You read? Wow, I’m impressed.
I’ve been promoting my blog a lot, and I’ve noticed something that was really peculiar. A lot of black women have been giving me backhanded compliments, saying they’re impressed that I read, and I don’t quite know how to take it. Should I feel good about things that I’m supposed to do? Should someone get props for brushing their teeth? But that really had me thinking, (I’m talking to you black men) is the game looking this bad for us?
Yea, I know the game, its hell for a black nerd; everyone takes turns shitting on them. They’re always getting clowned by everyone, and you’re not getting ass (not from most black women at least). To get respect, you gotta rap or play sports. Then the athlete blows out his knees, and ends up at the factory (and has 3 baby mamas). Then the nerdy brother gets his education and ends up marrying inter-racially, and certain black women start hating, but I digress.
I know things have changed (for black men), generally speaking. Our role models are no longer scholars, like Martin Luther King, Malcolm X or Marcus Garvey; it’s Lil’ Wayne, Young Thug or whatever coon of the month they put a camera in front of. It has gotten so bad that rappers with degrees like 2 Chainz, Diddy or Ludacris keep their education a secret, in fear of alienating their fans or hurting their street credibility. But isn’t that ironic? In the real world, people use their education to get respect and better jobs, and if they have a criminal record, they try to keep that a secret. But in the hip hop community, you glorify crime and ignorant bullshit, and if you have an education, you keep that a secret. I even have a family member (who will remain nameless) that I suggested that he reads a book and he said, “I don’t read” (with contempt in his voice), all while he was sizing me up for a two-piece.
But fortunately, I can’t say the same about a lot of black women. Most have no problem reading for entertainment and other purposes. So, kudos to them for that; they fully support Eric Jerome Dickey, Zane or Tyler Fairy…correction Tyler Perry. This issue affects me as well; there have been a lot of times that I wanted to recommend a good book to a brother, but I knew I’d get cussed or clowned. I’m planning to write a book in the future, but there are, unfortunately, a lot of things I’ll have to deal with. Sadly, black men have a bad reputation in the book community for not reading. So automatically, I won’t have a target market, and if I have my face on the back (of my book), they’ll think it’s Afro-centric and put it in the back or the store. Automatically, I’ll be blackballed by default for being a black male author. Sometimes, I feel with brothers, unless you’re on a CD or on the screen, they aren’t interested in what you have to say.
Those are just some of the challenges I face (but I’m game). I could easily write some corny Steve Harvey’s book, and be laughing all the way to the bank. But that’s not who I am, and I pride myself in being real. Also, I’m not an entertainer or an athlete, so I don’t have an established reputation. But things are turning around for black men when it comes to reading; there are many rappers like RZA, LL Cool J, Common and Kool G Rap that are writing books. I’m extremely proud of those brothers for expanding their brand, and challenging their fans to expand their minds and to be open to knowledge. We are living in an age where we have unlimited access to knowledge; so there’s no excuse for ignorance in 2014.