This book describes how young Black men on a disadvantaged housing estate in London navigate the estate’s expectations for their behaviour as they operate within a street code that endorses violence, knife-carrying and challenging masculinity. This street code informs the men’s masculine identities by promoting values of misogyny, violence and the possession of expensive material objects while subduing any performance or features deemed as weak or feminine. Chapters detail the daily pressure on young men to gain respect and perform the estate’s street code while also providing examples of young men who have escaped or rejected its influence. King also outlines how youth workers can support those trapped by the estate’s street code by embodying personalised or caring masculinity features that seek to transform the dominant masculinity.
This book describes how young Black men on a disadvantaged housing estate in London navigate the estate’s expectations for their behaviour as they operate within a street code that endorses violence, knife-carrying and challenging masculinity. This street code informs the men’s masculine identities by promoting values of misogyny, violence and the possession of expensive material objects while subduing any performance or features deemed as weak or feminine. Chapters detail the daily pressure on young men to gain respect and perform the estate’s street code while also providing examples of young men who have escaped or rejected its influence. King also outlines how youth workers can support those trapped by the estate’s street code by embodying personalised or caring masculinity features that seek to transform the dominant masculinity.
In “A Message to the Young Black Males”, young Black men embark on a transformative journey guided by Maurice I. Crawford’s profound insights and unwavering commitment to uplifting young men from marginalized backgrounds. Through a carefully woven mosaic if personal anecdotes, practical wisdom, and genuine encouragement, this book serves as a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of life. With empathy and understanding, the author addresses the unique chaIIenges young men of color face, offering strategies to overcome adversity and harness their inherent potential. From navigating systemic barriers to confronting internal doubts, ‘A Message to the Young Black Males’ equips young Black men with the tools needed to thrive in a world that often underestimates their worth. At the heart of this book lies a powerful message of resilience reminder that setbacks are not limitations but opportunities for growth. Through stories of triumph over adversity and lessons learned from failure, Black men are inspired to cultivate resilience in the face of adversity, knowing that their journey is as much about the process as it is about the destination. Central to Maurice l. Crawford’s message is the importance of self-awareness and embracing one’s individuality. By encouraging young Black males to embrace their unique strengths and talents, ‘A Message to the Young Black Males’ empowers young men to defy stereotypes and carve out their own paths to success. Whether pursuing higher education, entering the workforce, or pursuing their passions, readers are encouraged to pursue their dreams with courage and conviction. In a world that often seeks to confine young men of color to narrow stereotypes, ‘A Message to the Young Black Males’ serves as a rallying cry for empowerment and self-determination. It is a testament to the resilience, strength, and boundless potential of young men of color everywhere – a must-read for anyone committed to fostering their growth and empowerment in our society.
This vivid evocation of the lives of 32 boys from a Johannesburg township is essential reading for anybody wishing to understand black masculinity in South Africa Becoming Men is the story of 32 boys from Alexandra, one of Johannesburg's largest townships, over a period of twelve seminal years in which they negotiate manhood and masculinity. Psychologist and academic Malose Langa has documented graphically what it means to be a young black man in contemporary South Africa. The boys discuss a range of topics including the impact of absent fathers, relationships with mothers, siblings and girls, school violence, academic performance, homophobia, gangsterism, unemployment and, in one case, prison life. Dominant themes that emerge are deep ambivalence, self-doubt and hesitation in the boys' approaches to alternative masculinities that are non-violent, non-sexist and non-risk-taking. The difficulties of negotiating the multiple voices of masculinity are exposed as many of the boys appear simultaneously to comply with and oppose the prevalent norms. Providing a rich interpretation of how emotional processes affect black adolescent boys, Langa suggests interventions and services to support and assist them, especially in reducing the high-risk behaviours generally associated with hegemonic masculinity. This is essential reading for students, researchers and scholars of gender studies who wish to understand manhood and masculinity in South Africa. Psychologists, youth workers, lay counsellors and teachers who work with adolescent boys will also find it invaluable.
Masculinity and hip hop are two topics that have been gaining wide attention in recent years. However, research has often been limited to solely criticizing the hip hop movement and examining the culture from a very parochial outsider’s perspective. An in-depth study of the relationship between hip hop and black masculinity, with commentary from the very men who are affected by it, is missing from the academia. It is with this thought that I have written my book. I wish to give a voice to those who have not yet been heard from, to examine and bring to light the damaging as well as positive affects that hip hop has on black men by talking to every day black men themselves, and to show that the hip hop phenomenon can be used as a great political tool for mobilizing this generation. This book examines stereotypical definitions of black manhood and looks at how specific images and lyrics in hip hop promote these stereotypes. I discuss how young black men, often growing up without fathers, look to the males in hip hop as role models. I argue that negative aspects of hip hop are really affecting young black men and that artists need to be more conscious of their impact and role in the black community. I also discuss many positive hip hop artists and music and that conscious hip hop is kept underground intentionally by corporations. I have integrated a case study throughout the book, where I interviewed young black men on ideas of masculinity, education and hip hop. I end by discussing the positive in hip hop, and by giving examples of how it can be taken so much farther, especially to connect the young urban community with politics and social awareness.
Looks at the complex lives of contemporary black youth, offering a view of the lives of two very different young black men and a discussion of the meaning of success as defined by the individual.
In "Pathways to Manhood, "published in cloth as "Strategic Styles: Coping in the Inner City, "Janet Maricini Billson studies five young boys who grew up in Roxbury, Massachusetts, during the Intense racial and political turmoil of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Using data from Harvard's Pathways to Identity project, she analyzes how healthy ego striving develops in the social and physical decay of an Inner-city environment. The author draws a rich and absorbing portrait of each boy and of his life. Although they grew up in the same social context, the boys became very different individuals. In a new preface to this expanded edition, Billson maintains that it is still vitally Important to understand the coping styles that young black males develop in the face of adversity. Bernard E. Bruce traces what happened to the five boys, who are now men In their forties, in his poignant epilogue, "From Boys to Men." A new chapter on Intervention strategies shows how parents, teachers, and others who work with inner-city youth can most effectively support positive coping styles. Graphic representations help visualize both the styles and the intervention strategies. This classic book is a valued resource for parents; for those who work in the helping professions, education, and the criminal justice system; and for students of sociological theory, social psychology, human development, and race relations.
This book is about the meanings of masculinities within the the black underclass in an American city (St Louis, Missouri), and how these shaped perceptions and enactments of violence. Based on a large number of interviews with offenders the author provides a rich description of life on the streets, contextualizing criminal violence within this deviant subculture, and with a specific focus on issues of gender. It establishes how street based gender identity motivated and guided men through violent encounters, exploring how men’s relationships with women and their families instigated violence. One key issue addressed is why men resorted to violence in certain situations and not in others, exploring the range of choices open to them and how these opportunities were interpreted.
A portrait of today's African-American male evaluates both archetypes and stereotypes, exploring black masculinity as it is represented by a range of personalities, from professionals and hip-hop figures to family men and criminals. Original.
Over a half-century since Ralph Ellison wrote the classic book Invisible Man, black men have been trying to become visible. In various ways, black men have sought to get the attention of the world. An intense quest to become seen, heard, and felt has manifested itself in rebellious and counterproductive behavior. Whether it is the baggy pants, the bandana, the braids in the hair, the earring, or the tattoo, black men have desperately striven for visibility. Perpetual gang warfare and an overemphasis on living a glamorous lifestyle have derailed many young black men from achieving success in the U.S. Author Renford Reese examines how young African American males have unwittingly accepted one model of black masculinity. The acceptance of this "tough guy" model is having detrimental consequences on an entire generation of young black men. The book's thesis is supported by a survey the author conducted of 756 African American males from the ages of 13-19 in Los Angeles and Atlanta. This survey attempts to gauge the attitudes, perceptions, and basic knowledge of young African American men regarding black public figures. One component of this survey is a Realness Scale that the author constructed. Along with this survey, interviews were conducted with various young black males to find out why they, or many of their peers, have embraced the gangsta-thug persona. The results of the survey and interviews are fascinating. Although the primary focus of this book is on the young black male's acceptance of the gangsta-thug image and his enthusiastic embrace of society's stereotypes, this book also looks at the unkindness of the system. One would be naive to dismiss the historical impact of discriminatory policies and the systemic perpetuation of stereotypes in U.S. society. Hence, this book examines the internal and external influences on the current black male identity. American Paradox and Reese's vists to prisons in California have already begun to pay off. In the Summer 2004 issue of Cal Poly Pomona & the Community, writer Jennifer Parsons talks about Reese's efforts, mentioning that Reese keeps a note in his briefcase from a 31-year-old prisoner serving time for manslaughter. According to her article, the prisoner writes, "I used to love being looked up to for all the wrong reasons. Now, though, I'm on a whole new script. My goal is to turn my misfortunes into a fortune. I want to help inner city kids avoid situations such as my own." He goes on to say, "I look forward to your visit. There is so much in that book that I would like to speak with you on." "...Reese raises serious questions regarding the state of life among African American youth that cannot be ignored. The book, an excellent source for discussion of issues in the black community and race relations in the US, will surely be controversial. Summing up: Highly recommended." -- CHOICE Magazine, October 2004 "American Paradox: Young Black Men . . . is an eye-opening read that brings to focus some the contemporary social issues that black and white America are reluctant to discuss. I would highly recommend it for courses in sociology, political science, and black studies." -- Journal of Urban Affairs, November 2006
