I haven't read all the responses since my last post, but truth be told as black men of course we're carrying a great deal of pain due to outside sources which have caused the inevitable internal conflicts/problems within our own communities. We live in a world that tells us we ain't shyt and treats us as such, so how else would brothas feel? I feel and internalise a lot of pain at times that I don't even express - I have my reasons - and probably may never will. I'm still an optimist and go for mine in life, regardless. It's either commit that, or pull yourself up by the bootstraps and push through the trials and tribulations until you see that light at the end of the tunnel - I choose to do the latter. There's no way I'm making my transition at the end of my days without even attempting to make an effort. That shyt is for the birds and I ain't going out like that.