Black men are a mystery. A real mystery. One of the many wonders of the world. An unsolvable equation since the beginning of time. In all shapes, sizes, and shades. No one man is the same as the one before.

I took it upon myself to crack the code. I wanted to find out all I could about Black men. I wanted to reach across all ages, all classes, all occupations, all generations. I wanted to examine “men of a certain age.” I wanted to find out why Black men do what they do? Why Black men say what they say?

What makes a Black man black? What makes a Black man a man? Who decides? Who says? When the words “Black Man” or “Black Masculinity” come to mind, who comes to mind? What comes to mind? Why does that image or person come to mind? Who has cultivated that image? What has cultivated that image?

Many have tried to figure out the life of a Black man in America. Many think they know but have no idea. They have no idea about the life of a Black man in America because the life of a Black man in America is always changing.

As time changes, so do we.

What Black men of 10, 20, 30 years ago did is not done by Black men of today. The determination of that being good or bad is in the eye of the beholder. Black men of ten, twenty, thirty years ago may not relate to Black men of today.

We may not relate. But we are one.

We are Black. We are Male.

I am my father. I am my grandfather. I am my brother. My uncle. My teacher. My partner. My lover. My son. My killer. My healer. My mentor. My friend. We are all one.

I am a Black man every day of my life. From the moment I wake up to the moment I lay down, I am a Black man.

I’m scared of the world that is scared of me. I’m changing as the world tries to change me. I’m told to be the portrait of virility when I don’t even know what I am looking at. Combine this portrait with a portrait of blackness; you have quite the mosaic.

We’re always told how to be or what to become, it’s no wonder we lose ourselves. It’s no wonder Black men never marry but always divorce. Never listen but always talk. Always hide but never expose. We’re taught to hide ourselves the moment the words “Be a Man” are uttered to us as young boys.

How are we supposed to “be a man” when there is no one way to be a man? There are many ways to be a Black Man in America.