Source: Rowan Jordan / Getty
On June 12th, 2019, radio host Charlemagne Tha God made hashtag #BlackMenDontCheat go viral. The Breakfast Club host has been championing this message for awhile now, but he took his battle cry to the next level by making it a Black Twitter phenomenon and a hit song.
“This negro spiritual is going to make the world a better place. #BlackMenDontCheat streaming everywhere now. @lilduval did it again,” Charlamagne wrote in an Instagram post when the song hit the airwaves.
Meanwhile, Duval wrote on Twitter: “Today we celebrate all the men that try to be faithful. From this day forth we wil try to be better. BLACK MEN STAND UP!!! #blackmendontcheat.”
When I first heard #blackmendontcheat was trending, I immediately became annoyed. The entire message seemed to dismiss the painful experiences of so many Black women who have loved Black men who betrayed them through infidelity. To me, the whole movement evades responsibility and instead relishes in blissful ignorance, as if just saying #BlackMenDontCheat suddenly eradicates the issue and its roots.
I had the chance to talk to CthaGod about his movement on a recent Breakfast Club segment. I learned for Charlemagne, #BlackMenDontCheat is a way to speak positivity into existence. While I agree in the power of manifestation, no amount of words will come true if there isn’t action to back it up. Until Black men begin to do the work to uncover the insecurity, lust and lack of discipline that leads to cheating, it will continue to be a problem in our communities.
You can watch our conversation below:
Read more comments from the Internets about the movement:
