It takes a concerted effort, from the media, music industry-entertainment....and especially women to realize, that they must require black men to be men---that means women must do their jobs. None of this accepting excuses---and excepting the behavior of always trying to be slick or beating the system---because it never works....
This is something that we've lost and I own my role in this as well. I'm not looking for any awards, but even though the marriage was not allowed to work by either side, I didn't jet. My kid cannot walk to my house, but I live only 5 minutes away and she can see me or come over whenever she wants. Because she's a ball player and I'm her coach, and because I work my own hours, we get to spend a lot more time together than most dads and their daughters. I even go to church with her sometimes. We don't do enough meals together as a family, but aside from that, I'm a very visible and active presence in her life in addition to providing for her (and her mom) and my hope is that she'll hold any future partner to that same standard.
She knows that we're black, but doesn't know much about the Black experience in America. She's only received a token introduction and just a small spattering here-and-there, so because I haven't tried to compete with the Mormon indoctrination she's undergone since birth, I have to hope that enough seeds have been planted to someday cultivate her own interest in helping to raise smarter, more productive black citizens.
