Monday, August 18, 2008

Why Emil Wilbekin won't be on the "Do Right Man" List


In recent years I have grown weary of the diluted content in most magazines, especially those that specifically target the African American population. This weekend I happened to pick up a copy of Essence while waiting for my homegirl to get ready for dinner out in the city. It was the "Do Right Men" issue. It profiled black men that are on point in all aspects of their lives. They have it together professionally, they give back to their communities and they are all single (there is a section for married men) and attractive. Why not call it "Straight, Single, Sexy Black Men?" I did mention that all the men were straight, right? I thought for a second that I was maybe being a taste too sensitive, yet upon further evaluation I thought nay. This is Essence that we are talking about here - the magazine that went on a witch hunt, deeming that sisters should be leery because their men could be on the down low. The message that is promoted here is that you can not be a good brother if you fall into certain categories - gay and or unattractive men need not apply - at least that's the underlying implication in my mind. I know the old saying “that all the good ones are gay," which is not true, but when the focus is placed on orientation it almost negates his "goodness." It forces me to call a number of things into question. As black women sound the battle cry that there are no good men - I scream back “Yes, there are, they just may not look like the ones featured in Essence." And really what black women are saying when they say "that all the good ones are gay" is he looks good on paper and that's what I want. The interest isn't on the MTA worker that may in fact be a really good brother. Articles like this are a disservice to black women. It cause them to become entrenched in this Hollywood constructed idea of what you should aspire to have. It also proves to be a disservice to black men, as this "salute" creates a chasm - that "good" is only equated by certain qualities. I guess we shouldn't hold our breath in anticipation for a list that would include Emil Wilbekin or Keith Boykin.

4 comments:

Corey Keith said...

So f-ing true... We really do need a magazine of quality and worth that relates to the black SGL community... We had Clik, but now its defunct...

@GaryTylone said...

mmhhmm...so its ok to admire the married men, who are unavailable " taken" but not the gays, who are very well the same unvailable. And i'm sure lesbians read Essence, they dont get a small section to lust after???? You always startin somethin!!! Its that school you went to.

. said...

emil wilbekin is someone that i have looked up to for the past few years. it is really disappointing that we as a community still choose to just skate around issues instead of being proactive and progressive in our thinking. *smh* just a damn shame.

ayo man. can you do me a favor and e-mail me at j.a.washington87@gmail.com.

i want to bounce something off of you and your opinion and insight is one i thought to acquire.

Xem VanAdams said...

Go Off about it! I can ONLY HOPE that the Black Community, Somehow, BEGINS to embrace the Notion that 'GOOD BLACK MAN' does NOT Mean, Black Man Making 6 Figures, Wripped Body, 3 Degrees, and a House Built from the ground.

'GOOD MAN' should also INCLUDE Gay Men; for Contrary to Popular Belief, there are quite a few of us trailing the Stratosphere.