Spotlight:
How to be a Black Man Ally
From the Black Male Perspective
As we know, Black women often feel forgotten and unsupported by their Black men. Therefore, this segment is for men and boys. Here you can find sources that will help Black men learn how they can be more mindful, respectful, and supportive of Black women. Here you can find books, articles, and podcasts that you may find useful.
Listen up.
It all begins with being open to hearing out what the other half has to say. Listen to the “Loving Our Women” Playlist created by the Just-Us Allies Team, to give perspective on how to closer connect with Black Women and girls.
Readings.
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The Conversation
By Hill Harper
In this book, author Hill Harper investigates the communication (or lack thereof) between Black men and women. We notice in recent years, Black couples often struggle to build long-term, trusting relationships with one another. “Today, less than a third of Black children are being raised in two-parent households, a sharp decline from past generations.” Harper embarks on a journey to uncover the roots of our communication issues and how we can progress with one another. He interviews single, married, and divorced individuals in his investigation.
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The Bluest Eye
By Toni Morrison
In “The Bluest Eye”, written by Toni Morrison, racism and femininity are two of the strongest themes that are represented in the novel. This realistic fiction novel follows the story of several young Black girls as they experience pain and turmoil through family, racism and struggling to recognize beauty. In this story the reader gains realistic insight on themes such as the relationship between womanhood and racism and between home and family.
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Their Eyes Were Watching God
By Zora Neale Hurston
“Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston is classic Black feminine literature. This novel follows the life of the character Janie Crawford, a Black woman in rural Florida in the early 20th Century. Crawford battled coming from a plantation, having to experience an arranged teenage marriage, and struggles to find true love. This story allows the reader to be enlightened by the perseverance and empowered with hope from a Black woman’s story.
Podcasts.
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Code Switch - NPR
“What's CODE SWITCH? It's the fearless conversations about race that you've been waiting for. Hosted by journalists of color, our podcast tackles the subject of race with empathy and humor. We explore how race affects every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, food and everything in between. This podcast makes all of us part of the conversation — because we're all part of the story. Code Switch was named Apple Podcasts' first-ever Show of the Year in 2020.” - NPR
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Therapy for Black Girls Podcast
“Dr. Joy Harden Bradford is a licensed psychologist, speaker, and the host of the wildly popular mental health podcast, Therapy for Black Girls. Her work focuses on making mental health topics more relevant and accessible for Black women and she delights in using pop culture to illustrate psychological concepts.” - Therapy For Black Girls
Top 7 Reasons Why Single Black Men Don’t Approach Black Women
BY TANA GILMORE
In this article, you can find information on romantic relationships between Black men and women. The authors dive into why so many Black men tend to shy away from women of their own kind. In this, you may find that some of the ways you view Black women can be problematic and offensive. We can help our women feel less insecure and more loved romantically.
Where are Black Men in the Fight for Black Women
BY COURTLAND MILLOY
In this short article from the Washington Post, Milloy explores the imbalance of spokesmanship between Black men and Black women. He highlights all the places we go wrong in speaking (or not speaking) up for our women. The author roots his discussion in political settings.
His Sister’s Keeper: How Black Men Can Be More Supportive Of Black Women
BY DEJA JONES
This article directly lists several different ways we can better support Black women. This piece sheds light on platonic relationships specifically. By learning to be better friends and brothers, we can increase how much our women and girls trust us and feel unified with us.
Why Do Black Men Keep Failing Black Women?
BY MICHAEL ARCENEAUX
This article explores Black women’s emotions towards Black men. This piece from LEVEL journalism discusses how we apply accountability amongst one another in the community of Black men. If we can learn when and how to hold each other more accountable (especially as it pertains to our women), then we can help our women put more trust in us and feel more confident in how much we can support them.
BE AN ALLY TO BLACK GIRLS.
Auzzy Byrdsell
Content Creator: Ally Team
My name is Austin, but all my friends call me Auzzy. I'm currently a sophomore at Morehouse College as a Kinesiology major. I'm a sneaker collector, and I love sports. I joined the Just-Us Initiative so I can help other Black men learn how they can be supportive and respectful to Black women.