Black Masculinity: A Manipulative Norm

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Define Your Existence

Black masculinity is a manipulative norm that steals our bodies and lives by stripping away our right to define our own existence. This norm has created a fear of being different among men and restricts us. It has become socially unacceptable to challenge the ideas of what it means to be masculine and black. The social structure of black masculinity represents itself throughout music, sexuality, and relationships. The continuous legacy of this norm is continuing to put our black communities at risk. Not only is black masculinity ruining the lives of young boys growing up, but it is also putting our men and women at risk for detrimental situations.

According to Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes music companies …show more content…
The role of fatherhood within black masculinity is a detrimental issue for boys growing up. This norm sets a variety of limitations on a young boy’s life as far as what he can and cannot do with his dad. Such actions as men bathing their sons, holding their sons’ hand, and kissing them are not acceptable within the social structure. This type of care is said to be “feminine” and only leads to raising a “punk”. These limitations only lead to a repetition of black masculinity in terms of being “hard” and also a disconnect between fathers and sons. Ta-Nehisi Coates’ quote “I have no desire to make you ‘tough’ or ‘street’” (Coates 24) should be the mindset that more fathers subscribe to in order to challenge black masculinity. Not only have relationships between fathers and sons become restricted, but relationships between wives and husbands have also. This norm says that it is apart of the “male role” to follow certain household duties and positions when married, setting a clear difference of the ideas of which responsibilities are feminine and masculine and whom they belong to. Men are said to be the head of the household, money maker, and that whatever they say goes. Women are ascribed to be housekeepers and stay at home wives. Although this may be traditional, these restrictions still oppress women and limit one’s ability to completely love their …show more content…
However the truth is that the penis is just a limb, another body part that was chromosomally placed on one’s body. We cannot continue to let the norm of black masculinity restrict and limit our lives and bodies. The fear black men possess of being different must be eradicated in hopes of black men being able to define their own existence. The social construct of black masculinity limits our development in black communities, reshaping our identity and destroying our black brilliance. “Manhood is all about conquering and violence but this type of manhood destroys us” (Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes). Society limits the range in which men can express their emotions, teaching boys learn their expected roles very early. Black men must shift this culture to end the manipulative norms of black
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