A Man”s world
by Demond A. Jackson
As a man the world I live in, is a place where self-defense,
superiority and respect reigns supreme. Males are conditioned
by their families and friends to assert themselves physically
to prevent and/or protect themselves from attack or abuse. The
social values amongst males today focus on status and physical
dominance acted out on social media and other gathering
places. Some young males, particularly those who are engaged
in crime, present themselves as ready to confront and fight
anyone. Often this is a reflection of hopelesspess, the
inability to perceive a positive future, equating to the
belief that they must accept whatever misfortune may befall
them, even death leaving them with no regard for life.
Therefore, momentary gratification supersedes any long-term
goals, because some view is: “tomorrow is not promised.” This
especially, holds true for low-income urban boys. Urban males
are more so than middle-class and wealthy, to demonstrate
their masculinity in destructive ways (i.e. joining gangs and
getting involved in a life of crime.) A 2010 study revealed
that boys born in 2001 have a 38.8 percent chance of being
incarcerated in a state or federal prison.
Fatherlessness
Lack of male parental guidance is a known, significant
contributor to crime, to date more males are being raised in
families headed by single females than in any other time in
. American history. Male youth who grew up in severely
distressed households learned values and strategies that leave
them ill-equipped for conventional society. The absence of a
father and a working mother, has many urban males spending the
bulk of their time on the streets … of a crime-ridden,
violence-prone and poverty-stricken world. Success in this
world is not viewed as the “American Dream” in the image of
the “conventional citizen,” the responsible husband and
father, but rather that of the “gangster or hustler” who
promotes his own interests “by any means necessary.” The Big
Homie’s … are the “successful” men they know personally,
their success, status and wealth supersede these men who try
to climb the economic ladder in honest ways. Men today are
acutely conscious of a system which appears to offer rewards
to those who illegally and legally exploit others, and failure
to those who struggle under traditional responsibilities.
Under these circumstances, they adopt “gangsterism” as a way
of life. For many impoverished males gangsterism and aligning
themselves with gangs is the only means they know to avoid
ostracism, violence and experience brotherhood.
At the ages of eight or nine, boys … begin receiving
attentions from local gang members. As a rite of passage
whether recruited or not these young boys are forced to prove
their suitability for gang membership by fighting, stealing,
selling drugs and denouncing the authority of their parents,
parent or guardian … all which are signs of them being a man
amongst Men if they don’t join or fail to meet the standards
for membership, they’re robbed, picked on and even beaten.
Statistically, men are more likely to be murdered compared to
‘their female. counter-parts. (“The sharp growth in the number of
teenage male homicides victims is directly related to the
sudden rise in the number of young male killers.”- William
Julius Wilson)
The present American male climate is one of terror, death and
destruction, the social norm is hate, narcissism and
carelessness. Peace and prosperity is a place of uncertainty,
uncharted waters; equating to the lack of positive male
organization and alternatives for brotherhood.
As I strive to teach the men amongst me, ways and means, to
go about being better men. I find myself constantly being
reminded that “A mans world”, presently is a dark place.
Especially, with all the false male prophets running the world
today. Marking it that much harder for men to put their faith
in other men without fear, of being exploited by one means or
another. This issue goes beyond this nations borders, boys in
the Sudan are being forced to fight in wars between men,
global male molestations, fatherlessness, child labor, the
growing rates of under-educated males or the mass
incarceration of males. The magnitude of atrocities … being
inflicted upon the male species are having a extreme adverse
effect on the social, spiritual and emotional development of
boys and men allover the globe. In all honest, the depth of
this mental infliction runs deep, because with each word I
type, I find myself in a mental struggle. I’m realizing my
indoctrination and adversities has me lacking levels of
confidence and experiencing a degree of fear when it comes to
me expressing myself and the state of the male species with no
,inhibition, finding myself lost for words as I conclude this
composition, over thinking, trying to find ways to avoid
making men sound hopeless and weak. My subconscious didn’t
want to lose sight that a man should reigned supreme in any
world. But reality tells a different story and as good as it
sounds to say “We shall overcome” and “All men were created
equal.” Equality is a blessing in some parts of the world and
one must take notice of the obstacle, before they can overcome
it.
That being said, a problem can’t equate into a solution, if
no one dares to address the problem. Simply put, we have a
problem … and its time we start to address it world!
I'm the son of an African American queen, born and raised in Los Angeles California, where I was groomed in its infectious gang culture. For the past decade and half, the federal Bureau of Prison has been a institution of self-education, self-evaluation and the reason I now possess knowledge of self. That being so, I now strive to expose the solution to the problems that our plaguing our communities, America's youth and this country as a whole. There's a saying: "There's nothing new up under the sun." Simply put, if there's one thing in this universe existence, that has seen all thing that mankind has done or not done, it is the sun. That means the moral dissension that taking place currently is nothing new. Historian have written about times where the moral fabric of a nation was so tattered where the only solution for change was war a destruction. This country was built and establish to be the nation it is today. By the disenfranchised, those who were being oppressed by the Queen and her fellow Aristocrats. Therefore if this country is to change once again for the better. It will begin and must begin with the actions and the voice of the disenfranchised i.e, America's minorities, poor and it's third class citizen the American Ex-felon. That being said I'm committed to "WRITING MY WRONGS..." and sewing seed of knowledge and truth that will blossom into peace, prosperity and positive change
Writing Contact:
DEMOND JACKSON #05934-088
FCI Victorville Medium II
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
PO BOX 3850
ADELANTO, CA 92301
Interesting! Inspiring! It’s so prominent, the state that you speak of, overwhelming with our young black males that I don’t see much hope. The situation continues too breed itself. But, your voice is needed for positive change. I salute you!