The Importance Of Being A Black Man

Submitted By ebwhite2014
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Pages: 3
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“Being a black man in America can mean inhabiting a border area between possibility and peril, to feel connected to, defined by, even responsible for each of those boys---and for other black men” (Fletcher, 3).
According to Rahsaan Ferguson’s father, “You are a black boy. That’s two things you will always have against you” (as quoted in Fletcher, 10).
According to Rahsaan Ferguson, “It kind of brings you down. I know it’s supposed to make you strive harder. But when you hear that over and over, it makes you believe you are not supposed to succeed” (as quoted in Fletcher, 10).
According to Rahsaan Ferguson, “I can’t help but think about the white kids I know. They were raised to think they are going to succeed and be better than everyone” (as quoted in Fletcher, 10).
According to former chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell, “It doesn’t bother me if people say I made it with affirmative action. All that matters is what you do afterwards. When I heard complaints, I’d say: ‘It doesn’t matter if it was affirmative action or not. I got it; you didn’t’” (as quoted in Fletcher, 13).
Michael A. Fletcher’s “At the Corner of Progress and Peril” heavily quotes Rahsaan Ferguson, a 27 year-old African-American male, by using his life story to help further Fletcher’s point that African-American males do not have an equal opportunity in America. One quote that personally had a major significance on me came from Ferguson himself when he said, “It kind of brings you down. I know it’s supposed to make you strive harder. But when you hear that over and over, it makes you believe you are not supposed to succeed” (as quoted in Fletcher, 10). This refers back to Ferguson’s father’s mantra, which reads, “You are a black boy. That’s two things you will always have against you” (as quoted in Fletcher, 10). This raises the question of whether or not success is guaranteed for African-American males. I have had a similar experience with my mother when having to make a decision between Seton Hall University and Morehouse College earlier this year. My mother wanted me to be a
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