The Nod: The Common Courtesy Every Black Man Needs To Know
By: Omar Cook
In a matter of seconds, a simple gesture will tell you everything you need to know about the next black man. We're not even talking about going out of your way to say wassup or shake a person's hand. No, this is just a simple head nod. But in this head nod, there is so much respect that comes with it.
The nod is the common courtesy that every black man needs to know! I don't know how it came about but the simple fact is that if you're a black man in America, you need to have this as a tool. The act of nodding your heading up or down is a sure sign of acknowledgement, as if you're saying to that person, "I see you, we're in this together." The nod is the next best thing to dapping a person up and it literally takes one second and you go about your business.
There is a difference between the downward nod and the upward nod though. Usually, when you give the upward nod, it's to someone you know, someone of the same age, or you might just be at a considerable distance that nodding your head up is the best way that person might see the gesture. You usually nod your head down as a sign of respect to someone that is older than you or complete strangers. Either you can't go wrong, but you should never let a passing moment between two black men go by without acknowledging him.
Black men share the same struggles together in America and this simple sign of respect is just a small gesture of unity. IF a black ever walks by you, and doesn't look at you to acknowledge you with the nod, thats a red flag and there's a problem. Honestly, I almost feel disrespected if a black man doesn't look to make eye contact and give this universal sign of respect. That brother wasn't raised right! I'm writing this post not only to spread cultural awareness about this common courtesy, but to gather the attention of the black men out there who don't do this! It's 2018, and with racial tensions getting hotter, it's a MUST that black men respect each other, stick together, and at the very least acknowledge each other's presence.
The nod can happen anywhere. It can happen in public places where you and another black person are virtually the only people of color around and you gotta give the nod to let that person know, "if something pops off we in this together." It can happen at a street light and a black man pulls up next to you; don't just turn your head without giving the nod! Disrespectful. It can happen from across the street when you see one of the homies going the other direction. The most important occurrence of them all, is walking directly by a person. It is at this moment, you have to show respect. It's a must, your call of duty. If a black man walks by you without acknowledging YOU, another black man, of the same struggle, you might as well just call his hands to get his mind right.
The nod is something that you're almost born with. It's like a cultural instinct of respect that you just keep in your repertoire, and it is your duty to pass this down to your sons and keep the respect flowing to the next generations. Black men, we're leaving confrontation in the past and we're showing respect for each other, period.
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