A letter sent to me:
"Good morning Dr. Johnson,
I hope all is well with you and your family. I felt beyond compelled to share this experience with you today. On October 23, 2023, I attended an event in San Jose (CA) that featured Dr. Michael Eric Dyson as the speaker. The audience members were mostly older black professional mothers; many had sons in college. When Dr. Dyson spoke, he appealed to the female audience. He talked about how black men have always been sexist but we were better at hiding “back in the day”; how black women know how to navigate working in the white world better than black men; how there was no ME TOO Movement for black female slaves (he left out black male slaves that were raped); black men that vote for Trump are the worst; and black men are patriarchal. Dr. Dyson took subliminal shots at Kevin Samuels. He told the women in the audience that women could raise strong boys by themselves. He said having the father (or a father figure) would be nice but not necessary. Many of the women stood, nodded, and applauded. The juxtaposition of hearing black mothers state their sons were not prioritized at school (and society) yet cheer a man who was deeming the very people they claim to care, their black sons, was infuriating.
After Dr. Dyson finished speaking, I stayed and talked to some black men (ages 19 – 65). I told them about you (and your book Solutions For Anti-Black Misandry, Flat Blackness, and Black Male Death and your YouTube channel), Dr. Tommy Curry, and BGS IBMOR. We conversed about male incarceration rates, black male wealth levels, black male homelessness, etc. Some got it, but many were resistant. Just as the conversation was picking up steam, we were asked to leave. The black female supervisor at the center (the staff was nearly all female) did not like what she was hearing. Instead of embracing the dialogue and joining in, we were asked to leave.
I respectfully corrected a young brother and a boomer. They said black patriarchy exists. I told them it does not and never has. I stated, “If black men have so much power, why would we created a society in which we are dead last and beyond in every prominent category: housing, education, incarceration, wealth, income, life expectancy, homicide, homelessness, etc. If black men could give birth, I guarantee we would have the highest infant mortality rate.” Many of them understood the point I was making at that moment.
I was a Dr. Dyson fan in college (2007- 2011) and after. Over the years, I slowly lost respect for his inability/refusal to speak honestly about black men. You, BGS IBMOR, and Kevin Samuels were right about low boiling contempt for black men and the temperature (misandry) continues to rise. I am left wondering if Dr. Dyson really believes what he said or if he is playing to an audience to continue to secure speaking fees and book deals. All I can say is keeping telling the truth and I will continue to steer as many black men and women to your work.
Addendum:
I also forgot to mention that Dr. Dyson stated he was a father at 18 years old and that mother of his child was 26. He never hinted that she was a predator and never mentioned at the age he first met her. His story reminded me of the opening scene from the 1969 film classic, The Learning Tree (by Gordon Parks). In the scene a black older woman has sex the main character (black a 14-year-old) while he is unconscious. Gordon Parks’ 1967 short documentary, Diary of a Harlem Family, shows the victimization of a males (towards the end, the wife tosses hot grits on her husband’s face and receives no jail time). Melvin Van Peebles’ 1971 Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song has a similar opening scene when the main character (just a boy at the time) is seduced by prostitutes to perform sexual acts. The work/journey you and Dr. Curry have embarked on has changed my perspective and understanding of the world. For that, I am forever grateful.”
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