The Spirit of A Black Man

During a night stroll in Brooklyn on the notorious Fulton Street, a good friend and I begin to discuss the love we both shared for black men. We begin talking about their beauty and our sense of spiritual connection even as strangers when we see them in passing on the block, the subways, or even as we are entering a building and bump shoulders for a quick second. My friend and I were both filled with goose bumps; it was electrifying as we shared why no other man would do. We both recognized that through all the headaches, heavy burdens, and unpredictable moments we may have shared with black men, they were our rock and we are theirs. They inspire us to conquer the inequality of the world and provide us with the reassurance that our beauty is not only valid but necessary in creating the next generation that is strong, intellectual, compassionate, beautiful, and God-serving people. Truth be told, I have pondered and thought about this topic many of nights based on my current readings of The Conversation by Hill Harper. Hill’s exploration of how we begin to communicate between each and explore relationships between black women and men, in addition to my friend’s personal thoughts of what makes a black man so beautiful and lovable, has caused me to explore the SPIRIT OF A BLACK MAN.

So you may ask, what makes us love them more than anyone else. At times when our fathers may disappoint us, boyfriends upset us, that friend who brings us to tears or even that husband who says something that takes our eyes from one side of our head to the next? What keeps us by their side or vice versa when society has made us believe that we are better off without each other or with someone else. I will tell you, it’s the SPIRIT OF A BLACK MAN! We are connected to them at so many levels that their thoughts are able to connect to ours and together we can begin a journey before we ever shake hands or introduce ourselves. It’s as if the spirit of a black man reaches out to the soul of a black woman and safely pulls it closer to his. When we loose them we cry, when they walk away our hearts ache, and when they reach out to us we hold and shelter them from any storm that may come their way. Through his struggle of societal abuse and high demand of accountability, support and lack thereof, he is still our friend, partner, companion, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cuzzo, and son who needs to hear that we NEED AND LOVE him. A black man’s spirit is in jeopardy ever time we speak negative to him, stereotype him, tolerate his cowardly behavior, or allow him to be less than his best self. A very beautiful cousin of mine provided me with a parable of a man and woman that I thought was very eye opening and important to understand. It directly connects the responsibility that we have to one another. She said to me, “Tiny Sister, you must understand as a man's eyes are looking forward and his back is to God with the responsible of leading, a woman’s ear is directly connected to God so she can hear Him and be the voice that speaks to the man. God will use that man to lead and move His people forward, but He will also use your ear to speak to him as he moves. You must keep your ear to God, because you will help him lead as he will look to you when he cannot hear God, but you can. So never forget God's positioning of a man and his responsibilty to always keep his eyes forward. He will need your ears and your voice to help him Lead." I believe the spirit of a black man knows this and so he relies on our connection as the brain relies on the heart to live. Together we are the instrument that makes a great noise and the hope that our community relies on to bring restoration. The spirit of a black man, I believe, carriers the anchor of God’s plan to love, protect, lead, and build great nations; his ability to do such relies on how well we as sistahs are spiritually connected to God to receive this and nurture that spirit to bring about great promises in our world.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24)

So let me say something directly to the Black Man, ‘You are so beautiful and wonderfully made. Your love, strength, sense to lead and protection makes me desire no one but you. Your dedication and service to God, family and your community makes me want to stand beside and support you regardless of what I have accomplished or attained through my own success. As you love what I bring to the table and applaud my achievement, you too are not intimated about who I am and whose I am. I am so proud of your accomplishments and thank God for your love, smile, easiness, and most of all your spirit to be just who you are. I will do the very best that I can to assist you in hearing God’s plan, but you must be willing to walk forward side-by-side, hand-in-hand so that we together can save our community and serve humanity. So trust me when I say, THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BETTER SUITED FOR ME THAN YOU!

Blessings and Love Always,

Lady Sistah Allen