Who causes the highest number of deaths among black men? Well, it’s other black men. This points to a rather uncomfortable truth: if you’re raising a black son, your focus should be more on the potential threats from other young black men rather than what racists or critics might say about cases like Carmelo Anthony’s.
It’s frustrating, really. The culture glorifies a false bravado that ends up costing young lives while insisting that the perpetrators are the victims.
This week, after just a couple of hours of deliberation, a Texas jury found Anthony guilty of first-degree murder for stabbing Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet last year. The judge handed down a 35-year prison sentence for the 19-year-old.
Some might say justice has been served. The facts seem to support that view. We’re in 2026, not 1956, and it’s hard to justify using this tragedy to fuel ongoing racial grievances. Those days feel like they should be behind us.
I don’t owe moral respect to anyone based solely on skin color. My commitment is to my neighbor, to fairness, and to the truth. Everyone deserves the same moral standards I extend to others.
This applies to everyone—racial identity, sexual orientation, or economic status don’t give anyone a free pass to commit violence and then seek sympathy.
My own family history is one of struggle. My ancestors faced significant hardships, arriving with little, living in tough conditions, working difficult jobs. My mother had me at 15, earned her GED, and went on to college, improving her situation. There was a time we relied on food stamps.
I don’t owe anyone anything beyond what I choose to give.
Take Jasmine Crockett, for instance. She may have had a more privileged life than my mother and me, though she’s also black. In a sense, I’d argue I’ve experienced more of those gritty realities.
That brings us to today. Americans under 60 aren’t easily swayed by charges of racism anymore. When activists try to inject race into criminal cases, young white male voters often respond with disdain. They’re ready to speak their minds about it.
We’ve grown weary of the culture that seems to promote a narrative where the lives of young men are expendable, while perpetrators play the victim. It’s unacceptable to harm someone just because you feel wronged. We shouldn’t encourage violence while resting the blame for choices on society.
Two young men have departed from their families differently. One is deceased, and the other faces a long prison sentence. Neither outcome is good. Blaming race for this doesn’t help.
If you’re black in America, you face a choice: identify as black or as an American. It’s a complex decision, and I hope you choose wisely—this country certainly needs devoted patriots right now.
In conclusion, even if you choose poorly, your fate is your responsibility. Our patience with racial dysfunction is wearing thin. We can’t afford to coddle you while attempting to salvage what remains of our culture. Strive to be better.
Statistics suggest that black men are often aggressors against other black men, while white men face similar threats from black men. There are only two scenarios to explain these dynamics. You may agree with Charles Darwin, who noted that some races receive preferential treatment, which is a path filled with problematic ideologies—or you might believe that contemporary black culture has some significant challenges, a notion that often goes unexamined.
For clarity, my take lies with the latter view. Regardless, it’s now 2026, and the time for accountability is here. Own your actions and don’t waste your potential. Move past these limiting environments.
The choice is fundamentally yours.
The results—well, they seem to echo the same themes.
