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Growing Up Black and Gay in the South
Despite the picture of what society now paints of LGTQIA+ community on national platforms there are still those in rural south regions of America that are living the reality of the discrimination of being black and gay. Being black, gay and in the south comes with much mistreatment expressed through racism and misconceptions in the workforce, by police officers, even in health care; to name a few. 2020 survey highlights the discrimination of black gay in workplace, police interactions, and mental and physical health. This survey gives attention to real life inequalities in the black gay community. In addition to this survey, there are real-life disparities with education not because of learning disabilities but the struggles with everyday affairs of being black and gay. According to Movement Advancement Project (MAP) black young LGTQI are most at risk of dropping out the educational system; because of” unsafe and under-resourced schools, and a lack of support for LGBT students.” Consequently, black young gays suffer in silence of the agony of feeling ashamed by their families, friends, and local communities of their sexual orientation; which affects some chances of finishing school. This truth raises significant issues such as mental health trauma that affect their wellbeing. The Trevor Project states that “44% of Black LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months.” With this understanding as such it is time to give the black, gays an avenue to express themselves and find safety and self-worth. Rongarrius Davis, a black, gay, male gives some of his experiences growing up gay in the south. Davis was raised in a rural city of Cleveland, Mississippi. Davis did state that “things happen” to him as a child, that he feel like cause him to choose to live a gay lifestyle. “When I was growing up in second and third grade I was teased and called gay by my peers, because my friends was girls or I didn’t play sports” states Davis. Davis talks about fighting and being jumped leaving school headed home on many occasions because of his sexual orientation. Davis opens up and tell his mother of his sexual orientation when he was in 11th grade. “Telling my mother and she accepting me was “big” relief, because it allowed me to be me more,” says Davis. Davis feels better now that his mother has accepted him, he has no worries about others' opinions or comments. In fact, Davis is comfortable in his black and gay skin and is pursuing his own goals and aspirations. Davis now is in school completing his education in cosmetology in Jackson, Mississippi and later plans to travel the world “making people beautiful.” The struggle of being black, gay, and in the south is reality and there are many in the black LGBTQIA+ communities that need the support and safety during discrimination acts.
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The absence of the black father is an ongoing crisis in the black community.
According to Fathers.com, “children from fatherless homes are more likely to be poor, become involved in drug and alcohol abuse, drop out of school, and suffer from health and emotional problems.” Kimberly Mitchel gives her own firsthand experiences of growing up fatherless. “I had many unanswered questions about why my father was not present,” say Kimberly Mitchell Kimberly Mitchell learned to accept that her father was not going to be around and leaned on her grandfather as her father figure. Today Kimberly Mitchell is grown and have not fallen prey to the statistics of society for black girls that are fatherless such as “girls are more likely to become pregnant as teens.” Willie Morris, a black minister, became the fatherless at 11 years old due to his father passing away from kidney failure. Morris was traumatized emotionally and mentally after his father passed. “I was angry and acted up in school, because I did not know how to cope with losing my dad.” Morris encourages those of the black community that suffers from the absence of their father, alive or deceased, to make a conscience decision to be successful and do what is necessary to be the best version of yourself.
Gun violence in the black community is a reality in Northeast Arkansas. Many black lives are being lost to gun violence at its highest due to suicides and homicides.
According to Pew Research Center, “About eight-in-ten Black adults (82%) say gun violence is a very big problem – by far the largest share of any racial or ethnic group.” Mr. Alfred Smith, a retired law enforcement officer of 35 years, talks about his experiences working in law enforcement. “In the black community a weapon has been weaponized on black people in general because they have no training on how to use a gun,” states Alfred Smith. Smith encourages anyone who is carrying a firearm to get the proper education and training, so that they will know how to effectively carry a firearm. Kimberly Jones lost her brother to gun violence in 2020. She opens and tell of how gun violence has affected her family. “It is still so unreal,” say Jones. Jones tell the story of the night she received the message that her brother was framed and killed. She now teaches her children about gun violence prevention and hope the black community use guns as self-defense oppose to reenactment of what is portrayed in media. |
AuthorHello my name Seth Mitchell. I am a vibrant and energetic personality. I'm a native of Arkansas and now reside in Missouri. I am a Life and Culture journalist covering stories that are meaningful and entertaining to the people of color (Black and Brown communities) and minorities in Northeast Arkansas. Archives
February 2022
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Photos used under Creative Commons from Kheel Center, Cornell University Library, Pest15