FASFA

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Today, as I write this; it is the 4th day of August of the year 2015. The weather is hot and it is tax-free weekend, therefore it can only mean one thing: School is back. Rather, high-school or college; each year people has to travel the old and respected journey of achieving their educational goals. Many will fall because of peer pressure, financial situations, and unfortunate obstacles hidden close by. Especially, as a African-American Male; we in particular face daily obstacles. From financial, discriminative, to even unplanned as well as unseen "obstacles."


From neighborhoods, old "beefs, to even the constant mindset of knowing; family has been left behind. The pressures and burdens of the journey to education and manhood is one that only the strong can survive. With a sad heart, I wish things were not like this. I wish I and many of My Brown Brothers were not getting attacked from the many sides of life. Heck, all the sides of life. Outside (the oppressor), around (our environment), or inside (mind & spirit). Before, I go further; let me break the three down.


Outside, from which I mean many Brothers face the chance of being a hashtag on Twitter. The outside, meaning those who work daily to distract you from success in life. The outside, meaning those who make your "home" so poor and oppressive; that many Brothers began to develop a mindset of feeling trapped or being trapped. The outside even makes sure that the one place that should be nourished (our schools) are depressing. Having computers from 1970's and TV with VCR's. You may say what? Believe me, this is true. I have family who are teachers; and some of upgrades that the students receive came out of their own pockets. The outside has stolen even the basic necessities of life that are needed for any young mind to succeed.


Around you? Yes, many Brothers have to constantly navigate the pressures of their environments to survive. No matter, how book smart you are; as a Young Black Male you still have to be street smart. In any neighborhood, there is a written and unwritten code; especially in Our neighborhoods. You must follow these rules without cease and you must follow these rules with skills that are only learned outside the classroom. Further, someone with the very medical condition can be blinded to the circumstances at hand in our neighborhoods. Poverty (destruction, chaos, and being profiling) as well as the very sad sight of seeing your Mother burden, stressed, and physically behind sore after working straight 10 plus hours shifts (for pennies on a dollar) are just some of the weights of being a Young Brother.


After seeing some of the things that We have seen, fast money becomes not a appeal; but a temptation that few can escape. Add in the mix of those who already dislike you for being a "nerd" or want to build up their "rep'' and then you have a at some time "unescapable trap."
Last, the difficult journey of being a African-American Male is internal. From feeling inadequate, the feeling of stress knowing you are leaving your younger Brothers/Sisters behind, the pressure of the outside trying to control your decisions, to even Brothers in college who attend predominantly white colleges (which is basically every Major College/University in the United States: This meaning discrimination, the pressures of having to "act a certain way", to not fully being comfortable in one's own environment).


As you can see, the pressures of just trying to receive a education is hard to say the least. I mean what do you do when financial aid isn't enough, you constantly get beat-up for getting good grading or being a "teacher's pet", or as you are walking home with a hoodie on your head and you are accused of a robbery with the potential penalty being shot in the street like a "mad dog." I mean you may think that these are a lot of awful circumstances. However, the sad part is I haven't even named them all. I haven't even began to think about all the situations My Brothers have to endure.


In closing, for many Young Brothers the journey to education is not fun and games. It is not the walks in the hallways and class trips that you may have enjoyed in your childhood/young adulthood. To be honest, the struggles and pressures of being a Young African-American Male is real. Now, not all things are awful. The relief of getting a good grade, being a good example, graduating, and the potential of changing your family's situation are all things that make the education journey worth it. However, as you have seen; school-work is the absolute least of our problems when it comes to getting a diploma/degree.