In light of the numerous viral articles of the last decade or so that have circulated "Black" media outlets regarding the "critiques" of "Black" men by "Black" female advocates, there has been an ever growing amount of pushback from "Black" men on social media regarding the traditional narratives of the gender relations between "Black" men and women. Examples of these include articles such as:
Because "Harasser" is Just Not Enough: Why I Consider Calling "Black" Men Terrorists
Why I Believe 99% Of "Black" Men Are Misogynists
Straight "Black" Men are the White People of "Black" People
Dear "Black" Men, You are not Pro-"Black" if You are Not Pro-"Black" Women
And most recently, an article by Aaron Fountain Jr. accusing what is known as the "Black" Manosphere for doing what he says, "parrot conservative talking points and bunk social science to demonize Black women".
With the rise of YouTube channels such as Chrissie, For Harriet, Christelyn Karazin I Am Eloho, The Grapevine, and Rashida Strober, as well as Cynthia G and MadamNoire (highlighted by the Listen to "Black" Women playlist), as well as the massive popularity of public figures that have made their fame off of media that has "Black" women as their target audience (such as Derrick Jaxn, Steve Harvey, Alice Walker, and Tyler Perry), the overall narrative from those that make "Black" women the central focus of "Black" socio-political and socio-economic discussion, policy, and culture is pretty clear: "Black" men overall are morally inept and/or inherently incompetent; therefore, it is up to "Black" women (and their advocates) to take charge and lead the "Black" community.
But here's my question: where is the evidence to show that "Black" Gynocentrism as an ideology and cultural practice leads to a successful and thriving "Black" community? Where's the evidence that blind allegiance to "Black" women as community/home leaders (especially of the feminist variety) actually leads to desirable results for "Black" Americans?
Because despite the BILLIONS (if not TRILLIONS) of dollars poured into feminist public policy programs and media/entertainment/culture geared towards "Black" women, empirical and historical evidence (as well as social observations from "Black" women themselves) shows that "Black" Gynocentrism tends to have the exact opposite effect on the "Black" community in general.
For example, Daniel Johnson claims in his article that,
"There’s no way you can announce to the world that you are Pro-Black, yet blatantly cling to misogyny, uphold rape culture and mimic a White patriarchal system, which seeks to keep Black women underneath your boots."Aaron Fountain Jr. claimed in his article that,
"Other pseudo-historical narratives espoused by the Black Manosphere portray Black women as adversaries, accusing them of thwarting slave rebellions, causing the downfall of the Black Panther Party, and even fomenting both World War I and II. Amateur interpretation of academic scholarship occurs as well. University of Wisconsin women’s studies professor Pernille Ipsen’s book Daughters of the Trade gained a cult-like following within the Black Manosphere because her research covered five generations of interracial marriages along the Gold Coast of Africa; members cite the book to argue that Black women willingly conspired and had sex with White men during the slave trade to the detriment of Black men. (Reached via email, Ipsen called the argument “ridiculous.”)"
Veronica Wells claimed in her MadamNoire article that,
"Because for years, decades even, Black women have been trying to tell the entire Black community that one of our biggest threats in the world is the very Black men we’ve birthed. In the same way that White men use their power and their gender to oppress virtually every one else, is the same way Black men oppress the only group they can, Black women."
As you can see, they consistently claim that "Black" men overall are disproportionately harmful to "Black" women and the community overall. However, when one begins to put their claims under serious scrutiny, one finds their claims to be flimsy at best and slanderous at worst.
Here's some questions that many of the "Black" women advocates almost NEVER answer or address.
-Why is it that "Black" women in America have the highest rates of STDs among women in the country, despite the fact that "Black" men use condoms more than anyone else?
-Why is it that despite the fact that "Black" women are attending college more than ever before (and significantly more than "Black" men), they have the most outstanding student loan debt on average in the U.S. and still don't even make more than their less educated male counterparts? (Lack of STEM majors, perhaps?)
-Why is it that "Black" women have the highest rate of obesity as adults despite the fact that about 75% of them are NOT obese as children and teens?
-Why was there a huge spike in the rate of "Black" single moms at the same time that there was a rise in feminist public policy on the books?
-Why do we insist on claiming that being a "Black" single mom is "noble" even though empricial evidence has shown over and over again that it is the WORST possible environment (next to living with an abusive dad) to raise children in?
-If it is indeed true that the majority of "Black" men in America overall are "terrorists" and "sexist and misogynistic" , how do you explain the utter lack of culturally acceptable and systemically oppressive practices by "Black" men against "Black" women such as acid attacks, foot binding, forced abortions, female genital mutilation, bridal kidnappings, popular movements against women's contraception/ voting/working/driving, etc.
-If the narrative that the overwhelming majority of "Black" women that engaged in sexual intercourse with "White" men in antebellum times (and hell, even after the antebellum era) were victims of rape, why do many quotes of academic sources at the time say the EXACT OPPOSITE?
- Numerous excerpts from the late J.A. Rogers' book "Sex & Race: Vol. 2"
- This Senior Thesis on Placage by Noël Voltz
- The Life of John Kizell by Kevin G. Lowther
Just to name a few. Also, explain why the very court case that struck down the ban on interracial marriage (Loving vs. Virginia) involved a "White" man and a "Black" (read: Rappahonnock Indian) woman. Explain why the TV show Scandal was loosely based off of the relationship between Thomas Jefferson (yes, THAT Thomas Jefferson) and his mistress Sally Hemmings (Kerry Washington's character Olivia Pope even has a eerie resemblance to the late Sally Hemmings)
One can go on and on asking questions like these, but the bottom line is this; despite what most of us have been taught, gynocentric theory is dysfunctional in nature and your rank and file "Black" woman is America is NOT a victim (excluding legitimate rape/abuse victims), for the simple reason that they have something called self-agency. Good/bad habits, attitudes, and decisions have a far greater impact on the lives of "Black" women than racism or especially "Black" men as a collective.
After all, it's her body and her choice, right?
:)
