In November 2020, Port Of Harlem will celebrate 25 years of publication. As we count down to our birthday, we will republish some of our most popular articles from our print issues. Thanks for subscribing and inviting others to join you in supporting our inclusive, diverse, pan-African publication - - now completely online. We originally published this article in the May-July 2007 print issue

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If we are to succeed, among the many beliefs that the African-American community must challenge is its belief in male supremacy. Male supremacy is the belief that men are superior to women and ordained by God to head the family, the church, and the planet. The belief in male supremacy and the adoption of a Eurocentric definition of manhood and masculinity limits our community's ability to overcome the obstacles we face in a racist society.

I believe that too often Black men aspire to have the wealth and power of White men; since America denies such an acquisition, the control of women becomes a significant definition of Black masculinity. Many Black women also believe in male supremacy and feel that a "real man" is a man who takes charge. They would like a man to be the head of their household and provide for them and their children. The problem is that there are not enough Black men with either the ability or the desire to be the perfect man that many women dream.

 

In reality, Black women are the backbone of the Black community and instrumental, if not the determining factor, in the success of our families, churches, and educational systems. Single women head most Black families. There are about 1,434,000 Black women in college compared to approximately 864,000 Black men. Yet, we do not teach Black girls to lead, to take the initiative, to be independent, and self-sustaining.

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But why, I would ask myself, did not the men think strategically and stay at home to raise the children, clean the house, and help their women who were employed?

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We devalue Black girls. Surveys find that even Black girls devalue themselves and feel their worth is measured by their ability to catch a "real" man. You hear more people complaining that rap videos influence Black boys to be gangsters than you hear complaints that rap videos influence Black girls to be sex kittens. We are constantly trying to save Black boys as a strategy for community success and I suggest that is because of our belief in male supremacy.

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