Comments on: “I Am A Man”

By: Guest

Guest — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:33:15 +0000

Interesting post. I have stumbled this for my friends. Hope others find it as interesting as I did.

By: 英文家教

英文家教 — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:33:15 +0000

Interesting post. I have stumbled this for my friends. Hope others find it as interesting as I did.

By: evita

evita — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:38:29 +0000

I was tearing up when I was writing it.

[cyber hugs]

By: CraigHickman

CraigHickman — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:08:41 +0000

Speaking of humanity:

So I Be Written in the Book of Love

By: evita

evita — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:38:29 +0000

I was tearing up when I was writing it.

[cyber hugs]

By: CraigHickman

CraigHickman — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:08:41 +0000

Speaking of humanity:

So I Be Written in the Book of Love

By: evita

evita — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:13:53 +0000

You are totally right. I deleted a sentence where I was going to say we needed to remind white feminists that women of color are women too so “this bridge called my back” metaphor is akin to the existence of the Black man in American history… I apologize for disjointed thought.

By: taralconley

taralconley — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:40:04 +0000

@ evita -

I don't believe Aint I Woman is found in This Bridge Called My Back - that is unless there is an edition I haven't already read through :-). You might be thinking of another women of color anthology. Although you're right in that there were many other woman of color, including Gloria Anzaldua, Audre Lorde, Cherrie Moraga that did in fact ask white-raced feminist to consider women of color in the movement (including women of color lesbians).

In any event, I'm glad that these issues are being raised and I'm also glad that Barack and Michelle are complicating the binaries. I just hope that while we celebrate the accomplishments of black men and defend their rights as human beings in an Obama era, we also don't forget the myriad of women of color who continue to struggle for their rights as well (let's not repeat the same mistakes some white-raced feminists made in the 70's).

By: rap

rap — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:51:16 +0000

she must have really struck a nerve to wow mr chris

By: sdg1844

sdg1844 — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:51:12 +0000

I'm reading “Down Jericho Road” right now which covers Dr. King's trip to Memphis, the strike and the events leading up to his assasination. I'm glad Michelle brought this topic up. We need some serious discussions to happen in the community about Manhood. No doubt. Beautiful.

By: GreenLadyHere

GreenLadyHere — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:59:23 +0000

evita: Every time a white woman FAKES that a Black man perpetuated a crime. Or when a white person fears for their property at the "threat" of the very existence of a Black person- THEY NEGATE the humanity that WE SHARE. Barack Obama is a man. A dad. A husband. A grandson. A son. An activist. A scholar. And he reminds us that Black men can be used by the hands of God to transform our society for the better. And he is willing to do, despite our American history.

THIS IS PROFOUND and BEAUTIFUL!! My thoughts EXACTLY!! THANK YOU!! :>)

President-elect Obama!! :>) First Lady Michelle! :>)

By: Trumystique

Trumystique — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:55:38 +0000

For all you New Yorkers here a local museum in Brooklyn called MoCADA recreated that epic picture of the Memphis sanitation workers. Check it out at
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/20...

By: islandgirl550

islandgirl550 — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:19:51 +0000

Rebecca, I am going to run out and buy this book at lunch for my brothers! I would like to know, what exactly do people find problematic about your book? Is it just an uncomfortable subject for some? Or is it because of the obvious nastiness that black men have endured at the hands of the American society at large? I say this because in the clip with Michelle Bernard, Chris Matthews becomes filled with emotion after she spoke. What do you think that was all about?

By: heartsandflowers

heartsandflowers — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:19:43 +0000

Here's the interview in full.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQnm00RzmSQ

By: heartsandflowers

heartsandflowers — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:04:26 +0000

We need a new I Am A Man movement and the men should act accordingly. What happened?

By: rebeccawalker

rebeccawalker — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:03:45 +0000

Fantastic. Thanks much for posting. So much resistance to talking about black masculinity. I've literally been told my collection of essays on masculinity, written predominantly by black men, is problematic. It has also sold the least of my books, though it is the most loved by black male readers. http://www.rebeccawalker.com/work/what-makes-a-man

By: evita

evita — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:48:07 +0000

I believe the essential truth of this statement (as some non critical thinking faux feminists may not understand," is that this idea stems from a culture evolved out of slavery (YES I'm BRINGING IT UP,) that depended on the DEHUMANIZATION of African people. Or history reflects laws that call people from Africa as chattle, as not worthy of humane treatment, as targets of the most horrific atrocities perpetuated by humans. Soujourner Truth asked white women to consider- AIN'T I WOMAN in the Bridge Called My Back, and Fredrick Douglass asked the question on behalf of men.

It is really easy for whites to deny the similarities that exist among even with the great number of dissimilarities, but what is more important is the acknowledgment of our HUMANITY.

Every time a white woman FAKES that a Black man perpetuated a crime. Or when a white person fears for their property at the "threat" of the very existence of a Black person- THEY NEGATE the humanity that WE SHARE. Barack Obama is a man. A dad. A husband. A grandson. A son. An activist. A scholar. And he reminds us that Black men can be used by the hands of God to transform our society for the better. And he is willing to do, despite our American history.