The following fictional dialog takes place between Malcolm Goodway, author of A Temporary New Wife, and a committed Skeptic:

S: Malcolm, you say that it’s perfectly possible for a man even … let’s say in his fifties, sixties or seventies … to establish a relationship with a considerably younger woman which is satisfying and rewarding to both of them. My first question would be, why would any a woman want to undertake such an arrangement? The obvious answer is that she’s trying to get him to set her up for life — maybe by marrying him and inheriting his assets when he’s gone.

G: That’s certainly conventional wisdom; but any man who enters such a relationship without seeing that coming should have his head examined. Still, it’s worth looking at that situation in detail to see exactly what’s wrong with it. The first thing that’s wrong is that it’s dishonest on both sides.

S: Why do you say that? Isn’t it understood by both parties that that’s real reason for relationship?

G: No, not unless it was said up-front and became an altogether explicit understanding between them. Did she say, Look, I’m willing to establish a sexual and maybe a cohabiting relationship with you as long as you leave me whatever assets you were planning to leave to your grandchildren when you die. I hope that won’t take too long.

Does he say, at my age I need an attractive young woman like you to excite me sexually, so I’m willing to let you believe you’ll be heiress to all my assets. But I’m not planning to die any time soon, and I’m still going to leave most of my money to my family members even though you think it’ll all go to you. Meanwhile, I’m planning to have as much fun in bed with you as I can until arrangement goes sour. But while it’s going on, you better stay away from men your own age or it’ll go sour pretty fast!

Said in this way, it’s pretty obvious that an explicit arrangement like this must be very rare. People do not say that to each other up front. Instead, they each proceed along path of their own agenda even though these might be incompatible at their base. The source of dishonesty is thus implicit hidden agendas. In other words, there is no clear agreement at all between participants.

S: So, how would you avoid this kind of dishonesty between two such people?

G: First of all, I would remove any question of assets and bequests from equation, and I would also not even consider setting a woman up into a paid parasitic existence. So what we are left with is an older man and a younger woman facing each other. What do you think he can offer her?

S: Certainly not physical attractiveness, unless she has a father complex.

G: That’s not as rare as you might think. But as a first approximation, let’s say you’re right. What has he to offer?

S: What indeed? Are you going anywhere with this, or just pulling my chain?

G: How about knowledge and experience?

S: Yes, I suppose so. But while it might make for good conversation at dinner table, why would a woman have such a critical need for that?

G: Not any woman, such a specific type; or rather a woman with a very specific need.

S: Still can’t imagine what that could be. Do you really have some kind of answer, or are you just playing mind games?

Prelude: Since 1989, much attention has been devoted to status of Black men and their “inevitable demise.” But regardless of what western civilization thinks, Black America continues its tradition of giving props to these courageous warriors. So, to Black men from Alabama to Wyoming, this commentary is dedicated to you.

Picture this scenario: A colossal public housing project embodying 26 buildings, 4210 apartments and 15,000 tenants, stands unnoticed in a low-income residential district surrounded by garbage and overgrown shrubs. Entering high-rise pigsty—you’re overwhelmed by stench of urine and cheap wine emanating from stairwells.

Turning a corner, you walk gingerly amid broken glass and used condoms littering corridors. Nauseated and disgusted more surprises are in store. As you head for exit, you pass an abandoned apartment and watch as a middle-age man jabs a syringe into his arm trying vainly to escape reality. Forging ahead, you watch as gangs fight over neighborhood turf.

As you head for exit, your feet graze neighborhood drunks. Asleep in doorway, unaware of their surroundings and too inebriated to care, they sleep soundly. Welcome to year 2289. Common sights like ones above are observed in congested buildings of Chicago, dilapidated projects of New York and multi-complexes of Los Angeles.

It is now 289 years into future and Black men have replaced animals in laboratory experiments. Having heard in 20th century that African-American men were moving toward extinction, it came to past. Now at mercy of ruthless scientists, many struggle to reclaim their dignity, as they try to piece together how they came to exist in this state of upheaval.

The massive public housing project, home to 10,000 Black men also doubles as a laboratory. Ninety-five years ago, 50 percent of America’s Black men, unable to cope with social discontent began wondering if there was a conspiracy against them. Thus, began journey of mass destruction.