If you don't model what real love looks and feels like for your family (children), they will never know what to expect and require when it comes to committed relationships and love. Likewise if we don't model what love and respect means in the black community, and I highlight this community because that's the one I belong to and am most familiar with, then how can we require people who are not intimately familiar with the community to behave with more respect towards us than we demonstrate toward each other on a daily basis? To demand more of someone else than you yourself are willing to give is #hypocrisy.
This does not excuse any wrongful and demeaning acts toward members of our community. I'm just simply saying it's past time to shore up the foundation of our own house.
--Nona O.