Follow the Leader

The other side of African American masculinity is the encouragement to embody and live within the “experienced” body.  Even men who go to prison are glorified on being able to survive the system. These men are embraced as the “real man” stereotype.  Their experience is held as “ideal” and incomparable to the “other” black man without this, so-called, experience. The experienced man is seen as conquering the world and defying all possible authority. Furthermore, their ability to sustain themselves within an institution (prison) is held as heroic.  We can see this glorification held high in the gangsta-rap world with rappers having wars across boundaries. These boundaries are based on claims of “fake” experience versus “real-life” experience.  This concept is frightening because it calls on the narrations of glorified violence based on real-life accounts. It thus encourages young men to go out and seek for these "experiences".

Lyrics from Hail Mary (50 Cent)

 Hell, I done been to jail, I ain't scared

Mama checkin' in my bedroom, I ain't there

I got a head with no screws in it.

In addition, I remember once in an interview when 50 Cent (rival to rapper Ja Rule) was asked about his relation to his nemesis: He proceeded to call out Ja rule's Jehovah witness experience: claiming that when he was out in the tough street life, Ja Rule was selling Bibles door to door.

As we can see, there is a visible call towards an "ideal" masculinity even within the black community itself. We can therefore not claim to say that influence is purely permeable from outside sources. The task is to mediate an image we come to know about ourselves and the image others come to perceive about us. In "Subjects of Subjection", Annika Thiem talks about how one comes to be what one is and can be. Thiem sees the subject as "non-transparent to itself". In other words, black masculinity is formed through relations of power and in subjection to norms and social practices. 

 

 

The Non-Present Image

The construction of these images are commercialized and often deplete the receiver of the later consequences. Black masculinity, by constantly being presented in this superficial realm, is not without limitations. It is questioned in the realm of professionalism and thus carries a stigma on black males being unable to function in a world outside the so-called "ghetto". Instead of being able to recognize this image in the world of progress, it is welcomed in a world of ice-breaking entertainment. The result is that, there is a non-present image of the black, responsible, successful, and educated male who has a understanding of the world. 

In his book We Real Cool, Bell Hook writes (page 2):

"These negative images are created by white and black males; they help maintain white supremacist thinking". 

Like Sarah Ahmed, Bell Hook is exploring the notion that fear has in creating borders that limit one group of people from permeable entrance (and exit) into other worlds.

Black In America

Black Men Becoming Aware

Because the height of stereotypes has embarked on extremities, black men are aware of the way that they are being viewed. It is a recognition of their position that also allows us to see the response that black men have become equipped with. At times it is a response of anger and at others, it is a concealed response of resentment. This concealed feeling is risky because, it may later be acted out in violence and other forms of abuse. 

Reckeless Tortuga pokes fun at the response that black men receive in the public sphere (especially from "vulnerable", white women)

Excuse For Crime

"Crime is an equal opportunity employer. It never discriminates. Anybody can enter the field. You do not need a college education. You don't need a G.E.D. You don't have to be a special color. You don't need white people to like you. You are self-employed.  As a result, criminals are very independent people.  They don't like to take orders.  That's why they get into this business.  They are no applications to fill out, no special dress codes...There is a degree of freedom in being a criminal".

Ice T.

Images From the Past

The black man in prior years has been presented as a fierce savage, a lost soul. He has been depicted in moments of utter weakness, a man in chains and therefore, completely helpless. In other words, black men have been depicted as in need of a savior!
We have been conditioned to see black people not as individuals but rather, a group with a collective mentality for irresponsibility.

The black man in the past has been recognized as deviant by nature.


The image of black masculinity tells guys that if they're not adhering to masculinity norms they're likely to get eliminated from the realm occupied by “real” men. The very moment a man deviates from the stereotypical paradigms of masculinity; his role is offered to someone else. It means that, if a man, shows a modicum of weakness, he is now seen as an outsider to the embraced masculinity.

Situations That Allow Constructs of Fear to Be Approved

*Gang Associations
*Black Men in Prison
*Videos Enforcing Language and Embrace of Violence
*Apparel
*Language and Figure of Speech

The flaws if the black man reside in the embrace of these perpetrated stereotypes. The emulation of the various roles are prominent in the black community. The stereotyped individual is not only tolerating but rather, embracing the view prescribed to them. The black male allows the prescriptions to shape their mentality and therefore, their reaction. It is accurate to say that, the African American male is a contributor, to the validity of the stereotypes, by acting out the injustice labeled to them.

Limitation of Expression

The man of color often finds himself living within the prescribed stereotype and thus creating a "boxed in" means of expressing themselves. By accepting definitions of:

playa

rapper

pimp

..............these definitions create a limitations on what one can become or, express. It limits the range that african american men can express their emotions. 

Consider the following. Men who have more power (financial, work-place power) don't have to show so much physical power since they have other means of exerting their power. 

The influential and rich and powerful have no requirement to be physically strong....

Consider this video showing that black men must remain physically strong, territorial, and violent,  in order to maintain their manhood...

Lyrics (Verse 3)

ooo, I ain't bad, just don't kiss no ass or take shit

And I'm a grown man, find you somebody to play wit

If you'on like me when you see me, betta not say shit

I'll choke yo ass out like Dre did that bitch

You betta tell these pussies they ain't fuckin wit no rookie

I'm a Bankhead nigga, I'll take yo cookiez!

So don't make it a me or you situation

I'll have yo partner down and I.C.U. visitation

Like, hope for the best, but I'on think he gon make it

Not the way he was shiverin and shakin on the pavement

I'll tell you wha, if you make it, call'em grace cuz he amazin

Find out these verses wasn't the only thang blazin and

Just when you thought that I was done I was savin the

Best for last, nigga kiss my ass

Like Della Reese they my folkz, itz best you just let'em be

Cuz I do the shit precincts and them FED's just ain't never see nigga

Hip Hop Has Saved Me

There is a dream amongst the man of color who dreams of having hip-hop save his life. 

To be able to escape the "ghetto" life is a contradiction to the concept of escape itself. Hip Hop often embodies the ghetto. It continuously emulates the violence that encompasses the reality within "the hood" and then re-clams it as a African American way of survival and life. So is there really an escape for these men or are they running from one form of prison to another?

The ghetto culture is seen as bringing out the anger and resentment that black men have towards white males and society. However, it not as simple as that. There is a lot of pressure to conform and thus, the social construct of their masculinity is created. What the media does is create an outlet. It provides a steady flow of images that define manhood as dominated by power and control. In the media, we see men of color in a more narrow view. There is a growing connection on the black male's masculinity being associated with violence as seen in these videos. 

 What does hip hop/rap have to offer towards the sexuality and image of the black male?

a.) Hip hop/rap is the culture of bonding

b.) Hip hop/rap is a lashout at a cruel world

c.) Hip hop/rap is a savior

Hip hop/rap is therefore, a very dynamic word to the black male. but to the outside world, hip hop is a tainting of the already damaged body. The tainting is made worse by the black males embrace of the often dark, and violent, world of rap. Because this music has evolved greatly, we rarely intercept hip hop/rap as a culture bond nor a saviour. It is often depicted as a lash out to the unfair inequality of the world. We then see images of vengence, aquisition of things and, objectification of other human beings.

On the one hand, Hip Hop Has Saved Me....

On the other, You Can Not Escape The Hood...

Despite the darker themes often associated with hip hop, a higher purpose of restoration (and vision to rebuild) serves as the catalyst behind many African American artists today.

Common

K'Naan

The Past Affecting the Future

One of the things that has been done since slavery is, to try and rob the black male of his masculinity. The black male had to earn their masculinity and often times, it was denied to them. They were isolated, alienated, and couldn't be allowed to be protectors of their own families. The black man was not only in physically chains but also, identity chains. Black men's masculinity, because of the difficulty that resided in obtaining it, became the single most important thing to the black male. It became something that can make them feel like men again. It became one thing that they can define by themselves. 

Black men define their masculinity against white masculinity. Because they don't have the privileges that are within the virtue of white masculinity. The racism of this society has created a situation in which black men are wielding the weapons of their own self-destruction. 

 Black masculinity is seen as rising, climbing and on a constant flaunt to prove itself. 

The Limitations of Stereotyping

It's ridiculous to me that, even before watching the video, I found myself anticipating the story and uncovering it in a way that would brand a stereotype! Here is why....

#1.) They must be thugs for sure. Which genuine young men hang out in dark spaces?

#2) The car alarm goes off. Red alert, not your car mister!

#3) They picked a fragile old lady................CHECK

#4.) She's in a dark, isolated parking lot......CHECK

#5.) There are 3 black men.............................CHECK

#6.) There is a car.............................................CHECK

#7) They are going to steal the car and possibly harm the poor old lady..........OFFCOURSE!

#8) She pulls out a gun......SHE NEEDS TO. THEY PROBABLY HAVE A FEW GUNS OF THEIR OWN

As we can see in this video, there is an assumed relationship to the black man and a realm of negativity.  The black males are then called to respond to their own account. Judith Butler would see this as "accountability". Even though they are not driving the so-seen stolen vehicle, their response is one of automatic fear since they become aware of the old lady's perception. The old lady here has become the presenter and the "thieves", addressees. There is a constant awareness with the presence of "self" and the "other". It Others the black man as the body that is most likely to commit activity outside the borders of normality. It then puts them as objects to be feared and the old lady, as a body that needs to be protected. 

"Ever day black men face a culture that tells them that they can never really achieve enough money or power to set them free from racist white tyranny in the work world" 

Bell Hooks in the book, We Real Cool

The initiation into the stereotype: Black men Accepting their Representation

The glorified images of black men as being exremely sexual, violent and outside the norm are embraced by many bodies. My belief is that black men have also acquired a deep desire to channel these images into a highly “exclusive” realm. In doing so, they have constructed a field that is no longer refuted as unwanted but rather, desired by many black community males but also, outsider males. It’s exclusive nature is a “brotherhood” to be sought after. It is seen as rebel course training, a bad boy yearning. So you find black man responding to this stereotype by forming exclusive handshakes, language, dressing and, methods of associations with people.

The black male has been and made exotic, sexualized, and exhausted in the markets. They have been stripped of their worth and commercialized at the market demand. As a result, of this capitalization, they have also been stripped of a more dynamic perception. The injustice is that, they have now turned into bodies that can only seem to “fit” certain, and often imaginary, spaces. Rarely are they given the justice of fitting in as doctors, teachers and leaders. The visual perception has forced them to be viewed as better suited for the systems that promise to re-socialize them, rehabilitate and, heal their “blackness”.

The Unfair Judgement of "all black men"

The black man is also, many times, potrayed as a hyper-violent beast with a instinct to react based on acts that provoke. And we also see him embracing the thug life as superior.

We are constantly bombarded with the image of the black criminal. In addition, their crime is also linked to black people as a whole. It is an action that attempts to assume, and connect, black individuals to acts of immorality or, acts of self defeatism. The bigger problem is the fact that some black men find it easier to perpetuate stereotypical myths that depict the black community as being full of men who promote ignorance and irresponsibility!

I am not saying that some black men are not angry but rather; the extension to "all" black men is flawed.

The Language of Ghetto Ebonics: Whatc y'all Talkn' Bout?

Ebonics has been, in the past, an African American vernacular. However, in the present age, it has been embraced in the black male community and transformed into a language that almost needs it's own dictionary in oder to be understood. 

There has been a debate about Ebonics being a main history of African American. Many have asked the question...

- Why are we not allowed to maintain a language that is our own? 

-If Ebonics is not real English, tell me what is?

The problem with Ebonics being adapted by the black male is that, it facilitates a certain frame of thinking. It maintains the frame of oppression and the illiteracy that was present during the slavery time period. I believe it was not the desire of many slaves to speak in the way that they did but rather, it was the limitations that they faced. The lack of privilege to read and write.

 

Many powerful African American movements fought for the voice of many citizens. Is this how we will use this voice? That is what greatly troubles me. It is a means of segregation in itself. We fought against segregation and yet we put ourselves in a different type of segregation! Language puts us in a place of recognition. It has the power to hold accountable. Going to Judith Butler-Giving Account to Oneself. Accountability is highly important since it makes you the presenter and spectator of your own account. Language gives an account of oneself. It thus divides us based on how we are able to engage with others.  In addition, the notion of Subject Formation, in judith Butler, views us as emerging subjects. It perceives the subject as being historical and continuos; the ebonics language affects the future of our children. 

Embracing the Stereotype.

The clash with authority.

Labels and Depictions

Do Not Use if Label is Unattached.

The Broke Brotha....

The black man as an infant that never grows up (Sony style)

The Sought-After Playa...

The Name Caller and Disregarder to women....

The Notoriously Proud Killer...

The Wife beater/Abuser.....

The Hyper-masculine, and very violent, jock...

The Proud Pimp...

The Flashy Baller...

The Baby-Momma Drama, Dead-Beat, Father...

Image of Cool

Distilled Fear

Thou Shall Fear The Black Man

Fear is expressed towards the black man as: a rapist, a strong force of violence, a murder and a controlling force. This fear is most directed at caucasian women-who are seen as both fearing and desiring the forbidden body. The image that is prominent is that white males, even in their lust, are seen as the default; Normal and natural. I would argue that the media constructs white-male lust as the baseline.  We use this as a measure for normality.

In Sarah Ahmed's Cultural Politics of Emotion, she explores the relationship between politics and fear. She then concludes that it results in a right to mobility for other bodies while others remain contained (and denied their rights). The dominant forces are then able to evoke fear and to validate their own actions and condemn those of others.

In lust we see fear towards the black man constructed in different ways. It is a fear based on seeing them as a threat to white masculinity. These black bodies are seen as purely effortless when it comes to sexuality. On the other hand, the white male is left with an idea of having to make an effort to counteract this African American male presence. Consider the axe commercials. The white male must employ a materialistic force in order to exert his influence on women.

Ahmed begins her work by using Frantz Fanon’s view of “the fear of the black man” to illustrate how stereotyping sticks to certain bodies and thus restricts their mobility. It is an action that brings to realization that the depiction of black men as sexual desired, rapists, criminals e.t.c is not only negatively suggested but also possesses a causal link. In other words, Ahmed infers that once all these negativity is linked together, these words establish a causal relationship. This same causal relationship then proceeds to feed existing stereotypes. 

She infers that once linked together, these words establish a causal relationship that then feeds existing stereotypes. 

Images worth thousands of words

There is a cultural ambiguity that is embedded within the African American population. That cultural cloudiness is a conflict between the street culture and, the historical traditional culture. The problem is, one is not able to separate the two nor say that the two do not influence each other. But the main problem is that, the street culture, also known as "ghetto" is glorified and deemed supreme to the identity of the black male. This is the construction, and re-articulation, of their masculinity. 

The images are often separatist in nature. Meaning, black men have found a way to attempt to restructure their own masculinity. The problem is that, this fantasy infuses itself in the African American male culture. 

All the glitters is not gold

All that Glitters is not Gold, there is a reality that lies behind the emulated fantasy of being a gangsta.

Studies in Stereotyping-The Black Male

The African American male has been denied a full right to their identity through the ways that he is depicted and allowed to express himself. The prominent image that arises from this stereotype is that of the African American male as being hyper-sexualized, lazy and, overly violent. This presentation often elicits a negative response from the media. The media then connotes this image as being applicable to the entire black, male, population. To the media, the black male carries a violent, automatic, instinct that is to be expected. Such superficial assumptions then extend into society and how we come to accept the image of a black man. For example, I have to say that each time I am brought to an awareness of a tremendous crime, I find myself praying.....

"please don't let it be a black man". It is this simple prayer that makes me aware of the stance that has been given to the black man and, my visible fear that this stereotype may prove itself true. 

The gang violence that often heightens from prison to the streets