Three Psychological Wounds

by Kenny Anderson

As a Black man I’ve learned that I was born into the world as a ‘Male-gender'. First, being a ‘Man-child’ (dependent boy) in the process of becoming a ‘Man’ (a responsible choice), further struggling to advance to the higher level of ‘Manhood’ to gain mastery and victory (through principled living).

Indeed, the process of male-gender to Black Manhood in a racist society designed for us to never reach this station begins with many internal wounds. From my experience and perspective there are 3 major early psychological wounds inflicted through socialization in the psyches of the Black Man-child:

1. Niggas aint shit; this constitutes the early conceptual framework inferiority complex of having little self-worth, low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, self-hatred, and self-harm.

2. Niggas can’t be trusted; this belief, self-hatred and self-harm projected outlook drives Black-on-Black male violence; having doubt and disbelief towards most Black men; being constantly suspicious of each other and promoting sectarian strife; always being in the preemptive strike mode.

3. Niggas aint gone never stick together; this belief results in an attitude of ‘me, myself, and I’ – rationalizing individualism and justifying never attempting to really unite with other Black men to collectively come together to address common socioeconomic problems stemming from racial oppression.

These 3 psychological wounds create a ‘sick’ self-sabotaging Black mindset. These 3 ‘mentacidal’ wounds must be healed cognitively before any significant Black manhood can be realized and any real self-determined success can be achieved.

Healing Affirmation: I am a worthy Black man, I can trust Black men, Black men will unite!

HOTEP - Heal to Win