Black Men Brief Thoughts on Discipline

I've learned that the words discipline, disciple, and discipleship have the same root meaning of being a student or a follower of some belief, philosophy, activity, method, etc.; of learning and ongoing follow-through; being devoted and determined.

I've also learned in life that we all engage in disciplines of different types and they are distinguished by what you prize, want to 'accomplish', and 'outcomes'.

Disciplines have direction 'forward or backward'; disciplines have qualities 'positive or negative'. For example, one person has a criminal discipline, while others have a writing, meditation, or exercising discipline.

Too often as Black men too many of us have socially acquired self-defeating, self-diseasing, and self-destructive disciplines. Too many Black men have a socialized 'oppression-maintaining' daily discipline of just gossiping, consuming, flossing, fronting, and entertaining; no discipline at all towards Black unity, healing, and self-determination.

Moreover, I've learned that one's discipline is driven by what one 'values'. We have to assess our disciplines: raising the questions are they truly 'important', beneficial, righteous, lasting, progressive, and worth the costs 'consequences'?

Yes, we have to keep in mind the relativity of disciplines and that they may require 'demand' change for new or added disciplines.