Black Men and the Uncomfortable Feeling of Submission
The title itself is already an oxymoron to most Black men.
Submission: What the hell does that even mean?
Take away the in-the-gutter thoughts, and ideologies of weakness, focus on the definition.
Submission :( səbˈmiSHən ) Noun + Verb
1) the action or fact of accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person.
2) the action of presenting a proposal, application, or other document for consideration or judgment.
The underlined words are very important and shall be the only focus on this post.
When it comes to giving in, Black men hear “giving up”. It isn’t their fault either. No, they’re not all having some secret meeting without Black women, nor are they in an iMessage group chat, and they are definitely not communicating this over their live game systems.
They are conditioned to believe and act as money making machines. You have to grind if you wanna stay on top. You have to lose hours of sleep if you wanna win. You have to stack your bread up as much as you can. Move quietly, don‘t let nobody in, everyone is out to get you. Everyone is watching you. You have to do this to : survive—
I also forgot to mention, this isn’t a ”pick-me” post either. It’s a Black women speaking to her fellow brothers, this is unity and overcoming an agenda that has been imposed on us for a long time. We have to break the cycle. —
Survival. Survival is not living. It’s staying a float because you have to. It’s rationing food because you have to. It’s when there is only one option , and that option is chosen because it is needed to stay alive.
”But what are you getting at?”
I’ll tell you. As Black folk, we were never given a chance to live only a chance to survive . Meaning we were cut out of experiences, cheated of happiness, robbed of love , filled with anxieties and fears, drowned in sorrow and secrecy, buried under threats and lies.
It has been passed down through our chromosomes, mannerisms, stories, behaviors, and childhood to act as if we are surviving instead of living.
Being this way as a Black person is hard, but to identify as a Black man is much harder. In this White-pasted patriarchal society we live in, men, especially Black men, are not ever, never , ever , show a single, sign of weakness. ”Weakness” meaning ‘human’. Weakness meaning ‘tired’. Weakness meaning ‘depressed’. Weakness meaning ‘putting the pieces together’. Weakness meaning to submit.
Black men, when things aren’t moving yet (from what you can see) it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening for you. It doesn’t mean the change you’re working on making isnt worth your while. It doesn't mean that love is not meant for you. When you are being pushed in one direction, you cannot fight the current, or you will drown tiring yourself out. You have to give in to that emotion, and the motion of : surrendering. You're not surrendering to your God, the World, the ’Man’. You’re surrendering to yourself. You’re submitting to your emotions, your inner thoughts, your dreams, your love life, your aspirations, your fears, your goals, your happiness, your freedom.
You are a human. A beautiful one at best. You are so cherished and loved , especially by us Black women. Though as Black women , we have our seperate struggles of intersectional discrimination (sexism + racism); We are under the same shoe the white world has over us, right along with you.
When you submit to yourself, surrender your feelings freely… you Black man, open yourself up to a world of possibilities, luck, wisdom, strength and growth. You are able to attract wisdom to be more acknowledged about your presence in this world, you attract more butterflies and bees to your honey, you attract extraordinary experiences, you are able to meet your past struggles and pain with love. You strategize better, you are able to look forward to living because you are comfortable with your sense of self, and you know no matter where you land, you can always freely live your life.
You always have an option. You always have a reason to have your voice heard. We’ve all been hurt, we all get hurt, and it is okay to voice that, especially to other Black boys & men. Let them know how you feel. Inspire and encourage them to connect with themselves, as a black person, and as a boy/man. You life has meaning, even if you had to survive before. Forgive yourself, shed your skin, and work that Black Boy Magick.
If you have made it this far, I thank you. This post was for this who identify with/as a Black Man. Please do share it with one that you love, allow him space , allow him time. Attached below are two guided meditation by Black Men for Black Men, I hope you enjoy.
Similar:
yielding
capitulation
agreement
acceptance
consent
accession
compliance
Opposite:
defiance
WRESTLING an act of surrendering to a hold by one's opponent. plural noun: submissions Similar: surrender yielding capitulation resignation succumbing defeat fall laying down one's arms giving in humbling oneself knuckling under
ARCHAIC humility; meekness. "servile flattery and submission" Similar: compliance submissiveness yielding malleability acquiescence tractability tractableness manageability unassertiveness nonresistance passivity obedience biddability dutifulness duteousness docility meekness tameness patience resignation humility self-effacement deference subservience servility subjection self-abasement obsequiousness obeisance bootlicking Opposite: defiance resistance
2. the action of presenting a proposal, applicati
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