Courtesy of Eze's Village @moordibia :instagram
If one examines the predicament of Black men all over the world, it seems evident that we are plagued by a lack of power. We do not control the resources on the continent of Africa, nor do we control our political systems, our neighborhoods, our monetary systems, our educational systems, etc. As long as we permit ourselves to succumb to pervasive European influences, we will constantly struggle for power.
Power, simply defined, is the ability to accomplish, to control, or to exercise authority. Power is a result of energy manipulation, but it need not be based on force. As men, we are designed to do work. Energy is needed to perform work. Whatever you want to do in life requires energy. The more energy you have, the more productive you can be. Thus, power requires energy. The greater the energy source, the greater is its ability to amass power. Energy is also required in order for you to fulfill all of your dreams, aspirations, and goals that support the collective interest.
The term, “Black power” is an empty statement unless it is fortified with the essential ingredients needed to generate and sustain power. Your ability to achieve success in life is based, in part, on seizing opportunities when they arise or on creating new opportunities. However, your personal success (and ultimately our collective success at acquiring power) is severely compromised when your health and vitality are not optimized.
Since energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it is constantly being transformed. As Black men, we do not lack power; we must learn how to transform the energy we already have into power. A prerequisite to transforming energy is building your vitality so you become a powerhouse that can empower others.
We know from personal experience the result of ill health on productivity. Whenever you’re suffering from an illness, even if it’s a 24-hour cold or a mild flu, your productivity drops because your health is robbing you of energy. In fact, during bouts of illness, the healing process requires you to reduce external activity and rest.
Black men suffer from chronic and persistent health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease to a far greater extent than white men. In fact, Black men suffer far worse health than any other racial group in America due to racial discrimination, a lack of affordable health services, poor health education, cultural barriers, poverty, and lack of health insurance. Thus, we cannot expect to achieve higher levels of energy production compared to our white counterparts who are healthier.
Highly productive men are full of vitality. Vitality is defined as the capacity for physical and intellectual vigor. A high level of vitality is a function of your ability to acquire and sustain energy for long periods of time. Vitality fuels productivity. It is important to understand that energy can be wasted on worthless pursuits or it can be used in positive ways that help you and others acquire the things they want and need in life, both spiritual and material.
Likewise, virility refers to having the characteristics of an adult male, i.e., showing masculine spirit, strength, vigor, or power; capable of performing sexually as a male; and being potent. Thus, virility and vitality are mutually exclusive - you cannot have one without the other.
As a black man, when you consider the role you must play in strengthening our communities, you must begin by examining the state of your own health, especially your diet. Are you consuming too much sugar or meat or processed foods? Do you consume alcohol, smoke tobacco or marijuana, or engage in other forms of toxic habits that destroy your health? Do you exercise consistently, maintain a proper body weight, and encourage other men to do the same?
If you truly want to epitomize the notion of “black power,” start by building your energy and vitality with adopting a healthier lifestyle.
-B.Mitchell