Tonic Hero: Jimmie Briggs

Writer and activist Jimmie Briggs is demanding that guys man up.

In honor of Black History Month, Tonic is calling attention to Briggs, an African-American trailblazer who has dedicated his life to telling stories that need to be told. For instance, there's a window open now in our collective experience to talk about gender-based violence, and to confront the reality that's been going on for far too long. Briggs would certainly like us to be talking about this -- he's dedicated to stamping out gender violence around the world, and right here in the USA. So much so, in fact, that he has started an initiative -- Man Up -- aimed to inform and inspire young people to tackle this issue on behalf of future generations. A massive event coinciding with the 2010 World Cup in South Africa is deep in the planning stages, and global involvement is highly anticipated.

His latest book, to be published next year, is "The Wars Women Fight," assembled as a collection of letters to his young daughter Mariela. While speaking with women in the Congo, Afghanistan, Guatemala, and also in Mississippi and Alabama, Jimmie was compelled to speak directly to Mariela and arm her with truth and compassion, and the strength to defend and represent women everywhere.

"I owe it to all those people who shared their stories with me and opened up their lives to do whatever I can," he says. "I'd like to believe that if I didn't have a daughter I would still care about this issue, that I would bring compassion and passion and energy and obsession… but I don't know. Maybe I'd be like most men and see this as a women's issue. But the reality is I do have a daughter, I've spent time with women around the world, I've cried with women around the world who've endured horrible atrocities. And those two realities in particular have led me to this place."

Jimmie's inclusion of the U.S. Gulf coast and the south in his book remind us that gender violence is not restricted to far away countries -- it's happening here in our own backyard.

Prior to his latest work, Briggs traveled the world visiting conflict zones and speaking with soldiers and army leaders for his book "Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go To War." For his brave and tireless commitment to his work and the cause, he was named the first African-American to be United Nations Goodwill Ambassador and Special Envoy to Children in Armed Conflict.

Celebrity lessons

There's no silver lining to the recent violent episode between young pop stars Chris Brown and Rihanna. People have been genuinely shaken -- as well they should be -- and blogging/writing/talking/commenting/buzzing away, with no shortage of updates and speculation, opinion and bewilderment, even weeks after the incident occurred.

People seemed to have felt an affinity for this particular couple, with their squeaky-clean images and pop royalty status. Fans could not have suspected the destructive side of their relationship, which is part of why the story has been so disturbing and intriguing. Perhaps this is the unfortunate impetus that will help open up a dialogue about what is happening behind closed doors in households across our country -- and in conflict zones around the world.

On Feb. 13, a collection of stars gathered for a V Day sponsored luncheon to speak up about the realities of gender-based abuse. People.com was there and quoted actress Kerry Washington who said: "If we talk about violence against women, my hope is we don't talk about it as petty gossip but as a social illness that must end. So if that's what's going on, then we need to all be aware this is a problem that goes from the Congo to Hollywood and everywhere in between."

Kicking violence

The situation in the Congo -- which is the focus of this year's V Day campaign -- continues to worsen, as female victims of unspeakable violence and rape escalate daily. With no access to proper health care and counseling, women are left to accept attacks as a way of life in the war-torn country. In 2001, pandemic rape like that plaguing the Congo was ruled a war crime and is widely considered a form of genocide. The legacy of this violence is far greater than the inconceivable emotional and psychological damage, as perpetrators leave their permanent mark by spreading HIV/AIDS, or impregnating women with a living reminder of their horrific experiences.

Briggs is spearheading a massive undertaking, tentatively named Man Up, which he describes as "a global campaign using music and sports to engage youth against gender violence." Briggs said that whereas other organizations are reactive, Man Up recognizes that it's time to be preventative.

Soccer and hip-hop are the central tools that he is using to reach out to youth, boys and girls alike, and engage them in a real proactive plan of attack. He talks about the extraordinary role that young people had leading the Civil Rights movement in this country, and urges us to trust their strength, putting power into the hands of this generation.

"We can plant the seeds, then water the seeds, with young people around the world," he said, "and I believe their efforts will take root."

Now is the time to take action and instigate change. It needs to happen on a cultural level, and awareness is the first step toward addressing what is often considered a "personal" issue not intended for meddling and interference.

In other words, we must become personally invested in the movement as a whole.

"I can't remember all the faces and names of people," Briggs said. "You never forget the stories though. For me personally I don't consider myself a journalist anymore, I've crossed that line. I want to be an advocate, a defender. Journalists are the pretense of objectivity. And I don't want to be objective anymore."

If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline immediately. If you want to learn more or educate others about the crisis in the Congo, visit V Day's website.

Look for Briggs' book, "The Wars Women Fight," published by the Chicago Revue Press, on bookshelves in 2010.