I move slowly in this world accustomed to aspiring no longer to appear I’m
to aspiring no longer to appear I’m
to aspiring no longer to appear I’m using this as my entry line for this
using this as my entry line for this
using this as my entry line for this talk because it explains part of my
talk because it explains part of my
talk because it explains part of my experience in life and as I have
experience in life and as I have
experience in life and as I have connected with and had conversations
connected with and had conversations
connected with and had conversations with so many African people around the
with so many African people around the
with so many African people around the continent and the Diaspora I realized
continent and the Diaspora I realized
continent and the Diaspora I realized that this also describes the experience
that this also describes the experience
that this also describes the experience of many other Africans black men know
of many other Africans black men know
of many other Africans black men know yourself I’ve chosen this title it’s
yourself I’ve chosen this title it’s
yourself I’ve chosen this title it’s lifted from one of the tracks on Femi
lifted from one of the tracks on Femi
lifted from one of the tracks on Femi Kuti album from that was released about
Kuti album from that was released about
Kuti album from that was released about 20 years ago called shoki shoki and in
20 years ago called shoki shoki and in
20 years ago called shoki shoki and in this song he motivates the African man
this song he motivates the African man
this song he motivates the African man to denounce the effects of colonialism
to denounce the effects of colonialism
to denounce the effects of colonialism of the culture that has been taken away
of the culture that has been taken away
of the culture that has been taken away from from Africa in many ways or
from from Africa in many ways or
from from Africa in many ways or denounced and ridiculed and for African
denounced and ridiculed and for African
denounced and ridiculed and for African men to stand up and own their journey
men to stand up and own their journey
men to stand up and own their journey and their identity and this talk is
and their identity and this talk is
and their identity and this talk is inspired by that song knowledge of self
inspired by that song knowledge of self
inspired by that song knowledge of self we could say that self-knowledge is the
we could say that self-knowledge is the
we could say that self-knowledge is the beginning of all knowledge ease it’s the
beginning of all knowledge ease it’s the
beginning of all knowledge ease it’s the platform that you stand on is the
platform that you stand on is the
platform that you stand on is the ability to be without it from an African
ability to be without it from an African
ability to be without it from an African point of view you will be unable to
point of view you will be unable to
point of view you will be unable to really form a purpose and to hold
really form a purpose and to hold
really form a purpose and to hold yourselves in terms of
yourselves in terms of
yourselves in terms of self-determination in terms of who you
self-determination in terms of who you
self-determination in terms of who you are supposed to be as an African man or
are supposed to be as an African man or
are supposed to be as an African man or as an African woman this is a sensitive
as an African woman this is a sensitive
as an African woman this is a sensitive subject and I need to make a disclaimer
subject and I need to make a disclaimer
subject and I need to make a disclaimer when I say for instance I referred to
when I say for instance I referred to
when I say for instance I referred to certain challenges that African men and
certain challenges that African men and
certain challenges that African men and Joe it is not in opposition or it’s not
Joe it is not in opposition or it’s not
Joe it is not in opposition or it’s not to the neglect or it’s not to undermine
to the neglect or it’s not to undermine
to the neglect or it’s not to undermine their many many atrocities and
their many many atrocities and
their many many atrocities and experiences that are enjoyed by African
experiences that are enjoyed by African
experiences that are enjoyed by African women it’s also not a competition about
women it’s also not a competition about
women it’s also not a competition about who’s got it worse I think it’s more a
who’s got it worse I think it’s more a
who’s got it worse I think it’s more a realization that we all
realization that we all
realization that we all have problems and this talk wants to
have problems and this talk wants to
have problems and this talk wants to address some of the ones some of the
address some of the ones some of the
address some of the ones some of the issues that African men face it is also
issues that African men face it is also
issues that African men face it is also not a pity party it’s not this is not
not a pity party it’s not this is not
not a pity party it’s not this is not about feeling sorry for ourselves this
about feeling sorry for ourselves this
about feeling sorry for ourselves this is not about African men just pleading
is not about African men just pleading
is not about African men just pleading with weakness this is about taking
with weakness this is about taking
with weakness this is about taking responsibility and it is also not to
responsibility and it is also not to
responsibility and it is also not to paint all black men with the same brush
paint all black men with the same brush
paint all black men with the same brush and say that we all have exactly the
and say that we all have exactly the
and say that we all have exactly the same experience I think we have many
same experience I think we have many
same experience I think we have many common denominators but we are aware of
common denominators but we are aware of
common denominators but we are aware of the diversity of experiences of African
the diversity of experiences of African
the diversity of experiences of African men and it’s not to the neglect of that
men and it’s not to the neglect of that
men and it’s not to the neglect of that so who is the African man I think if we
so who is the African man I think if we
so who is the African man I think if we were able to go deeply into history we
were able to go deeply into history we
were able to go deeply into history we see that the African and African man
see that the African and African man
see that the African and African man appears in this world as somebody of
appears in this world as somebody of
appears in this world as somebody of responsibility of somebody as somebody
responsibility of somebody as somebody
responsibility of somebody as somebody as who is a builder a healer a great
as who is a builder a healer a great
as who is a builder a healer a great contributor to his society his family
contributor to his society his family
contributor to his society his family and his nation if we go a few steps
and his nation if we go a few steps
and his nation if we go a few steps further in history we see how
further in history we see how
further in history we see how enslavement how colonialism and the many
enslavement how colonialism and the many
enslavement how colonialism and the many atrocities that has been done by people
atrocities that has been done by people
atrocities that has been done by people who invaded this continent how it has
who invaded this continent how it has
who invaded this continent how it has also affected the African man to such an
also affected the African man to such an
also affected the African man to such an extent that it seems like we remember
extent that it seems like we remember
extent that it seems like we remember the African man more for what he is not
the African man more for what he is not
the African man more for what he is not so the African man is not seen as a good
so the African man is not seen as a good
so the African man is not seen as a good provider not as a good politician not as
provider not as a good politician not as
provider not as a good politician not as a good knowledge holder not as a good
a good knowledge holder not as a good
a good knowledge holder not as a good community person we remember a whole lot
community person we remember a whole lot
community person we remember a whole lot of negative images and it’s important to
of negative images and it’s important to
of negative images and it’s important to question that especially at a time when
question that especially at a time when
question that especially at a time when we hear voices saying that all black men
we hear voices saying that all black men
we hear voices saying that all black men are trash all black men are useful
are trash all black men are useful
are trash all black men are useful useless it’s important to question where
useless it’s important to question where
useless it’s important to question where that comes from and whether that is in
that comes from and whether that is in
that comes from and whether that is in fact true this reminds me of a
fact true this reminds me of a
fact true this reminds me of a conversation I had with young men 20
conversation I had with young men 20
conversation I had with young men 20 years ago I was living in Norway at the
years ago I was living in Norway at the
years ago I was living in Norway at the time and we had an organization called
time and we had an organization called
time and we had an organization called African youth in Norway and we wanted to
African youth in Norway and we wanted to
African youth in Norway and we wanted to have a youth camp so we had one youth
have a youth camp so we had one youth
have a youth camp so we had one youth camp for the young men and one for the
camp for the young men and one for the
camp for the young men and one for the young women and in both camps we asked
young women and in both camps we asked
young women and in both camps we asked who is your role model who do you aspire
who is your role model who do you aspire
who is your role model who do you aspire to who I would you draw inspiration from
to who I would you draw inspiration from
to who I would you draw inspiration from and almost exclusively in the young
and almost exclusively in the young
and almost exclusively in the young women’s camp
women’s camp
women’s camp they chose mother’s auntie’s women that
they chose mother’s auntie’s women that
they chose mother’s auntie’s women that they have met women that they can go and
they have met women that they can go and
they have met women that they can go and visit women are in their lives and
visit women are in their lives and
visit women are in their lives and almost exclusively in the young man’s
almost exclusively in the young man’s
almost exclusively in the young man’s camp they chose men that they have never
camp they chose men that they have never
camp they chose men that they have never met men that I probably will never meet
met men that I probably will never meet
met men that I probably will never meet men that they know through TV through
men that they know through TV through
men that they know through TV through music through sports and it made me ask
music through sports and it made me ask
music through sports and it made me ask is it so that many of us as African men
is it so that many of us as African men
is it so that many of us as African men struggled to find role models so
struggled to find role models so
struggled to find role models so struggle to look up to other African men
struggle to look up to other African men
struggle to look up to other African men and as I’m saying this I would like for
and as I’m saying this I would like for
and as I’m saying this I would like for you in your own mind to just reflect how
you in your own mind to just reflect how
you in your own mind to just reflect how many men that you have access to would
many men that you have access to would
many men that you have access to would you describe as great role models for
you describe as great role models for
you describe as great role models for you I hope you come up with a big number
you I hope you come up with a big number
you I hope you come up with a big number but from the work that I’ve done I
but from the work that I’ve done I
but from the work that I’ve done I wouldn’t be so surprised if some of you
wouldn’t be so surprised if some of you
wouldn’t be so surprised if some of you struggle to come up with many numbers
struggle to come up with many numbers
struggle to come up with many numbers because it seems like we are not really
because it seems like we are not really
because it seems like we are not really dwelling so much on the contributions
dwelling so much on the contributions
dwelling so much on the contributions that African men have made and this is
that African men have made and this is
that African men have made and this is interesting to me as it has become part
interesting to me as it has become part
interesting to me as it has become part of my journey I work with men women
of my journey I work with men women
of my journey I work with men women children youth elders but part of my
children youth elders but part of my
children youth elders but part of my work is solely dedicated to
work is solely dedicated to
work is solely dedicated to understanding African men communicating
understanding African men communicating
understanding African men communicating with African men through my scholarly
with African men through my scholarly
with African men through my scholarly work through my writing through my
work through my writing through my
work through my writing through my interaction I have dealt with lots of
interaction I have dealt with lots of
interaction I have dealt with lots of lots and lots of African men from
lots and lots of African men from
lots and lots of African men from different countries different parts of
different countries different parts of
different countries different parts of the world but I think what I’m left with
the world but I think what I’m left with
the world but I think what I’m left with is even more their ability to engage and
is even more their ability to engage and
is even more their ability to engage and see that African men across nationality
see that African men across nationality
see that African men across nationality is a cross religion across many things
is a cross religion across many things
is a cross religion across many things that divide us have many common
that divide us have many common
that divide us have many common experiences and many of them are under
experiences and many of them are under
experiences and many of them are under communicated so as I’ve been walking
communicated so as I’ve been walking
communicated so as I’ve been walking this journey 10 years ago and idea came
this journey 10 years ago and idea came
this journey 10 years ago and idea came into my mind that this voice that
into my mind that this voice that
into my mind that this voice that African men obviously have and that I’m
African men obviously have and that I’m
African men obviously have and that I’m it’s like I’m being made a participant
it’s like I’m being made a participant
it’s like I’m being made a participant of conversations that I don’t really see
of conversations that I don’t really see
of conversations that I don’t really see reflected in the general society and I’m
reflected in the general society and I’m
reflected in the general society and I’m thinking we really need to be able to
thinking we really need to be able to
thinking we really need to be able to position a platform for African men and
position a platform for African men and
position a platform for African men and this became the project called that is
this became the project called that is
this became the project called that is called Chewbacca men of Africa which has
called Chewbacca men of Africa which has
called Chewbacca men of Africa which has been going to many African countries and
been going to many African countries and
been going to many African countries and tomorrow will be doing it for
tomorrow will be doing it for
tomorrow will be doing it for first time in Botswana so this journey
first time in Botswana so this journey
first time in Botswana so this journey is really about decolonizing what
is really about decolonizing what
is really about decolonizing what masculine seas have become icy and I
masculine seas have become icy and I
masculine seas have become icy and I experienced that many of us as African
experienced that many of us as African
experienced that many of us as African men have gotten stuck in a very
men have gotten stuck in a very
men have gotten stuck in a very problematic understanding of what a man
problematic understanding of what a man
problematic understanding of what a man is supposed to do and be and many of
is supposed to do and be and many of
is supposed to do and be and many of those traces was back to what happened
those traces was back to what happened
those traces was back to what happened to us during invasion the problems with
to us during invasion the problems with
to us during invasion the problems with our families the problems with identity
our families the problems with identity
our families the problems with identity the problems with understanding who we
the problems with understanding who we
the problems with understanding who we are has created for many men different
are has created for many men different
are has created for many men different and quite disconnected understanding of
and quite disconnected understanding of
and quite disconnected understanding of masculinity so this is the statement
masculinity so this is the statement
masculinity so this is the statement that I come across with a lot of African
that I come across with a lot of African
that I come across with a lot of African men saying I need to understand who I am
men saying I need to understand who I am
men saying I need to understand who I am and I wanted to illustrate in a brief
and I wanted to illustrate in a brief
and I wanted to illustrate in a brief way what some African men declare or
way what some African men declare or
way what some African men declare or talk about when they sit in a session of
talk about when they sit in a session of
talk about when they sit in a session of explaining themselves and I want to
explaining themselves and I want to
explaining themselves and I want to explain this through a synthesis of
explain this through a synthesis of
explain this through a synthesis of stories that I’m going to present to you
stories that I’m going to present to you
stories that I’m going to present to you through the character of Africa so
through the character of Africa so
through the character of Africa so Africa is a young African man he grows
Africa is a young African man he grows
Africa is a young African man he grows up in a village he’s the heard boy and
up in a village he’s the heard boy and
up in a village he’s the heard boy and he is expected to go out in the field
he is expected to go out in the field
he is expected to go out in the field work with other boys and and and look
work with other boys and and and look
work with other boys and and and look after cattle now his experience is that
after cattle now his experience is that
after cattle now his experience is that as a young boy he goes out and he’s
as a young boy he goes out and he’s
as a young boy he goes out and he’s being taken advantage of by the bigger
being taken advantage of by the bigger
being taken advantage of by the bigger boys who beat him up who do things to
boys who beat him up who do things to
boys who beat him up who do things to him that obviously is painful and
him that obviously is painful and
him that obviously is painful and degrading he then decides he cannot he
degrading he then decides he cannot he
degrading he then decides he cannot he doesn’t want to be out in the field so
doesn’t want to be out in the field so
doesn’t want to be out in the field so he makes up a lot of excuses yes
he makes up a lot of excuses yes
he makes up a lot of excuses yes headache yes stomach stomach ache so
headache yes stomach stomach ache so
headache yes stomach stomach ache so that he can stay closer to the compound
that he can stay closer to the compound
that he can stay closer to the compound his father is devastated what kind of
his father is devastated what kind of
his father is devastated what kind of boy is this this boy is supposed to be
boy is this this boy is supposed to be
boy is this this boy is supposed to be out in the field and now he’s scared now
out in the field and now he’s scared now
out in the field and now he’s scared now he doesn’t want to go and the father
he doesn’t want to go and the father
he doesn’t want to go and the father statutory term ending call him names say
statutory term ending call him names say
statutory term ending call him names say he’s a sissy say he’s a girl to the
he’s a sissy say he’s a girl to the
he’s a sissy say he’s a girl to the point that even one day he takes a
point that even one day he takes a
point that even one day he takes a picture of Africa and put a dress on him
picture of Africa and put a dress on him
picture of Africa and put a dress on him and say look at my stupid little girl I
and say look at my stupid little girl I
and say look at my stupid little girl I thought I had a boy but look at this and
thought I had a boy but look at this and
thought I had a boy but look at this and he puts the picture on the wall and it
he puts the picture on the wall and it
he puts the picture on the wall and it itches itself into Africa’s memory as
itches itself into Africa’s memory as
itches itself into Africa’s memory as the definition of what he can never
the definition of what he can never
the definition of what he can never become a man the African man
become a man the African man
become a man the African man so African men know your power power is
so African men know your power power is
so African men know your power power is a very problematic experience for many
a very problematic experience for many
a very problematic experience for many African people and in the context of
African people and in the context of
African people and in the context of African men the aftermath of having been
African men the aftermath of having been
African men the aftermath of having been invaded the aftermath of white supremacy
invaded the aftermath of white supremacy
invaded the aftermath of white supremacy as a power the aftermath of having been
as a power the aftermath of having been
as a power the aftermath of having been marginalized completely to the side has
marginalized completely to the side has
marginalized completely to the side has an effect where many African men
an effect where many African men
an effect where many African men struggle to understand where to position
struggle to understand where to position
struggle to understand where to position their power there is never any excuse
their power there is never any excuse
their power there is never any excuse for rape but if we want to understand
for rape but if we want to understand
for rape but if we want to understand what rape is about if we want to resolve
what rape is about if we want to resolve
what rape is about if we want to resolve it these are some of the questions we
it these are some of the questions we
it these are some of the questions we need to ask what has happened to the
need to ask what has happened to the
need to ask what has happened to the experience of power because the
experience of power because the
experience of power because the experience of power we have is to invade
experience of power we have is to invade
experience of power we have is to invade is to take is to own is to define and as
is to take is to own is to define and as
is to take is to own is to define and as a very problematic power constellation
a very problematic power constellation
a very problematic power constellation when you take it into a relationship
when you take it into a relationship
when you take it into a relationship into interacting with somebody that you
into interacting with somebody that you
into interacting with somebody that you are supposed to treat as a royal partner
are supposed to treat as a royal partner
are supposed to treat as a royal partner so Africa grows he um at one point as a
so Africa grows he um at one point as a
so Africa grows he um at one point as a teenager he’s invited to a party and he
teenager he’s invited to a party and he
teenager he’s invited to a party and he has now experienced that he’s interested
has now experienced that he’s interested
has now experienced that he’s interested in girls but he doesn’t know how to
in girls but he doesn’t know how to
in girls but he doesn’t know how to approach them and he finds that other
approach them and he finds that other
approach them and he finds that other boys are talking very roughly about what
boys are talking very roughly about what
boys are talking very roughly about what they do to girls how they grab them how
they do to girls how they grab them how
they do to girls how they grab them how they take them and he doesn’t have any
they take them and he doesn’t have any
they take them and he doesn’t have any intention of doing that to women so he
intention of doing that to women so he
intention of doing that to women so he doesn’t know maybe this is because of
doesn’t know maybe this is because of
doesn’t know maybe this is because of what my father said I’m a girl I’m a
what my father said I’m a girl I’m a
what my father said I’m a girl I’m a weak person I cannot do this so he’s at
weak person I cannot do this so he’s at
weak person I cannot do this so he’s at this party he’s he hears some commotion
this party he’s he hears some commotion
this party he’s he hears some commotion in one room and one young man comes out
in one room and one young man comes out
in one room and one young man comes out and grabs him and say come here now
and grabs him and say come here now
and grabs him and say come here now you’re going to show that you’re a man
you’re going to show that you’re a man
you’re going to show that you’re a man and he realizes that he is drawn into a
and he realizes that he is drawn into a
and he realizes that he is drawn into a situation where a young girl is being
situation where a young girl is being
situation where a young girl is being raped by several young men and she’s
raped by several young men and she’s
raped by several young men and she’s lying there in his mind he wants to flee
lying there in his mind he wants to flee
lying there in his mind he wants to flee he wants to escape but the need for him
he wants to escape but the need for him
he wants to escape but the need for him to show and prove and demonstrate that
to show and prove and demonstrate that
to show and prove and demonstrate that he is in fact an African man takes over
he is in fact an African man takes over
he is in fact an African man takes over and in that moment he engages himself in
and in that moment he engages himself in
and in that moment he engages himself in something that he would never have
something that he would never have
something that he would never have believed he could do understanding that
believed he could do understanding that
believed he could do understanding that he’s actually contributing to the soul
he’s actually contributing to the soul
he’s actually contributing to the soul murder of the young lady African men
murder of the young lady African men
murder of the young lady African men know your culture culture becomes a very
know your culture culture becomes a very
know your culture culture becomes a very difficult place to go to when you see
difficult place to go to when you see
difficult place to go to when you see that African culture has been ridiculous
that African culture has been ridiculous
that African culture has been ridiculous been downgraded has been associated with
been downgraded has been associated with
been downgraded has been associated with barbarism and things that don’t really
barbarism and things that don’t really
barbarism and things that don’t really work at best African culture appears to
work at best African culture appears to
work at best African culture appears to be cute and colorful that’s not a place
be cute and colorful that’s not a place
be cute and colorful that’s not a place an african strongman wants to go so a
an african strongman wants to go so a
an african strongman wants to go so a lot of African men become removed from
lot of African men become removed from
lot of African men become removed from their cultural identity and it has an
their cultural identity and it has an
their cultural identity and it has an effect on how they then need to draw
effect on how they then need to draw
effect on how they then need to draw cultural tools to raise this African men
cultural tools to raise this African men
cultural tools to raise this African men within themselves Africa gets a
within themselves Africa gets a
within themselves Africa gets a scholarship he moves to a town and he’s
scholarship he moves to a town and he’s
scholarship he moves to a town and he’s accepted into a good education which
accepted into a good education which
accepted into a good education which leads to a good job which leads to good
leads to a good job which leads to good
leads to a good job which leads to good money which is the dream of every
money which is the dream of every
money which is the dream of every African parents to be able to end so he
African parents to be able to end so he
African parents to be able to end so he is now at the point ways actually seem
is now at the point ways actually seem
is now at the point ways actually seem to be a successful man but within
to be a successful man but within
to be a successful man but within himself he cannot connect everything
himself he cannot connect everything
himself he cannot connect everything that he has done seems like he has had
that he has done seems like he has had
that he has done seems like he has had to check his African s at the door and
to check his African s at the door and
to check his African s at the door and not bringing into the place of operation
not bringing into the place of operation
not bringing into the place of operation so he strives to be more Eurocentric he
so he strives to be more Eurocentric he
so he strives to be more Eurocentric he strives to speak good English he strives
strives to speak good English he strives
strives to speak good English he strives to prove to the world that he’s not a
to prove to the world that he’s not a
to prove to the world that he’s not a barbaric backward African he’s the
barbaric backward African he’s the
barbaric backward African he’s the modern Eurocentric westernized African
modern Eurocentric westernized African
modern Eurocentric westernized African man and this becomes quite problematic
man and this becomes quite problematic
man and this becomes quite problematic he goes further he meets a woman and a
he goes further he meets a woman and a
he goes further he meets a woman and a great woman and the woman agrees that
great woman and the woman agrees that
great woman and the woman agrees that she likes him they get married they have
she likes him they get married they have
she likes him they get married they have children now he’s even elevated to
children now he’s even elevated to
children now he’s even elevated to another level that many African men envy
another level that many African men envy
another level that many African men envy and many African men look to that this
and many African men look to that this
and many African men look to that this is the greatness of success but because
is the greatness of success but because
is the greatness of success but because of the pain and the brokenness within
of the pain and the brokenness within
of the pain and the brokenness within Africa he finds it difficult to be next
Africa he finds it difficult to be next
Africa he finds it difficult to be next to a woman who always is interested in
to a woman who always is interested in
to a woman who always is interested in how he really feels how he what his
how he really feels how he what his
how he really feels how he what his opinion is over time and he finds
opinion is over time and he finds
opinion is over time and he finds himself wanting not to be so much at
himself wanting not to be so much at
himself wanting not to be so much at home so he spends time at the bar he
home so he spends time at the bar he
home so he spends time at the bar he spends time with other women and he
spends time with other women and he
spends time with other women and he becomes a man who’s unfaithful the
becomes a man who’s unfaithful the
becomes a man who’s unfaithful the African family is supposed to be a place
African family is supposed to be a place
African family is supposed to be a place of strength we say that African culture
of strength we say that African culture
of strength we say that African culture is built on the African family but what
is built on the African family but what
is built on the African family but what happens when the African family is so
happens when the African family is so
happens when the African family is so affected by its history and its lack of
affected by its history and its lack of
affected by its history and its lack of cultural strength that it reproduces
cultural strength that it reproduces
cultural strength that it reproduces some of the oppressive effects that we
some of the oppressive effects that we
some of the oppressive effects that we have enjoyed for centuries on this
have enjoyed for centuries on this
have enjoyed for centuries on this continent
continent
continent abraca is now at the point where he is
abraca is now at the point where he is
abraca is now at the point where he is no longer expecting to be a strong man
no longer expecting to be a strong man
no longer expecting to be a strong man he falls into a deep hole within his
he falls into a deep hole within his
he falls into a deep hole within his mind and his soul and it takes to
mind and his soul and it takes to
mind and his soul and it takes to drinking he consoles himself for all the
drinking he consoles himself for all the
drinking he consoles himself for all the things that he feel his not he abuses
things that he feel his not he abuses
things that he feel his not he abuses himself for the shame that he has of
himself for the shame that he has of
himself for the shame that he has of what he has not accomplished and he
what he has not accomplished and he
what he has not accomplished and he slowly dies within now Africa has
slowly dies within now Africa has
slowly dies within now Africa has changed Africa has been able to
changed Africa has been able to
changed Africa has been able to understand more of his history
understand more of his history
understand more of his history understand more of what is expected of
understand more of what is expected of
understand more of what is expected of him as an African man moved to a
him as an African man moved to a
him as an African man moved to a stronger place that does not mean the
stronger place that does not mean the
stronger place that does not mean the problems disappear it does not mean that
problems disappear it does not mean that
problems disappear it does not mean that life is necessarily easy but he
life is necessarily easy but he
life is necessarily easy but he approaches it from a completely
approaches it from a completely
approaches it from a completely different point of view because he has
different point of view because he has
different point of view because he has developed a sense of self a sense of
developed a sense of self a sense of
developed a sense of self a sense of rootedness a sense of anchored Ness so
rootedness a sense of anchored Ness so
rootedness a sense of anchored Ness so when he moves he moves with a different
when he moves he moves with a different
when he moves he moves with a different sense of power and when he’s confronted
sense of power and when he’s confronted
sense of power and when he’s confronted with issues he doesn’t just react with
with issues he doesn’t just react with
with issues he doesn’t just react with fear or don’t or the need to dominate he
fear or don’t or the need to dominate he
fear or don’t or the need to dominate he can humble he can take a step back
can humble he can take a step back
can humble he can take a step back reflect and find a solution this to me
reflect and find a solution this to me
reflect and find a solution this to me is the practical interpretation of what
is the practical interpretation of what
is the practical interpretation of what Steve Biko explained as black
Steve Biko explained as black
Steve Biko explained as black consciousness the ability to rally
consciousness the ability to rally
consciousness the ability to rally around the center of our oppression
around the center of our oppression
around the center of our oppression which is the color of our skin and at
which is the color of our skin and at
which is the color of our skin and at the same time also operate as a group to
the same time also operate as a group to
the same time also operate as a group to to cut the shackles that have
to cut the shackles that have
to cut the shackles that have represented the oppression that we have
represented the oppression that we have
represented the oppression that we have enjoyed I no longer move slowly in this
enjoyed I no longer move slowly in this
enjoyed I no longer move slowly in this world
world
world I refuse to be accustomed to aspiring no
I refuse to be accustomed to aspiring no
I refuse to be accustomed to aspiring no longer to appear this is the call for
longer to appear this is the call for
longer to appear this is the call for African men who no longer should just be
African men who no longer should just be
African men who no longer should just be marked by being men who obey very
marked by being men who obey very
marked by being men who obey very problematic messages and pressure points
problematic messages and pressure points
problematic messages and pressure points men who violates because the voice
men who violates because the voice
men who violates because the voice inside is so full of Rage and men who
inside is so full of Rage and men who
inside is so full of Rage and men who shut down because they don’t know how to
shut down because they don’t know how to
shut down because they don’t know how to develop a language to express what is
develop a language to express what is
develop a language to express what is happening within what we call for
happening within what we call for
happening within what we call for African men to become a men who rise men
African men to become a men who rise men
African men to become a men who rise men stand up with confidence men who rebel
stand up with confidence men who rebel
stand up with confidence men who rebel and this is an important point to
and this is an important point to
and this is an important point to mention because when you stand up as an
mention because when you stand up as an
mention because when you stand up as an African man the world around you will
African man the world around you will
African man the world around you will see it as a declaration of war we don’t
see it as a declaration of war we don’t
see it as a declaration of war we don’t expect that African men should be
expect that African men should be
expect that African men should be honorable responsible and strong in a
honorable responsible and strong in a
honorable responsible and strong in a balanced way we have gotten so far that
balanced way we have gotten so far that
balanced way we have gotten so far that we don’t expect a lot from African men
we don’t expect a lot from African men
we don’t expect a lot from African men and as African men we know it and it
and as African men we know it and it
and as African men we know it and it kills us we need my African men who can
kills us we need my African men who can
kills us we need my African men who can relate because the African man is nobody
relate because the African man is nobody
relate because the African man is nobody without being able to relate to African
without being able to relate to African
without being able to relate to African women to African children to the African
women to African children to the African
women to African children to the African community your identity will never be
community your identity will never be
community your identity will never be whole just because you have a success in
whole just because you have a success in
whole just because you have a success in your own corner African culture roots
your own corner African culture roots
your own corner African culture roots you because you are part of a bigger
you because you are part of a bigger
you because you are part of a bigger whole as I’m standing here I raised my
whole as I’m standing here I raised my
whole as I’m standing here I raised my face not just as a symbol of struggle
face not just as a symbol of struggle
face not just as a symbol of struggle and rage but also in confident belief
and rage but also in confident belief
and rage but also in confident belief and faith in what this world will become
and faith in what this world will become
and faith in what this world will become when black men know themselves
when black men know themselves
when black men know themselves [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment