “offshore,” but never stepped on land to visit residents or see the damage for himself. I guess if you’re a U.S. citizen in the U.S. Virgin Islands, that’ll have to be good enough.
This president is constantly called a racist regarding his rhetoric and how he treats and responds to black and brown people differently. It’s hard to argue that his response to Puerto Rico and even worse the U.S. Virgin Islands doesn’t add to that long list and justify anyone calling him a racist.
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Reflection… When Trolling Backfires

Two weeks ago, a New Jersey high school decided to travel to Washington DC to tour our Nation’s capital. Lunch at Howard University’s Bethune Annex Cafeteria was on their schedule, and two of their female students decided to wear Trump tee shirts and Make America Great Again (MAGA) hats during their visit. Needless to say, or I wouldn’t be writing about this, their experience did not go as smoothly as planned. The two girls would later post a lengthy tweet detailing the “harassment and racism” they experienced while on campus. Howard University’s social media accounts were in an uproar and many alt-right and Trump supporters responded posting negative comments on every post mentioning Howard University.

This incident is nothing more than trolling gone bad.

Founded in 1867, Howard University, is a private research university comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Most importantly, Howard University is a Historically Black College/University (HBCU). HBCUs were created in the post civil-war era as institutions of higher learning where African Americans were welcome to attend, at a time when most Predominately White Institutions (PWIs) banned Blacks from stepping foot on campus. For years, HBCUs have provided African Americans a safe space to learn and grow without the constant second-guessing because of the color of our skin. As an alumnus of an HBCU, I will say an added benefit is learning more about Black American and African history that is not traditionally taught in school. Learning this history establishes pride and teaches you to love your Blackness, though the world tries to convince you it’s a negative.

Knowing this history of Howard University – what made these girls, White girls at that, think parading around an HBCU in Trump and MAGA paraphernalia was a good idea… a week after Trump refused to immediately denounce white supremacists in a press conference following the Charlottesville incident? Maybe that’s the problem, they didn’t know the history of HBCUs, which is indeed a part of American history. It has been noted that black students on the tour advised them not to go on Howard’s campus wearing that particular shirt and hat. Also, some upperclassmen who saw the girls walking towards the Annex cafeteria told them it’s best not to wear that shirt and hat on campus simply because Howard University is an HBCU. The two girls, unfortunately, chose not to heed the multiple warnings, which makes many people believe their true intentions were to bait a reaction out of the Howard students (in true troll fashion).

I am sick of hearing the freedom of speech/expression excuse when a person is blatantly disrespectful. Just because you can say and do what you want does not mean you are free of consequences and get to play the victim. If you choose to not pay your taxes, that is perfectly fine as it is your choice. However, there is a high probability that you are eventually going to jail. If you walk down the street in an area where there is a lot of gang activity wearing the opposing gang members’ colors, be prepared for the backlash. These girls were warned yet they chose to be disrespectful and offensive in someone’s house, disturbing their peace. Just as it is viewed as disrespectable for an American woman to walk around in a Muslim country wearing booty shorts and a low-cut shirt, it is just as offensive to walk around an HBCU wearing paraphernalia of a man who refuses to denounce white supremacists, but wants to bring back Stop and Frisk (a tactic which disproportionately targets African Americans). I blame their chaperones, the supposed adults, on the trip as well. Why did they not say anything to these girls? Why were they not inclined to have a conversation about etiquette and courtesy in someone else’s space? Why did they not do research on the history of Howard University if they planned to visit the campus? Were these teachers not trained in cultural sensitivity? I have so many questions for these so-called adults. Overall, there is too much political correctness in letting the oppressor continue his oppression, and Howard University students weren’t about to sit around and be trolled in their safe space without speaking up for themselves.

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Mayweather, Race, and The Great White Hope

Let’s face it; race relations in our country are declining and showing no sign of improvement. People have been forced to pick sides and compromising seems like the last resort. Many people on the right find themselves defending Trump and his agenda, and many on the left find themselves sarcastically asking, “What about her emails?”. The Charlottesville incident and the unfortunate murder of Heather Heyer hasn’t helped, and Trump’s tone deaf response and his inability to immediately denounce white supremacy seemed to add insult to injury, which made many Republican’s publicly criticize his “both sides” comment.

Our politics usually carry over to the professional arena or field of play, and boxing provides many examples, both good and bad. African Americans have dominated the sport for more than a century, and they’ve inevitably become political figures due to the social and political status of our country. In 1908, Jack Johnson became the first African American boxer to win the World Heavyweight Title. Johnson fought during a highly contentious and racist era, and his public relationships with white women only added fuel to the fire. Congress made it illegal to transport prizefighting films across state lines because they were so concerned that Johnson’s dominance of white fighters would cause race riots. In fact, many white people hoped to find a white fighter who could finally defeat him, hence the term “The Great White Hope.” Joe Louis was no different. Before his historic second fight with the German Max Schmeling, he met with President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House. Despite gross inequalities and racism in America (and fascism in Europe), there was no doubt that both whites and blacks were pulling for Louis to win. Shortly thereafter, Muhammed Ali followed in his footsteps as the next political figure in boxing.

Boxing is truly a unique sport, which makes it impossible for prizefighters to avoid politics whether they want to or not. Unlike most sports, boxing is a one-on-one battle – there are no teammates to lean on or backups to replace you. So it’s the true epitome of strength and perseverance. Unlike the American Olympic teams we field every 4 years, it lacks team diversity because the team is just one person, the actual boxer. Diversity is one of the main benefits of team sports; however, the lack of diversity in boxing makes the issue of race unavoidable. So whenever a big fight like Mayweather – McGregor arrives, which matches up a black fighter vs. a white fighter, race is an issue and people inevitably pick sides.

Despite Floyd Mayweather’s previous claims and convictions of domestic violence, his flashy attitude, his “all lives matter” statement, and his support of Donald Trump, many African Americans still found a reason to support and root for him. That support might be tied to rooting for black men regardless of their past shortcomings or rooting for the American athlete when his or her opponent represents another nation. On the other hand, that support might be due to their lack of knowledge regarding all of the above issues, or it might be McGregor’s flashiness and loose lips referring to a gym of black men training as “dancing monkeys” or telling Mayweather to “dance for me boy” during one of their promotional tours. Maybe it’s a combination of things, either way, I think it’s safe to say that very few African Americans were pulling for McGregor.

On the other hand, many white people were rooting against Mayweather. Maybe it was years of his arrogant attitude that they could no longer stomach, his domestic violence past, his undefeated record and wanting to root for the underdog, or maybe it was the fact that McGregor was an Irishman. Whatever their reasons were, I think it’s safe to say that McGregor’s racist comments about monkeys and dancing probably weren’t one of them, or at least didn’t impact their decision of who to root for like it did for African Americans.

Is it a naïve assumption to suggest that all African Americans were rooting for Mayweather just because he was African American, or that all white people were rooting for McGregor just because he was white? Of course, it is. But as many issues fall on racial lines, boxing, especially when the men or women fighting represent different nations, is usually no different. President Trump, on the campaign trail and during his early presidency, made patriotism a hot button issue. Despite Floyd’s support of Trump, ironically, there wasn’t much patriotism or support on display for the American fighter as he vied to remain undefeated and go 50 – 0. His victory would’ve further ingrained his place in history as arguably the best boxer of all time, and many American’s clearly wanted to see him fail.

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Black Families Under Attack?

Once again, the one and only Dr. Umar Johnson has made headlines; this time is for the exchange he had during an interview on the Roland Martin show. Overall, I felt the interview portion by Roland Martin was the typical question and answer session one would expect of a host and their guest. Roland asked Dr. Johnson a range of tough questions to break down all the backlash Dr. Johnson was receiving from an earlier interview he did with The Breakfast Club. Unfortunately, the Roland Martin interview took a turn for the worse and became more of an attack session on Dr. Johnson when the panelists were brought in. Only A. Scott Bolden was composed and actually tried to listen to Dr. Johnson for understanding, and not just listen to respond. Also, despite Roland questioning Dr. Johnson on a variety of topics, the panelists did not want to talk about anything other than Dr. Johnson’s stance on inter-racial marriage. Dr. Johnson strongly believes in order to save the Black family, Black men must choose to commit to and marry a Black woman.

Don’t get me wrong, I do believe a person should love who they want and who makes them feel as if they are the only person that matters on the planet. There is no greater feeling than to find that special someone who you connect with mentally, spiritually, and physically, no matter what ethnic background they come from. However, I also see truth in what Dr. Johnson says. How can you create a Black family if both parents are not Black? Simple, you can’t. Dr. Johnson was not saying anything was wrong with inter-racial couples and families, he was just stating the increased trend of Black men marrying non-Black women is detrimental to the preservation and strengthening of the Black family unit as a whole.

Other ethnic groups marry within their ethnic group all the time without receiving backlash. As for me, I am Black. My mom is Black. My dad is Black. My sister is Black. My aunties, uncles, and cousins are Black. In the words of James Brown, I’m Black and I’m Proud! I have dreams of marrying a nice chocolate Black man and having Black children who we will teach to love the skin they’re in because unfortunately there will be times society will make our future children feel like being Black is a bad thing, when in actuality being Black is truly nothing to be ashamed of. I do not think loving who I am and wanting to marry someone who has similar cultural roots should be viewed as a problem, but I digress.

My main issue with Dr. Johnson is not what he says, but how he says it. Many times I do not like the extremist delivery Dr. Johnson chooses to take in his speeches and videos. Also, when called out for inconsistencies (i.e. lack of financial transparency for the school he’s trying to build), Dr. Johnson tends to become rude and dismissive, which rubs me the wrong way. However, I do believe every movement needs an extremist or someone to be labeled as radical who viciously shakes you out of your comfort zone. Dr. Umar Johnson takes on that role for Pan-Afrikanism. Now as much I am not the biggest fan of Dr. Umar Johnson’s message delivery, I must say I always learn at least one thing from him whenever he speaks. During his interview, Dr. Johnson clarified that Mandarin is taught as a secondary language in the South African School Systems. Knowing that China has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and also has one of the world’s largest military, I thought South Africa is on to something. South Africa is being forward thinking and preparing their students, who will be their future leaders, to conduct business with the Chinese. We in America love to excessively dwell in our greatness as “leaders of the free world.” We expect others to adapt and accommodate us when we work and travel overseas, and not put in the effort to figure out the country’s proper customaries and language. For example, how many times have you been on vacation abroad and witnessed arrogance mixed with frustration of fellow Americans who are mad no one around speaks English or does things the ‘American way”? I’ll wait…

Overall, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, even a ‘radial’ thinker like Dr. Johnson. Interviews that are considered good journalism seek to understand the interviewee’s stance rather than attacking and trying to get the interviewee to change their opinion on the subject being discussed. In this regard, Roland Martin and his panelists failed.

Video: Roland Martin Dr. Umar Johnson Interview