2019 IS important to black men because the opportunities are boundless and amazing.

If you can conceive it, you can achieve it. The only barriers holding black men back are preparation, knowledge and education.

The challenge for black men is black manhood.

There are many different definitions of manhood, but to be black and a man is a unique and special position in the United States and the world.

Black men come in different sizes and shapes, with individual skillsets, mindsets, ideas, thoughts, visions, and beliefs. Our diversity is our gift to the globe — and we will be first, not last.
The power and fear of the black man will no longer be curtailed or controlled by racism.

BIAS
Racial bias is being fought in the courts, businesses, sports and entertainment in America and around the world.

When black men start loving each other and working together, communities will change and they will take leadership roles in families, America and the world.

There are role models in the communities and the black media has a responsibility to tell positive and powerful stories of men and women who are making a positive difference every day.
The emphasis for us is to bring attention on the necessity for mentors, to help black boys narrow the achievement gap.

The fundamental problem for boys, especially those raised in America, is that 70 per cent of black families are run by a single parent: a woman.

African Americans make up about 35 per cent of all children raised in the bottom 1 per cent of the income level and distribution.

From the very beginning of life, black males start with a financial disadvantage and one out of every three ends up in prison.

The system is set up for them to fail, and it is extremely difficult to climb from the bottom to the top.

We can no longer wait for the system and the schools to educate our boys.

The only way they will learn to be men is to be taught by black men.

The way this is achieved is through months and years of studying the rites of passage.

LEADERSHIP
The ultimate goal of the rites of passage is to develop greater leadership roles for the youth.

By teaching black boys critical thinking and to understand themselves and the world around them, they will determine what it means to be a man and a leader.

Through an intensive process of self-reflection, community and global analysis and understanding of their individual beliefs and goals, black boys will become men.

As older young brothers have completed the rites of passage, they will help recruit younger boys and instead of them killing each other they will start working to improve their community and spread love.

This article appears courtesy of Black Press USA.