CEDTalks

"Racism is taught in our society, it is not automatic. It is learned behavior toward persons with dissimilar physical characteristics." -Alex Haley "It's hard out here for a pimp." Stories like Fruitvale Station (starring Michael B. Jordan, above) offer chilling descriptions of some of the elements Black still face today. While there are more sophisticated ways to describe the daily challenges of life in America as an African-American in 2013, the phrase synonymous with the critically acclaimed film   Hustle & Flow   sums up Black life in a honest and relatable manner. In fairness to our predecessors, society has made great strides in civil rights and the financial and career ceilings for Blacks are considerably higher than in previous eras. Despite this, the quandary of creating and maintaining a high quality of living looms large for Blacks individually and collectively. Social issues wage war on the African American family; the  Black u...

(Continued from Part 1) While there are indeed brothers who...just like it bright, many Black men are truly enamored with God greatest creation, the black woman. So why is there such a disconnect between us and our counterparts? At times, both sides play into the stereotypes. For men, we generalize Black women into two categories, the "independent woman" and the "groupie" aka "Future VH1 Reality Star". In regards to the independent woman, fellas, we've been spoiled. Not necessarily you, the actual reader, but us as a faction! In previous generations, many women of color played a secondary role to their mate, appearing passive, submissive, and any other "ives" you can think of. In this time of the "Independent Woman", you would be hard pressed to find a Black female in this era who is willing to downplay her talents, abilities, and her feelings. This is not a trait so common in other races. The minority female has overcome many str...