A Black Man’s Perspective of America

Monday, June 8, 2020, marks the day I took a bold step in overcoming my fear of judgement by standing up for injustice. 

I had an open and honest discussion with over 50 people, from all backgrounds, about the social inequality and systemic racism that Blacks have faced for over 400 years.

The best part, they welcome the information with open arms looking to learn about our nation’s past in order to build a brighter future.

Below is what I shared and I invite you to listen and form a new perspective of how our past has influenced our present day.

Black Canvas – An Open and Honest Discussion (Full Video)

Black Canvas is an open and honest discussion about the human race from the perspective of a Black man in America.

This journey of self-discovery goes back over 400 years to understand how social inequality and systemic racism became an integrated part of our nation.

I take a deep look at how Blacks were forced into a disadvantaged state by those that held the privilege to set and enforce laws and behaviors that impact us today.

It’s time to learn from the past so we can influence the present to change the future.

Note: If you have time I would recommend you watch the full video.

Black Canvas – Part 1: Black Communities, Covid-19 and Police Brutality

Covd-19 has hit our country hard over the last 4 months with job loss, death, business closures, and social distancing mandates, all forcing us into a new way of life.  And coupled with the recent spotlight of police brutality, protest, and looting, our country truly is in a state of unrest. 

Over the last 2 months, I have closed myself off from most media outlets to hide from the truth.  And as part of my personal journey, I wanted to understand how Covid-19 and police brutality have impacted the Black community.

Black Canvas – Part 2: Living with Racism from Youth to Adulthood

With the on-going social unrest and continued oppression of Blacks in American, feelings I had suppressed since childhood have started to reemerge leaving me feeling angry, afraid, frustrated, and sad.

In this video, I open up and share my personal story of how I face living with racism my entire life.

Black Canvas – Part 3: The Ignorant Truth

It’s time to learn from the past,  so we can influence the present to change the future.

I was lacking knowledge and general awareness of the past and how that played a critical role in shaping the Black reality in America today.

In this video, I touch on how being at a disadvantage and having privilege contributed to defining how the Black-White relations work in the U.S.A today.

Black Canvas – Part 4: The Human Race Has Been Conditioned

Conditioning is about conforming to the ‘norms’ that have been created by the society around us.  Even if those norms are outdated, false, misleading, or do not align with the present world – we conform to them, nevertheless.  This is because we grew up believing in them and seeing them adapted by everyone around us.

In this video, see how social and cultural conditioning played a role in shaping how we see Blacks in America today.

Black Canvas – Part 5: 400 Years of Slavery in Under 2 Minutes

For over 400 years, Blacks have been oppressed by social inequality and systemic racism. Forced into a disadvantaged state by those that held the privilege to set and enforce the laws. 

This cycle happened over a 349-year period, creating social and cultural norms that are still in existence today.