In some communities going to prison is a rite of passage for Black males.
I remember a Black male teen who struggled with staying on the
right path as he tried to stay in school and in the streets.
He was involved with numerous school and community programs
designed to help prevent his involvement with the criminal justice system.
Unfortunately, all of the prevention and intervention programs were no
match for the streets, and he went to prison before his 18th birthday.
After his release from prison he was determined to turn his life around,
and never end up in prison again. As he reflected upon his prison experience,
he said there was one experience that would have prevented him from
going to prison if he had known about it before he went.
He was still upset as he explained how horrified he was when his
“manhood” was violated as he was strip searched during the first
time he entered prison as a teenager.
He said that experience made him regret doing all of the
criminal activities that led him to prison.
That experience of having his “manhood” violated would have
prevented him from going to prison.
Not the violence prevention programs.
Not the gang intervention programs.
All of the prevention and intervention programs couldn’t keep him
out of the criminal justice system.
The key to saving him from the streets was helping him to understand
the truth about Black manhood. He grew up believing that becoming
a Black man meant going through a rite of passage that involved
the criminal justice system.
He saw Black men garnering more respect as they returned home
to the community from prison. He saw these men being celebrated
in the barbershop as people listened to them talk about their
experiences in the criminal justice system.
He saw the myth of manhood.
He was exposed to the false bravado of men who wouldn’t
dare share the truth about why a life of crime was the wrong
path to take.
Maybe he would have stayed on the right path if he understood that
high school graduation is also a rite of passage for Black males.
If he would have been exposed to Black manhood beyond his neighborhood,
he could have made better life choices. The teenaged version of himself would
understand that it was possible for him to grow up to become a productive
member of his community.
A man with a great career. A great husband. A great father.
He would have known that he had multiple paths in life unfolding before him.
He now realizes that he chose the wrong path based on the myth of manhood.
He is now making better life choices, and is on the path of transforming his life for the better.
The Sid Center is hosting the Building Legacy Brunch to help Black men and boys
have healing conversations about Black manhood and life choices.
It is important for our youth to see what is possible for them before they make
life changing choices.
Free youth tickets are available for the Building Legacy Brunch
thanks to our sponsor Men Of Excellence.
