Having self-respect as a black man

You’d think that having self-respect would be easy to do but it’s something that people constantly try and beat out of you, but some people more than others. I can’t speak for any other demographics of people but I see this happen to a lot of women as well.

But black men are struggling out here, if we stand on business and don’t coon out, life is hard. We don’t have any programs for us, we don’t have any strong communities, and people expect us to be a certain way. So if we step out and say “No, I’m not doing that” we’re left out to dry.

As a black man in the UK people didn’t expect much from me, and in my opinion I’ve not achieved much as I haven’t been allowed to in a dignified way.

I’ve still well overachieved what people expected of men without sacrificing my dignity, but there is a barrier to getting to the next level without compromising myself.

It’s not like I’m trying to go anywhere particularly high either, I’m still an ordinary person trying to do ordinary things. Just look at how 50% of young black people in the UK are unemployed, these aren’t people who’re trying to change the world, just get a job.

You see how society really sees you

A lot of black men are ignorant of how society really sees them, and this is coming from…