When in comes to masculine status in a society that is run by a system of patriarchy, Black males typically earn their position of dominance in one of two ways: through reputation or respectability. Reputation is the preferred method of obtaining high status when one does not have the capital necessary to be men in the typical institutional settings. It is most utilized by young and/or poor Black youth. Such a method involves details such as being “successful” with women, beating other men in competitions (such as sports games), and showing off wealth by driving expensive cars or wearing expensive jewelry or clothes. In contrast, older and/or wealthier Black males employ the practice of respectability, in turn earning their social power. As …show more content…
Gordon’s argument does not necessarily entirely oppose cultural deficiency theorists, but introduces the idea that the paradigm they align with lacks acknowledgement of the relationship between family structures and systems of oppression, diminishing Black culture to a pathological pattern of “brokenness”. The realities faced by Black males within the U.S. truly determine their placement along the patriarchal continuum. Without economic capital as a result of some institutional racisms such as a lack of an accommodative educational system, many Black men find themselves searching for more immediate return on their efforts, establishing practices resistant the whiteness as many begin to drop out of school to establish reputation in other ways such as selling drugs or having sex with tons of women as these forms of capital certainly seem more attainable in a society where the world seems to be completely against Black …show more content…
Aligning further with patriarchal standards, the beliefs that have formed around the characteristics of Black men include an overall domination of females and children in every way. Reputation as resistance has begun to result in more violence between Black men, an increase in crime and an affinity towards the need to succeed in the realm of sports and entertainment. Expectations of women have grown to mean that they are expected to control all familial responsibilities and keep everyone together, a result of a majorly matriarchal system. In addition, Christian ideals such as monogamy and an existence accommodating to the lifestyle of men are especially forced upon them. Beyond that, most Black women are subject to extreme stereotypes that define them as lazy, controlling, having excessive attitude, being a single parent, etc. Many of these labels stem from the fact that the relationship between Black men and women could be considered more egalitarian than that of white people. Due to the focus of men of working their way up the ladder of the patriarchy through modes of resistance and accommodation, Black women were left to dominate the domestic sphere and take on jobs in service sectors in order to support their children. Since taking on jobs and having power over males in some way did not align with the typical white, nuclear pattern, Black women
The transition of being a black man in a time just after slavery was a hard one. A black man had to prove himself at the same time had to come to terms with the fact that he would never amount to much in a white dominated country. Some young black men did actually make it but it was a long and bitter road. Most young men fell into the same trappings as the narrator’s brother. Times were hard and most young boys growing up in Harlem were swept off their feet by the onslaught of change. For American blacks in the middle of the twentieth century, racism is another of the dark forces of destruction and meaninglessness which must be endured. Beauty, joy, triumph, security, suffering, and sorrow are all creations of community, especially of family and family-like groups. They are temporary havens from the world''s trouble, and they are also the meanings of human life.
The book then shows different ways of how manhood has always played a part in black freedom struggles. Estes starts to explore the participation of black men in World War II, and where the beginning of the civil rights movement began. The World War II used a language of masculinity to increase different ranks of the military, “the notion that are men are more powerful than women, that they should have control over their own lives and the authority over others” (page 7). They were posters that said, “Man the guns”, or “What did you do during the war daddy?” these posters were used to say that man is a protector of the home. World War II also started man power shortages which opened up new advantages for women and minorities, there was less white men. Estes sees this challenge as a white man supremacy, which surfaced around the 1950’s and...
In his essay, “On Being Black and Middle Class” (1988), writer and middle-class black American, Shelby Steele adopts a concerned tone in order to argue that because of the social conflicts that arise pertaining to black heritage and middle class wealth, individuals that fit under both of these statuses are ostracized. Steele proposes that the solution to this ostracization is for people to individualize themselves, and to ‘“move beyond the victim-focused black identity” (611). Steele supports his assertion by using evidence from his own life and incorporating social patterns to his text. To reach his intended audience of middle-class, black people, Steele’s utilizes casual yet, imperative diction.
William Julius Wilson creates a thrilling new systematic framework to three politically tense social problems: “the plight of low-skilled black males, the persistence of the inner-city ghetto, and the fragmentation of the African American family” (Wilson, 36). Though the conversation of racial inequality is classically divided. Wilson challenges the relationship between institutional and cultural factors as reasons of the racial forces, which are inseparably linked, but public policy can only change the racial status quo by reforming the institutions that support it.
In this particular piece by Gaines, offers a close analysis of the racial, class, color, and gender dimensions of a very complex subject, yet it is also a provoking study. As stated in many of our classroom discussion that, it is a difficult read that employs complicated language and a fragmented organizational structure. For me as well as many others in the class, this piece required a dictionary on hand for a translation of the word choice used by Gaines. At times Gaines' analysis lacks any clear sense of flow and seems to be wandering from one unrelated point to another. In nine fully documented chapters with an excellent bibliography and index, Kevin K. Gaines develops his ideas with regard to an "uplift ideology." He begins at the turn of the century by examining violent racism as Reconstruction was dying and the civil-rights movement was born. From this historical mix emerges a new concept, "uplift," whereby the upper class, or elite blacks, believed that they could earn the rights and respect of whites by assuming bourgeois mores of self-help and service to the black ma...
Richardson, Riche. Black Masculinity and the U.S. South: From Uncle Tom to Gangsta. University of Georgia Press, 2010. Print.
Throughout the years, the black community has been looked down upon as a community of criminals and a community of lesser educated and poor who have a lesser purpose in life. Journalist Brent Staples, the author of Black Men And Public Spaces, takes us into his own thoughts as a young black man growing up in Chester, Pennsylvania to becoming a journalist in New York City. He tells us his own challenges that he faces on a daily basis along with challenges that many black men his own age faced and the way he changed in order to minimize the tension between himself and the common white person. Growing up in the post-segregation era was a challenge for most blacks. Having the same rights and privileges as many white Americans, but still fighting for the sense of equality, was a brick wall that many blacks had to overcome.
In today’s society there are many stereotypes surrounding the black community, specifically young black males. Stereotypes are not always blatantly expressed; it tends to happen subconsciously. Being born as a black male puts a target on your back before you can even make an impact on the world. Majority of these negative stereotypes come from the media, which does not always portray black males in the best light. Around the country black males are stereotyped to be violent, mischievous, disrespectful, lazy and more. Black males are seen as a threat to people of different ethnicities whether it is in the business world, interactions with law enforcement or even being in the general public. The misperceptions of black males the make it extremely difficult for us to thrive and live in modern society. Ultimately, giving us an unfair advantage simply due to the color of our skin; something of which we have no control.
White men controlled the government and created how America is today. White women were also seen as superior to other races, but not superior to White men. Women were seen as only being capable of taking care of children and doing housework. Unfortunately, this is still represented in my family today. A main event that sticks out to me that represents gender stereotypes and roles is holiday gatherings. At holiday events the women are in the kitchen preparing the food while the men are in the living room talking and/or watching a sporting event. After dinner, the men go back to the living room, while the women are expected to put away leftovers, clean the dishes, and so
Although black men have been and still are being ridiculed and proposed to be a mugger, rapist, drug dealer, or a subject of someone’s crime, it is not always true. All black men are not and should not be seen as a hazard to another life. Some men of color are trying to make it out, aside from being a statistic of being an uneducated man that gets through by selling drugs. Some men are trying to make it to the top of the food chain, rather than remaining at the bottom and never moving elsewhere. These men are those who are most offended by others who consider them to be hazardous or a threat to them.
In his essay, “On Being Black and Middle Class” (1988), writer and middle-class black American, Shelby Steele adopts a concerned tone in order to argue that because of the social conflicts that arise pertaining to black heritage and middle class wealth, individuals that fit under both of these statuses are ostracized. Steele proposes that the solution to this ostracization is for people to individualize themselves, and to ‘“move beyond the victim-focused black identity” (611). Steele supports his assertion by using evidence from his own life and incorporating social patterns to his text. To reach his intended audience of middle-class, black people, Steele’s utilizes casual yet, imperative diction.
Racism still exists today in this day and age. African American men are particularly stereotyped to be drug dealers, criminals, and gangsters. People have there on opinion about black men, if someone is sitting in their car, and a black man walks by they’re going to lock their door, because they’re scared there going to get robed. The stereotypes about African American men are not true. There are educated African American men just like any other race. Two articles “Black Men in Public Space” and “Right Place, Wrong Face” deal with the issue of two educated African American men that get treated differently, because of the color of their skin. The articles are focused on times when both
From the article, Davis’s main argument is that the mainstream society has developed the perception the black men are to blame for the
Women a mother, wife, lover or girlfriend as google define it. But what does it mean to be a black woman in America society? A society where social media seems to define our lives and set the norm of society. According to “Sister Citizen, there are three historically constructed myths of black womanhood: the hypersexual black woman, the mammy, and the angry black women”. But where did such a unique assumption came from?
While reading Brent Staples textual analysis “Black Men and Public Space”, I thought the theme was simply displayed: white people are still racist. However, when I reread the analysis a few more times it became very clear and more composite than how I interpreted it the first time. Staples implies that there is a fine distinction between the two races. The author notices the habits or cultural appropriation.