Written By: Leander Wade

Statewide — Ironically, I grew up in Minneapolis during the 60’s and 70’s. A time that saw the assassination of Malcolm X, John F. Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  A time of widespread racism and much discrimination especially by the police.

Being a black man in America means that I have to be on the lookout for the police at all times, and that I sometime 2nd guess myself…Knowing that I’ve done nothing wrong!…It means that I have to have “that talk” with my son, grandsons and nephews on how to talk to the police!!

It means that I can expect to have to work twice as hard to achieve the same as my Caucasian counterparts, be it corporate positions, educational opportunities or just the same level of respect that every man should be entitled too!!

It means that we as black men must always stand together, we must uplift and support each other. We must protect, support and cheer on our black women. We must support our black business communities.

I have an uncle who is 96 yrs. and is the patriarch of our family. Each time I go to Milwaukee I and a few other nephews sit and listen to him tell us stories…we’ve done this for years, and I learn something each time!!…It is very important that we pass on our history and our experiences to our young people!!

Sometimes it hurts, but I am proud to be a Black Man in America!!