Black Men Do Cry

By Danny E. Blanchard

From the terrible slave identity to the growing racism, marginalization and criticism in the educational, social, health, family and criminal justice systems, African American males have many reasons to shed their tears.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 5, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469165691

Danny E. Blanchard

Dr. Danny E. Blanchard a graduate of Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama. He holds advance degrees from Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California, as well as Peabody College and Vanderbilt University, both in Nashville, Tennessee. He has done additional graduate studies at the University of California-Riverside Campus. He has served as a university and college professor at five different institutions of higher learning, in the fields of psychology and behavioral science: Oakwood University, Adjunct Professor at the following: Athens State University, Florida Institute of Technology, Alabama A&M University and the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). He has served a five year term on the Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology as appointed by Former Governor Don Siegleman. He has also served a three year term as vice president of the Alabama Department of Mental Health Board of Trustees. Dr. Blanchard is a much sought after speaker in the areas of Mental Health, Healthcare, National and State Politics, as well as issues related to substance abuse and criminal behavior. He is board certified by the State of Alabama in Marriage and Family Therapy, Mental Health Counseling, and is a member of several state and national associations in his area of clinical practice. Dr. Blanchard is currently in private practice in Huntsville, Alabama and has been for the last 20 years.

Book preview

Copyright © 2012 by Danny E. Blanchard Ph.D.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2012902513

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-4691-6568-4

                   Softcover                                 978-1-4691-6567-7

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4691-6569-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

102577

CONTENTS

Introduction

Social Conflicts

Black Men and Social Inequality

Marginalization and exclusion of blacks in the United States

Racism

African Americans and the Criminal Justice System

Use of the Criminal Justice System to Maintain Political and Economic Control

Education

Drop Out Problem of African Americans

African American Literature

Busing and Education

Health

AIDS-HIV among African Americans

Depression in Young Black Men

Prostate and Colorectal Cancer in Black Males

The Racial Underpinnings of American Psychiatry

Crime

Criminal Discrimination Against African-Americans

Conspiracy Theories and Black Men

The Government as Enemy

Allegations for Rape

The Popularity and Ramifications of Conspiracy Theory

African Americans and Gun Violence

The Black Family

Miseries of Black Family Life

Family Life for Slaves

Contemporary Economic Issues for African American Families

African American Males in the Workplace

Summary—Black Men Do Cry (Let’s End)

References

DEDICATION

To my mom, the late Mrs. Louise T. Blanchard who simply loved, cared and devoted her life to her five children—Shirley, Rick, Jackie, Shelia, and me.

My Daughters:

           Lashanice Blanchard-My Pride

           Lasharene Martin- My Joy

My Grandsons:

           Javon Martin-My Main-Man

           Deon Martin-My Other Main-Man

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Black Men Do Cry

This book is an expression of my thoughts, views, concepts, and ideas as shaped by my family, students, professional colleagues, and my own personal research.

A special thanks to my Cover Designer—Darly Shon Sr., whose graphic arts and art talent speaks for itself.

Many thanks to my editorial staff; Derick Bowe Jr., who reviewed my work with a keen eye and made sure that all was appropriate and detailed with the written style and wording. Carol Ward Tomkins, Valerie C. Branham and Demaria Lafort’e, who assisted with the typing, sentence structure, and reading of the final manuscript.

I am blessed to have had many outstanding graduate and undergraduate students who gave me their impressions, thoughts, and views concerning my book.

Finally, to all Black Males in America and around the world who feel that they cannot stop crying because of their personal, social, or economic conditions. I dedicate these words to you; no matter how difficult, challenging, frustrating or confusing life may be. You have all of the strength necessary, given to you by God to meet life’s challenges head on. Just use it.

Sincerely,

Danny E. Blanchard, Ph.D

Black Men Do Cry

From the terrible slave identity to the growing racism, marginalization and criticism in the educational, social, health, family and criminal justice systems, African American males have many reasons to shed their tears.

A historical and modern review of African-American males in America. Their history, struggles, accomplishments, needs and desires.

Danny E. Blanchard, Ph.D

INTRODUCTION

I think that the title of this book speaks for itself. There has been an extreme amount of pain in the black community, especially with African American males. As a boy, I can recall frequent occurrences of pain. I saw many single mothers and I think that the sense of matriarchy stuck in my mind. I’ve witnessed a lot of black men crying and weeping as a result of unemployment and family instability. During my elementary school years, I observed many men do things they shouldn’t have.

Growing up in Marin City, a suburb of San Francisco, was quite an experience. From 1949 to 1957, I grew up in an old wooden house given to my father, Shirley O. Blanchard, while he served at Hamilton Air Force Base in Novato, California. I had a lot of fun growing up in Marin City, and made several good friends as I attended school with my cousins and other family members. Visiting several interesting places in San Francisco, San Raphael, Sausalito, Oakland, and Richmond provided me with added enjoyment, though I did not appreciate these places until I moved to Southern California. I have always had this interest in California because of the beauty and areas of entertainment within the state.

As a boy, I grew up around primarily African Americans; there were not many Caucasians or other people of color in Marin City during my youth. Marin City was a tiny, close-knit community. I attended school from kindergarten to third grade when my family and I lived there. I do recall the times when we would go out to this place called The Big Orchard. It was there that I had a horrible experience with a beehive. I remember when my brother Rick, several of our friends, and I went over there to pick apples. There were many apple and pear orchards just loaded with fruit. When we ran into this great big beehive, I started playing with it. For some strange reason, these bees began circling me. I will never forget their circling and stinging me many times over. Bless my mother’s heart, she was so upset! After my traumatic encounter, she took me to the hospital and they took care of me. I recall having nightmares about that day; and playing with a beehive is something I will never do again!

One of the people in my life that I found to be very intriguing was my Uncle John. He was possibly the best uncle a boy could want. Because my father was gone most of the time, Uncle John was always there to look out for my family. I remember when we used to go to this place called ‘The Big Store and the Little Store’. I would get a haircut there; and I could buy little soft drinks and candy, this was when Coke was five cents and candy bars were two or three cents. I can even remember when gas was only ten cents a gallon. One of the highlights of my time with Uncle John was when he took me to see a San Francisco Giants game, where I was able to see the great Willie Mays play. I think it was Mays’ last year of playing and Uncle John wanted to go so badly, so he took us to Candlestick Park to see the Giants play. I will never forget seeing Willie Mays play baseball. My uncle was so excited to see Willie Mays hit a home run. While at the game, I also remember seeing some intoxicated sailors who were really rooting and pushing for Mays. That was one of the highlights of my life; seeing Willie Mays play baseball, when I was a boy.

I do not recall many things that went on during those years in Marin City. My family and I had many close friends, and the people there were nice and kind toward us. My mother, especially, had many close friends. Marin City was the kind of place where everyone knew everyone else and looked out for each other. That closeness was something, and it made me really proud. My mother was very supportive and always looked out for her children. My friends and I did not go to parties because we were too young so our entertainment centered on black and white TV and old Amos ’n’ Andy shows.

Unfortunately, I do not know where my friends from Marin City are today where they have been, or what they have been doing. I would love to see them again, so hopefully, as this book gets distributed, I’ll be able to get in touch with them and resume communicating with my old friends.

One summer, my parents drove me to New Orleans to visit my grandparents. We stopped in a little Texas town for gasoline. I remember walking toward two restrooms. One said Whites Only, and the other said Colored. Being a young child, I walked into the Whites Only restroom. It was not very clean, so I went into the Colored restroom, discovering it to be fresh and clean. When I told my mother what I had done, she seemed puzzled. Then, she smiled and started laughing, and all of us started laughing as well. What made my experience so strange was that it seemed so silly to have restrooms racially categorized for people who only wanted to use a restroom. It still seemed absurd to me, even after I began to understand what it all meant.

The economy in Marin City was quite fascinating. Most of the people who lived and worked there were in the military. There were very few other jobs in that town, which is about a thirty-minute drive to San Francisco. I learned that the city of Sausalito was one of the wealthiest in the country, though one wouldn’t have known it