It's no secret that some people are born into this world with different dynamics and circumstances. From the very moment a child takes in their first breath of air, that child is faced with a world of possibilities and struggles unbeknownst to them. Some are born into wealth. Some are born into an impoverished family. Some may even be born to a mother incarcerated in a State or Federal Penitentiary. There is a bevy of other circumstances, but, I take it that you get the picture. Being born a black male, I was born into a circumstance that pretty much only one group truly understands. That group is black males themselves. It doesn't matter whether you're light skinned like Chris Brown, brown skinned like Craig Wilson II (wink wink), or, dark skinned like Wesley Snipes. Some would suggest that we as black males are born with two strikes against us. I never thought that one of those strikes would come from the disdain of my fellow black males.
Let me give you some background of myself. My name is Craig Wilson II and I was born in New Orleans, LA on September 8, 1979 to Craig Wilson and Wendy Smith. My parents were young at the time that I was brought into the world but later married in 1985. My father was in the Air Force so we moved frequently. We lived in California, Spain and South Carolina before moving back to Louisiana upon my father's retirement from the military. I have one brother who is nine years my junior. I graduated from Destrehan High School which is one of the better public schools in the New Orleans Metropolitan area, and, probably the state of Louisiana. I attended college at USL in Lafayette, LA (which later became ULL my last semester there). I enlisted into the Army Reserves then later went active duty. I am a divorced father of two children ages six and four. Not such a bad life, right?
About a week or two ago I was very disappointed to see the comments that boxer Bernard Hopkins made about football player Donovan McNabb. Hopkins (who is a black male) inferred that "McNabb (also a black male) isn't black enough because he lived a privileged life in suburban Chicago." He made claims that McNabb "wasn't tough enough" and that McNabb "just has a sun tan." First of all, I have been a fan of both of these men. Hopkins for his boxing mainly, McNabb for his play on the field and the way he carries himself off of it. Second. Who in the hell is Bernard Hopkins to question Donovan McNabb's "blackness" and toughness! This is the same Donovan McNabb, who, upon being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles was booed heavily and never really accepted by Eagles fans even though he carried them to three NFC Championships and one Super Bowl appearance. This is the same McNabb who once broke his ankle in a game and not only continued to play, but, played well enough to carry his team to a win on that particular day. I don't know about you, but, if I broke my ankle sitting at a desk I'd be through!
If anyone is familiar with Donovan McNabb you know that he is articulate, well dressed and is well respected by many. It's fair to say that you won't see McNabb with his pants sagging, wearing excessive "bling," or, even using many slang terms. So my question to Bernard Hopkins and anyone whom shares the same opinion as Hopkins would be this: What defines one's "blackness?" Do you have to talk a certain way? Do you have to spend some time in prison (such as Hopkins did)? Do you have to have some type of "street cred?" In my personal opinion many people in the black community have misconstrued the aforementioned questions as the confirmation of one being black. If I'm wrong with what I'm about to say, someone please contact me so that we can have a conversation about it. I thought that our forefathers fought and struggled so that we wouldn't have to. I thought that they fought for equal rights, the ability to vote and to be recognized as tax paying Americans. Our forefathers wanted us to enjoy the same privileges that whites have enjoyed for years. The opportunity to be educated in first class schools. The opportunity to earn a decent living and house your family in a nice thriving community. Those are examples of things that they wanted right?
In my own little perfect world black men would accept each other as brothers and learn to support one another. Every black male will not grow up in the "hood" under impoverished circumstances. Just as every white male will not grow up in a wealthy and stable atmosphere. Bottom line is, Bernard Hopkins doesn't know what Donovan McNabb has gone through over the course of his life. I grew up in a middle class family, but, was far from being rich. My family having a middle class title didn't exclude me from what came along with being a black male either. I recall my childhood friend and I being watched and followed in Food Lion Supermarket. A place where my friend and I always went to look at the magazines and buy candy. We never stole one thing in that store or from any store for that matter. What made it worse was that there were white kids on that same aisle that we were on who were being loud and belligerent. Yet we were the ones being watched. I remember being pulled over by a cop in High School in Ormond Estates (a wealthy neighborhood in Destrehan, LA) for no reason, and that cop asking me what was my father's occupation because my drivers license showed that I lived in that neighborhood. I also remember going to a white female friend's house and being told that she wasn't there by her father when I knew in fact that she was there. The look on his face said it all when he saw a black boy standing on his doorstep asking for his daughter. The look pretty much said, "get the hell off of my porch and don't come back!" I can give you more examples but we'll be all day. I bring up these points to say that no matter where you come from or where you live, as a black man/male, you have to face issues daily that no other group goes through. This is a fact, just as Barack Obama. And he lives in The White House of all places!
In my book, Bernard Hopkins is committing black on black crime by simply using his tongue. Sad thing is, there are more black males who feel this way. If anybody knows me you know that I dislike the term "think outside the box." My theory is that if we do not put ourself in a box then we won't have to think outside of one. Many black males have become prisoners of a box only to miss out on what this world truly has to offer. Some people suggest that because I've traveled the world I view things differently. This may be true, but, it cost nothing to use your mind. A lot of knowledge is gained from the sheer desire to seek it. You don't have to travel the world to attain it. My plea to all my brothers is this: Partner with your brothers to build the kingdoms God set us out to build. Live life as a open book ready soak up the familiar and unfamiliar. Let your brothers know that it's ok to be different because what is a world without individuality. Lastly. Love and accept your brothers because I love and accept you!
Black is Black!
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