ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • MAY 15 – 21, 2014 A5 Sexism and black men By Gloria J. Browne-Marshall For The St. Louis American

He understands the burden and pain of racial prejudice. He knows about racism. But, when the topic is sexism, there is only silence from my black male friends. The lives of African-American men and women are uniquely equal. American history created a male-female relationship formed by equally dismal circumstances. We were kidnapped together, chained together, bore the slave-holder’s whip together, worked the fields together, escaped together and fought for freedom together. Harriet Tubman led men and women out of slavery. Ida B. Wells-Barnett investigated lynching of black men and women. Without black women, the Civil Rights Movement would have failed. Alabama’s black women, led by Jo Ann Gibson Robinson, organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Aurelia Browder, a black woman, was a plaintiff in Browder Making a difference with organ donations v. Gayle, the U.S. Supreme Court case that desegregated the Montgomery buses. The Student Government Association at St. Louis Community College-Forest Park won the “Make a Fannie Lou Hamer was beaten for registering Difference” Award at the recent Missouri Community College Association Conference for a Feb. 12 organ Gloria J. poor black voters in Mississippi. Attorney donation event where Mid-America Transplant Services signed up 43 new registered donors. Association Browne- Constance Baker Motley risked her life to treasurer Angela Johnson became an advocate for organ donations after her 16-year-old son, DaVon Marshall represent blacks across the Deep South. Vivian Steward, was killed in 2001. She donated his organs, helping 23 people get vital transplants. Malone desegregated the University of Alabama Front row: Angela Johnson, treasurer; Erica Rhodes, secretary; Neko Jones, task force; Ebony Foster, with Gov. George Wallace blocking the schoolhouse door. When representative; and Shaniece McCoy, task force. Back row: Maikel Piloto, task force; Brandon Haywood, Daisy Bates led the Central High 9, her house was firebombed. task force; Derrick Varner, parliamentarian; Keyjana Lewis, task force; and Mame M. Ndiaye, president. But, male organizers decided Rosa Parks, the famous matriarch of the Civil Rights Movement, would not be allowed to speak at the 1963 March on Washington. And, when activist Gloria Richardson, co-founder of the Cambridge Nonviolent Action Committee in Maryland, attempted to speak at that 1963 March, Library offers May 30 deadline black men took away her microphone. Today, there is no reason for a lack of black female leadership. Summer Reading Clubs for ethics scholarship Black women should be at the decision-making table and our wisdom should be respected and requested. The need is great. Yet, St. Louis County Library’s popular summer reading Better Business Bureau (BBB) invites high school juniors too often, our power is under-utilized. clubs kicked off on May 12 and will run through August who will graduate in 2015 to apply for its “Student of Ethics” Since a black man understands the effect of racism on his 2. Last year over 120,000 people participated in the award, a $2,500 college award that recognizes students who dreams and opportunities, then the plight of a black woman should program, which offers activities and prizes for the whole demonstrate high ethics through leadership, community not be a mystery to him. He should be able to empathize and family. Participation is free. For more information visit service, personal integrity and academic achievement. acknowledge the many ways in which sexism can limit her dreams www.slcl.org/summer-reading-clubs or call 314-994-3300. Applicants who reside in any of the 92 counties in and opportunities. Missouri and Illinois served by St. Louis BBB may submit In “Still I Rise,” poet Maya Angelou writes of black women their entries online through the BBB website. In addition to seeking a daybreak that’s wondrously clear, bringing the gifts that Homage to Davis, an entry form, students must upload a high school transcript, their ancestors gave. When black men treat black women with a letter of recommendation and a 300-word essay describing respect and as equals, black women will rise into that wondrously Dumas, Dunham the process by which he or she confronted an ethical dilemma clear daybreak. and made a decision. For 400 years, black women have been freedom fighters while The Eugene B. Redmond Writers Club will present A panel of independent judges will choose three winners, holding up families, households, businesses and organizations. “Da-Dum-Dun,” a homage to Miles Davis, Henry Dumas considering each student’s leadership qualities, academic There is a saying that women hold up half the sky. In the African- and Katherine Dunham in word performance, jazz, drum, performance, character and essay. Each will receive a $2,500 American community, women hold up much more. With loving dance, drama, mixed media exhibits, at 6 p.m. Friday, award to be used at an accredited college of the student’s respect from black men, the sky is the limit for black women. May 23 at Building D, Multipurpose Room, East St. choice. Gloria J. Browne-Marshall is an associate professor of Louis/SIUE Higher Education Center, 601 J.R. Thompson Applications are due by May 30. More information is Constitutional Law at John Jay College and a legal correspondent Drive, East ST. Louis. For more information, call 618- available at stlouis.bbb.org or by calling Chris Thetford, BBB covering the U.S. Supreme Court, the United Nations, and major 650-3991 or visit [email protected]. director of Communications, at 314-645-3300. legal issues. Twitter:@GBrowneMarshall.