When I think of positive attributes in Black men, naturally I think of my father, Maurice Gibson. My dad has more cool than Barack Obama, ruled my sisters and I with a stern but gentle hand, worked multiple jobs to provide wants and needs and although he doesn’t have a college degree, is more street smart and book intelligent than most credentialed people I know.
They say that girls date their father (or lack thereof) and it is most certainly true in my case. My husband Andre is a brilliant thinker, has an incredible amount of mental and physical strength and loves me unconditionally. When he gets up and goes to work each day, he has three goals in mind: Pay the bills, save money, and spoil Jessica.
However, it’s not just me who appreciates the positive attributes and qualities of Black men. As the Indianapolis Recorder honors Father’s Day, we wanted to celebrate just what makes Black men so awesome, so we asked some Indy notables.
For me, it’s the combination of strength and gentleness; the confidence in their stride; and how they wear their soul on their sleeve.
Deborah Asante
For Deborah Asante, founder of Asante Children’s Theatre, it’s their love and support.
“My father Charles Embry, was a Black man whose love, protection and guidance brought me through many a storm. He was a quietly strong, tall and lanky, cinnamon brown man.
“He and my mother had five children. He worked hard to take care of us and made sure we were safe. While he and my mother were alive, I could twirl, jump, skip and stumble through my life because I had mommy’s heart to cushion me and my daddy’s hand to keep me from falling.
“In all things he had my back. He loved me and it made me strong.”
Angela Cain
Angela Cain, community affairs director for WTHR-TV (Channel 13) said for her, what makes Black men so awesome is their inner and outer beauty.
“(Black men) have been strong, yet sensitive; intelligent and proud; dependable and responsible; confident and secure; serious, when needed, but equipped with a great sense of humor; and steeped in family traditions, family love and faith. I love Black men.”
Pat Payne
Pat Payne, director of the Indianapolis Public Schools Office of Multicultural Education rests in the loving arms of Black men’s strength.
“I have been blessed to have been surrounded by strong Black men. My father, my brothers and my uncles. It was such a blessing because they were anchors to the Black women in their lives.
“The way they embrace and the strength they surround you with carries over into every facet of your life.
“It’s the feeling you get when everything is all right. I attribute a lot of that to the Black men in my life.
“And when I see a single Black father….oh my Lord,” laughed Payne.
Ontay Johnson
As a brother, Ontay Johnson, president of 100 Black Men of Indianapolis agrees that Black men are pretty wonderful.
“We have challenges that we face on a daily basis such as lack of education and employment. Our incarceration rates are out the door. There’s racial profiling. However, we still are strong, we are overcomers, we are still progressing. We’re husbands to our wives and fathers to our children. We still prevail no matter what the challenge.”
Johnson said that while Black men have done an excellent job providing for their families and educating their children, he believes more Black men are falling short in one area.
“We take our children to the ball games and to museums. But we’ve forgotten that it’s also our responsibility as the head of the household to fulfill that spiritual aspect. Not dropping the kids off, but going with them to church and spending quality time in prayer together and teaching them the principles of God.”
Payne agrees that Black men have their challenges and oftentimes it starts when they are boys.
“I find myself becoming sad when I see how society treats our Black men. They start at a very young age. Our Black boys are placed in special education classes by design. It is so they can get them prepared for the prison pipeline.
“Look at how they treat our Black president? And you still see that strength in him,” Payne said.
Despite these obstacles, both Johnson and Payne have high hopes for the young Black men of the future. To advance Black men, Johnson said it’s going to take seasoned men to not only teach their sons, but to gird up other young men in the Black community and show them what a real man looks like.
“Our ancient African ancestor’s blood is flowing through our Black men today. That’s why it’s so critical that our children learn the history of the strength of the Black man,” said Payne.
