"Our Perspective of the Birds and the Bees"
As stated in my last article pertaining to gun violence, this article is filling in the gaps of what goes on in the black community every day. With prior examples and statistics shown to explain this perspective, this article should provide a new entrance to the minds of those who are not aware of this issue.
As the goals of the parents, they are given the roles of showing their children how life functions. In addition, they are preparing us for the outbreaks of how life is a remarkable experience.
For instance, the bird and bee's conversation are one of those topics. The phrase "the birds and the bees" is a metaphor for explaining the methods of reproduction to younger children, relying on images of bees pollinating and eggs emerging to substitute for a more scientific explanation of sexual intercourse. It is a way of redirecting the unavoidable question that every parent dread: "Where do babies come from?" Currently, no parents are not quite ready to have these conversations with their children.
However, things are different when it comes to African American families. Although the conversation of sexual intercourse can be uncomfortable, my parents talked about the lives of African Americans in this country. It traces back to roots of slavery and segregation that disrupted our growth within the cracks of America. With those specific stages of our lives, it created a certain level of controversy that reached beyond its means. Therefore, it concludes to what multiple generations face now.
1. Today, we still encounter the remarks of racism. Racism is action, practice, or belief that reflects the racial worldview—the ideology that humans may be divided into separate and exclusive genetic entities called "races". However, there is a link between inherited physical characteristics and attributes of personality, intelligence, integrity, and other social and interactive features; and that some races are innately superior to others. Since the late 20th century, the concept of biological race has been recognized as a cultural innovation, entirely without scientific basis. Throughout history, African Americans faced hardship for many years. Today, racism still lies within the cracks of the United States.
2. Gun violence that strikes our communities still accumulates. As stated in my previous article " Gun Violence Within the Black Community", I've mentioned that my cousin Terrence J. Brown was a victim to the acts of gun violence. In addition, my cousin Teddy G. Evans Sr. was another victim to the acts of gun violence. A few months ago, he was gunned down within the radius of his yard. Both African Americans suffered as a result of being a statistic. As of today, many people in the black communities are targets for gun violence that occurs.
Today, these issues accumulate within the black community. Mainly, these two topics created negative alternatives for African Americans. In other words, it causes a domino theory to the use of drugs, alcoholism, Black on black crime, rape, robbery, battery, etc. Furthermore, this continues to create a negative shift for us all.
As stated in my previous article, I've mentioned that we must stop all of this and become united as a whole. When I was younger, my father used to cut newspaper article stories of African Americans being gunned down. Majority of the time, he would talk to me about more issues occurring within the community involving Africa Americans. Today, I wouldn't be here sharing this information if it wasn't for my family. Currently, I'm more aware of what goes on in the world we live in. My skin is a true blessing but it's also a curse to many others.
Like both of my parents said, "We are walking targets of society and we must be aware of our surroundings."
In conclusion, this is the main conversation that occurs within many African American households.
