By Imani Perry | Originally Published at The New York Times. MARCH 12, 2014
The My Brother’s Keeper initiative is a response to a terrible social reality. Black boys and men are suffering mightily in this nation. The cause is important. However, this endeavor raises serious concerns.
The first is how the president and others have framed the need for the initiative. Their narrative is filled with equivocation about the reason for the tragic outcomes in black boys’ lives. The president states: “No matter how much the community chips in, it’s ultimately going to be up to these young men and all the young men who are out there to step up and seize responsibility for their own lives.” He speaks of “bad choices” and believes “nothing keeps a young man out of trouble like a father who takes an active role in his son’s life.” In this way, black boys and their families are being held primarily responsible for the bigotry they encounter. Their vulnerability is overshadowed.
There is far less emphasis in the initiative on the responsibility of Americans to disavow racial bigotry. However, a comprehensive look at researchabout racial disparities reveals that the problem isn’t black men’s shortcomings, but rather persistent and pervasive racial bias in areas like policing, incarceration, education, employment, housing and health care.
The problem isn’t black men’s shortcomings, but rather persistent racial bias.
The solution certainly isn’t public-private partnerships.
Black males are punished more for less wrongdoing and are stereotyped as lazy, irresponsible and