Disappearing Man

This is another column that highlights what "the man" and "society" is doing to black men. Not a blessed sentence about the poor choices that some black people make that result in poor life outcomes. No comment on the fact that homicide, AIDS, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes all have huge choice components in them. Never mind the individual and his role in his success or failure.

I sent the author the following message. For whatever reason, it keeps bouncing back:

Sir,

Couldn't you have slipped in one sentence about the poor choices many black people with these poor outcomes make? Your article was all about "the system" and said nothing about the individual.

All people make choices. Some good, some bad. Bad choices lead to bad outcomes many times. Murder is a choice. A poor diet and no exercise is a choice. Shooting up drugs is a choice. Unprotected sex leading to a baby or AIDS is a choice. All these choices individuals make. Mother nature or God, however one sees this, holds each individual accountable for his choices.

Black people who chooses to stay in school, get as much education as possible, get married, and stay married overwhelmingly do well in this country. The numbers bear this out. It's a simple formula, but it is a mystery to many because people prefer to talk about "the man" instead of the man in the mirror.

Some of us have made this bed of nails and now must lay in it.