It’s no secret that America has long promoted a narrative of inferiority about Black boys and men. It’s a steady drip of poison that parents, caregivers, and community members have to counteract vigilantly. And that’s where rites of passage programs — rituals that transition a person from an old way of being and thinking to a new, more mature, and advanced state — make a difference.
Indeed, in Baltimore, the Baltimore Rites of Passage Initiative has been hard at work raising up a cohort of 16 men who will, in turn, mentor Black male youth ages 11-13.
BROPI is an innovative, multigenerational model, which empowers Black men to embrace positive masculinity and expand their capacity to engage with adolescent Black male youth effectively. The program aims to bolster the ranks of highly skilled Black men equipped to address the pressing challenges confronting Black male youth.
“We’ll talk to them about who we are, about our African connections and traditions, and about how these ties and traditions became severed during slavery,” says David Miller, the co-leader of the program.
Miller is a Baltimore native and activist with a doctorate from Morgan State University’s Department of Social Work. He “dedicates his life to fighting against the economic and social deprivation that communities of color face,” according to the program’s website, and “leads intergenerational conversations with men and boys about essential topics like managing anger, mental health, and alternatives to violence.”
At an event on April 13, the initiative, in partnership with MENTOR Maryland/DC, honored the hard work of these 16 men, along with family members and community leaders. These 16 men spent six months being trained in every aspect of life — physical, mental, and spiritual — to be mentors and examples.
The men, ranging in age from 24 to 60 and coming from various youth-serving organizations across the city, immersed themselves in sessions focusing on redefining manhood, combating toxic masculinity, delving into African/African American history and culture, and adopting African-centered best practices for engaging Black male youth.
Their program of preparation also addressed mental health needs, suicide prevention, anger management, and decision-making.
Beginning in June, these men will guide 30 boys through up to 14 weeks of a youth Rites of Passage process — and not only the boys, but their entire families must be involved to make the process completely effective.
“This rites of passage process has not only enabled me to become a better man but has also equipped me with invaluable tools to enhance my role as a clinician providing mental health services to Black men and boys in Baltimore City,” Bobby Marvin Holmes, a licensed social worker, tells Word In Black.
“I am eager to complete this journey and commence my work with youth over the summer.”
Miller says this is the only program of its kind. “Baltimore is the only city that has a dedicated youth fund. We received a multiyear grant from the Baltimore City Children and Youth Fund, along with additional backing from the United Way of Central Maryland, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Elev8, Keys Development, and the YMCA of Central Maryland. ”
And, this program will be evaluated by an outside firm to measure and confirm its success.
