The Black Informant | African American Commentary, News and Community Building

No, pornography is not an issue that is exclusive to black men; however, as you read this piece you will see that this is a growing issue in our community that not too many of us are addressing.

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For black Americans, the burning cross is a symbol of a time when we were considered as second-class citizens that could easily be manipulated. Today, we are doing the same thing to our own women.

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These are just two descriptions that I was able to easily find online describing black women’s involvement in this industry (Trust me, there were plenty others, but they were too obscene for this site). Just think, for two dollars and ninety-five cents, you can buy the dignity of a black woman.

If you think that I am going to spend time railing against the likes of Snoop Dogg, 50 cent, lil’ John, Redman, etc. for becoming players in the skin game, please think again. For these “boys”, it is all about the money–period! If it can be pimped, they will do it.

No, today I want us to focus our attention on the target audience of this smut–our young black men. By now I am sure that some of you may be asking what is the significance of young black men in this issue. The significance is quite simple–many of our young men do not have fathers that are active in their lives. This means that our young men in many cases have absolutely no kind of filter to process these types of images that they may see on a daily basis.

As a young man enters into puberty, he quickly discovers that it does not take much for his body to respond sexually to what he “picks up” through his senses. It is usually at this point where a father, or father figure in the young-man’s life will help him in controlling these new-found body responses. It is during these times a young man learns the boundaries of his sexual drives and desires. Realizing that these precious moments in a young mans’ life , a father/father figure will take all the time necessary to see to it that this young man has all the knowledge that he needs to maintain self-control in this part of his life.

As impressionable a young child is at this stage, now imaging a young man that does not have a father/father figure. The only filter this young man has is via his sex-crazed friends at school who have already been exposed to the world of sexual exploitation by way of music videos and various hip-hop lyrics. As time goes by, this fatherless child is able to view all the porn that he wants via the Internet, magazines, home movies, etc. . Because this young man has never had a father/father figure explain to him the value of his sexuality, he now finds it very hard to look at a woman without imagining her without her clothes on. This young man may never grow up to be a sexual predator or a child molester; however, the innocence of just looking a woman during a normal conversation without thinking about sex has in many cases been diminished. Shumley Boteach of Worldnetdaily further explains:

This is because pornography deadens and desensitizes men. Instead of being automatically drawn to women as he should be, today’s man is too much of a connoisseur to ever lose himself completely. The nature of erotic attraction, which should bring men and women together, has been utterly compromised, and neither is above evaluating the other according to the most stringent of scales. More than simply providing the measure by which all real women are judged, pornography hinders a man’s attachment to a single woman because it impairs his ability to build deep relationships…more

Back in the 80′s and early 90′s, black America was going through a neo-back-to-Africa movement. There wasn’t too many of my black friends growing up that did not have the Africa medallion necklace. Fake Kente cloth could be seen everywhere (even used as Bible covers) in an effort to resurrect our connection to the motherland and self-pride. From black college campuses throughout the south to schools in the inner city, we at times referred to each other as the son and daughters of great African kings and queens. Although pornography was rampid back then, there was a since of pride that we possessed as a people that acted as a thin barrier that protected many of our children from such distractions. Many black neighborhoods in those days had their own “unofficial” griot that always reminded us the importance of having self-respect.

Today, many of these men who back then made it their life’s mission to “educate to elevate” have either died, or moved on in life leaving behind a gaping hole that acts as a fast moving freeway straight to the hearts and minds of our dear young men.

I truly applaud the women who took a stand against an appearance by Nelly for staring in a music video that they felt was very demeaning to women and Essence magazine for bringing some light to this issue. Unfortunately their efforts will loose its effectiveness as long as we as black men stay silent on this issue.

We are very quick as a people to call for a boycott against business, institutions, etc. who exhibit some racial attitudes. Brothas, its time for us to boycott this industry for exploiting our women. In order for us to get to that point, our hands and eyes have got to be clean of this smut. Until then, there is always someone out there that is willing to buy the dignity of your daughter or niece—for two-dollars and ninety-five cents.

To be continued…