Welcome to A Black Man Write’s! I have always had an affinity for writing and love to watch words flow from my purple pen onto a legal pad or journal. Yes, I still write with pen and paper mostly with flair pen but sometimes with a very fine point pen. Humble brag, I have great penmanship, although I’ve never held my pen (or pencil) in the conventional manner. Teachers tried over my entire elementary and middle school education to get me to hold my pencil “properly”, my sophomore year in college a professor noticed how I was holding my pen and said, “I really want to change the way you hold your pen, but your handwriting is better than mine!” I am not a professional writer, have no aspirations of being the next great Black novelist, or even believe that my writings will inspire people. I write to express my thoughts, feelings, and opinions.
As a Black man in America, I feel like it’s important to express myself, what better place than my own pages where I cannot be sanctioned, muted, or dismissed. A place to be unfiltered, overly opinionated, and honest. I don’t write for likes or approval. I believe that anyone who reads anything I write and is offended, that is a reflection on them and even if their public comments are accusatory and hurtful, I’ll allow it (sometimes).
It took a very long time for me to become unapologetically Black, and yes, I always capitalize Black because even though race is a made-up construct, I embrace it as a title for our people. Because Black was escribed as a negative when applied to everything, my goal is to make sure everyone knows my people are the light and the origin of mankind! By the same token I never capitalize “white”.
I won’t bore you with my bio, although you can find it later in this blog.
I hope you enjoy, laugh, get mad, and learn despite yourself on these pages.
Stay thirsty!
Tracey