This post is part of the Protect Me Series
I’ve been a fan of Christon Gray‘s music for a few years now, and the release of his latest LP, The Glory Album, there are plenty of songs to enjoy and Selah on. One of them is a piece about being a Black man in America entitled “Black Male (Black Mail).”
“Being an African American man who loves all people, I couldn’t release an album and not speak on it…I decided to pray and let God tell me what to do,” Gray shares in a video on why he included the song in his latest project.
“Is it something that we do to ourselves? Black mail, Black male…”
“The play on word is meant to make you think…do we have dirt on ourselves? Does having dark skin mean that I have to settle for less in my marriage, in my work life, or at home? Dear Jesus, I hope not.” –Christon Gray
“Black male, it’s hard, I know and you deal with it every day. Trust God, be strong, He’ll never lead you astray…”
The story of the song is about an interracial relationship. I have people close to me, even in my family, who are in interracial relationships and yes the topics of race can come up, but in terms of who you want to be with, America has painted the picture that it’s possible, but it’s not always accepted. But as it suggests in the song, relying on God in midst of the challenges in this and any relationship will help weather the storms in life.
“Don’t give into the worldview, cause either way you didn’t choose to be a Black Male…”
This line come from the last verse reflects the recent events in Ferguson, Baltimore, Chicago, New York City, could I go on? It’s not just about police related violence, but all types of violence that Black men in particular face on a disproportionate rate compared to others in this country.
For more on Christon Gray’s inspiration for this track, view the video below:
