“HOW BEAUTEOUS MANKIND IS! O BRAVE NEW WORLD,
THAT HAS SUCH PEOPLE IN IT.”

— William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act V, Scene I, ll. 203–206

What a brave new world indeed. Here we sit in the 21st century. In my relatively short 35 years on this earth the world has changed in unimaginable ways. We’ve made incredible advances in science, technology, and medicine. Society, for better or worse has changed.

No one has felt the effects of that societal change more than one demographic, the heterosexual black man. If black women tout themselves as a so called double minority, something that I’ve always found strange given that they make up 51 % of the black population, then I’d like to suggest that straight black men are a triple minority.

What do I mean by this? Let’s consider a few factors.  All of the major demographics represented in America the black, heterosexual man is easily has the least representation. Outside of a few alternative media sites, such as this one, who speaks specifically to and for us? Now, compare that our black, heterosexual female counterparts. Off the top of my head Ebony, Madame Noir, Ebony, Clutch and The Grio instantly come to mind.  Indeed there is no shortage of outlets supporting them and their issues.

Men in general, but heterosexual black men especially, have become more increasingly marginalized. That marginalization doesn’t stop with the lack of media outlets for us.  No, it is much more far reaching than that. Take entertainment for instance. When is the last time you’ve watched a movie or TV show and a saw strong heterosexual black male? Mind you, one that wasn’t a coon or a stereotype? I’ll do you one better than that. I have a 3 year old son. There’s a cartoon on Nickelodeon, Loud House, where the main character Lincoln’s best friend, who is black, has two dads. Yet another not so subtle attack on black the straight black male. This one is especially insidious because of the targeted demographic, children. BET won’t tell you how black men rock. They’ll be no black boy magic campaigns. As a heterosexual black male you are own your own.  The very image of the heterosexual black male is under fire.

Need more convincing? In my previous article, Crime and Punishment, I cited the disparity of coverage, and frankly, indifference when men black men are the victims of crimes at hands of black women. The indifference is magnified when the black male is also straight. These are just some of the litany of issues that we as straight black men face.  The plain truth is that no one gives a fuck about us. We are easily the most talked about, beat down, and expendable segment of society. That’s why “black men ain’t shit” is such a successful business model for so many sisters. Because, frankly put, we are the least cared about and thus least protected segment of society.

So the next time a sister comes at you with that male privilege bullshit, correct her and let her ass know that she is the one with privilege and that you’re a triple minority.