African American Culture : Black Masculinity

Black Masculinity represents the intricate relationship between gender identity, cultural background, and societal expectations that influence the lives of Black men. It includes a wide range of expressions, from conventional ideas of strength, resilience, and being a provider, to more layered perspectives that embrace vulnerability, emotional awareness, and intersectionality.

Far from being fixed, Black masculinity is continually shaped by history, socio-economic conditions, and personal experiences. Exploring Black masculinity reveals deeper conflicts within Western masculinity, particularly the dominant White, heterosexual ideal. African American masculinity is shaped not by Black men alone, but by collective perspectives, including White men, who historically portrayed Black men as inferior—more body than mind.

This construction mirrors how femininity contrasts with masculinity, positioning Black masculinity as a foil to White male identity. Cultural theorists like Paul Gilroy discuss the hybrid nature of subordinate masculinities, shaped by interactions with White racism.  African American masculinity reflects the complexities of Black life, molded by oppression and hegemonic masculinity. Scholars such as Pleck (1981), Hunter and Davis (1992), and Hammond and Mattis (2005) examine manhood through the lens of African American men, who emphasize accountability and responsibility. Mutua (2006) advocates for progressive masculinities, free from sexism, violence, and homophobia.