Thread by @CandiceBenbow

Had his wife or one of his daughters recorded and released that conversation, there would be a plethora of statuses and positions about the extreme lengths Black girls and women must take to be believed about abuse and mistreatment.

Had his wife or one of his daughters recorded and released that conversation, they would be celebrated for their bravery and courage.

Had his wife or one of his daughters recorded and released that conversation, many would have taken a different position than the one they have taken.

But because he is a Black man...

We consistently talk about making space to be honest about Black men’s trauma, what many have experienced as children and young men and how it has shaped them, without proper spaces of care, going forward.

And yet, a young Black man has spoken out time and time again about how he has been treated. In the past year, two other young Black men have also taken to social media to name harmful experiences with the same person. Young Black men have been talking but who has been listening?

Where do Black men, who are honestly trying to work through childhood trauma, go for sanctuary?

Where do the brothers, who were earnestly triggered by that clip but can’t say it publicly because their fathers are revered, find refuge?

Who is going to have an honest conversation with the man who wants to be a better father than the one he had growing up in his house?

They can’t go to some of you because your responses and justifications have made that clear. So where do they go?

We say we want healthy Black men. We say we want them well. But, when it’s time to make good on what we say we want, they become grown ass men who can figure it out themselves.

Everybody talking bout Heaven ain’t going there.