To attempt to make a snarky comparison between the acute and despicable damage that the white race has inflicted, not just on Blacks in America, but on all peoples of color across the world, to even try and somehow equate this with the complex relationship between Black Men and Black Women is completely irresponsible. Completely Irresponsible. Either this Damon Young doesn’t know the history of White people, or he doesn’t know the history of Black people, or maybe he doesn’t care either way.

These new generation bloggers value cuteness over substance, and because the weaponization of tolerance in this country has decimated the ability to check anyone on their ways and actions, clowns like Damon Young get to write unmitigated bullshit without having to answer for it.

So, it took me a couple of days to read the article. I wanted to ignore it, just like I ignore most of the corrupt verbiage you find on social media. But, what I began to witness in my newsfeeds and timelines was what always happens when some irresponsible full-of-himself prick writes something that low-key reinforces the white supremacist strategy of tearing apart the Black family. Black men and women were beginning to have public heated debates and arguments about the article. You see Damon Young, our Brothers and our Sisters are damaged by a litany of issues, some self-inflicted, and others systemic. Emotionally hurt and damaged people will always start their personal healing process with finding someone or something to blame. It’s called the blame game, basic Psych 101. It is always easier for a person confronted with the truth, that things aren’t the way they should be, to blame someone else for what is wrong, rather than to look at themselves. Humans do it all of the time. This is why it is so important that those of us who have created a voice in our communities and in our common spaces use that voice responsibly. As soon as I began reading the arguments on Facebook, I knew for true that Damon Young had done no such thing.

I will use plain and direct words to describe my thoughts on the article. The first thing that I want to say is that I do not disagree with the assertion that misogyny exists in our culture. Yes, misogyny exists. Our sisters are constantly under attack in our communities, whether from perverts and aggressive attention seekers that push for our sister’s acknowledgement when she just wants to get on the train and go to work, or from the popular music of our culture which continues to glorify the objectification of our women as nothing more than strippers and promiscuous women of advantage and deceit. This is the absolute truth of us. Our culture is misogynistic. I have a mother, two sisters, two daughters and two nieces that all live and experience the misogynistic side of our culture every time they step foot out of the house. Denying its existence is also irresponsible, and no man should ever try to downplay or minimize these issues as women see them. I learned from a woman that if a person feels wronged in any way, even if you don’t fully understand how they were wronged, it is still in bad taste to deny to them that they have been wronged. This action is called compassion. I have a great deal of compassion for my sisters, and would never look to write anything that takes away from their plight as women, living in a patriarchal society bereft of justice and equality.

My problem with the article is Damon Young’s weak attempt to draw parallels between the way he feels about Black Man/Woman relationships and the privilege that White men specifically are able to exercise in this society, and it is that attempt that sours this article. I feel weird having to even address why this parallel makes no sense. Even more, Damon admits that he didn’t even make the term up. He says he read it somewhere. So, he read this silly phrase somewhere and accepted it? Says a whole lot about him. Black men are the White men of absolutely nothing. There is no Black man privilege, no place where our Black masculinity is enough to part waters or change policy. Your own article proves the fallacy Damon. When have you ever wrote anything as stirring and vehement regarding White men? This diatribe you posted, masked as some form of progressive journalism, speaks in way too many plural pronouns. We aren’t all included in your assessment of what Black men aren’t doing, and if you were a Black man you’d know that. We aren’t all turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to the literal and figurative issues that our sisters face on a daily basis. We aren’t ignoring misogynistic language or going blind to domestic abuse. And, we are certainly not resistant to discussing these issues with Black Women, and offering our unwavering support and security. No, I and others like me are not included in your we. Your generalizations are amazingly narrow-minded, and better suited for whatever males you hang with, but with all due respect, don’t ever in your life speak as if you’re speaking to or for the whole.

Instead of serving as a basic buffoon, ready and eager to use a broad stroke to point out issues in such a polarizing manner, issues that in truth can only be repaired as a whole, together, and not by taking sides, you should be using your vehicle to build bridges, and not to throw a certain group under the bus. That connection you guys have made with The Root recently has you acting like them now, politely backslapping Black men whenever you see an angle to do so. Maybe that’s what your check writers want from you, I wouldn’t know. However, your article serves as a perfect example of why dudes like GFK and KRS-One used to look for Hip Hop journalists in these streets to offer corrective advice to when they felt it was needed. You have a responsibility as someone who has a voice to use that voice in a responsible manner. Calling out Black Men as being the White people of Black people is irresponsible, not to mention dangerous to whatever gains we’ve made with regards to our complex and layered relationship with Black Women.

By using your article to reinforce stereotypes in such a blanketed fashion, you’ve done more harm than good. So, hold that Damon. And, be prepared to stand firm on your ideals when confronted.