 More black young men are sexually ambivalent as
well. They live in fear of long constant signs of affections. They do not
seem to know how to give or receive affection nor even explain it. I worked
in a prison as part of my training for priesthood. I cannot get over how
what I saw there is taking over the minds and way of life of black men
today. I saw young men afraid that no one cared for them, fearful that
others would forget them and their lives would then be worthless. I witness
men unable to cut the umbilical cord of momma and be their own man. They had
to be shown that living for momma won't cut the mustard. You have to live
with a power greater than momma and that is God. This power of God will
transcend the hurt feelings, the scared moments, the abandonment and
bewilderment of the jail cell, life-threatening social environments, yes,
even momentary rage. In spite of these difficulties, there is a rise among
black youth to find the power of God and meaning beyond the present. Black
young men hunger for the goodness of God to grow within them and around
them. Like Jesus did Peter and the disciples on the seashore, older Black
men have to get in the boat of young black men even when it stinks to high
heaven. Then take them away from the crowds to teach and inspire them.
Black folks have always done this historically.
In Africa, young men would be brought into the woods to learn about manhood
away from the ordinary routine. Frederick Douglas talked about being
mentored in the woods. The slaves took people aside in the woods, Hush
Harbor experiences, where the slaves taught themselves the values of a
spirit-filled life away from the overseers. These experiences were
invaluable for the survival of the community.
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