The recent firing of Ray Rice from the Baltimore Ravens is the trending news lately. But the real news that has taken front and center is domestic violence. Seeing Janay Palmer knocked out in an elevator was disturbing on many levels. First being the savage nature of his assault, his lack of remorse, and immediate failure to render aid. His wealth and opportunity meant nothing as he knocked his woman out.
Violence against women by an athlete is also in the news in South Africa with the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius, 27. Pistorius, an Olympic gold medalist, is known as the “‘Blade Runner” because he is a double amputee and competes on high-tech prosthetic legs. Last year he shot and killed his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine’s Day. He fired four shots through a bathroom door, hitting Steenkamp in the head, arm and hip, killing her. He claimed he thought she was a burglar, but neighbors testified they heard loud arguing from the luxury high security apartment. Pistorius was facing at least 25 years in jail for premeditated murder. During the trial it came out that Pistorius had a violent streak and was prone to fits of jealous rage. However, he was found not guilty of premeditated murder but still faces other charges. During the trial the black female judge stated that “All relationships have problems” and was dismissive of witness accounts of Pistorius’ behavior toward SteenKamp.
There seems to be some disconnect in how a significant number of people view relationships, be they black or white. So what does this say about domestic violence on two different continents but with similar Western cultures? One answer to this question is the term “mascupathy.”
Dr. Randy Flood in his book Mascupathy: Understanding and Healing the Malaise of American Manhood it is defined as “As a mental health disorder, a pathology of masculinity, stemming from a socialized exaggeration of genetic masculine traits — aggression and invulnerability — and a reduction of inherent feminine characteristics — openness and sensitivity. The symptomology — inadequate self-awareness and governance, emotional numbness and instability as well as relational ineptness, instability and withdrawal — results in deficient intimate partnerships and parenting, excessive competition and one-upmanship, and violence against women and others.”
Dr. Flood further stated to rolling out: “The root of this problem is our idea of what manhood means in our Western culture. What is weak and what is strong, these things are confused and keep us out of touch with our emotions and damages our relationships.”
Domestic violence is not a new issue, but what is new is the way black people deal with the issue publicly. The misogynistic music and imagery of women prevalent in the urban music genre is degradation by our own black hands and voices. The idea of black manhood has been assaulted and corrupted by mainstream media and Hollywood productions. Even the idea of what being a lady means has changed. In many cases you cannot tell young adolescents to be young ladies without being politically incorrect. Because, as a people, blacks have assimilated into the violent misogynistic culture of America.
