the 1990s
Black Males in the Great Recession: 2000 to the Present
Globalization and the Economic State of Black Males
Contemporary Economic Challenges for Black Males
Job Market Discrimination and Its Impact on Black Males
Approaches to Job Market Preparation, Training, and Creation: A Focus on Black Males
Black-Owned Institutions and Businesses
Conclusion
9. Black Males, Crime, and Justice
African Legal Philosophies
African/Black People’s Relationship to American Legal Philosophy
Norms and Deviance and Decency
Race, Identity and Anti-Black-Male Racism in Criminal Justice System
The Role of Major Social Institutions in Black Male Incarceration
Crime, Violence, and Aggression
Black Males as Both Victims and Perpetrators of Violence and Crime
Racism and Missing Law Enforcement Data
Masculinity, Crime, and Risk Behaviors/Manhood as a Problem
Measures to Reduce Police Abuse
Violent Responses to Police Brutality
Prison Rehabilitation: Channeling Black Male Energy and Transforming Consciousness
Conclusion
10. Black Male Health and Well-Being
The Meaning of Health and Well-being
Black Men and the Western Medical Science Establishment
Power and Privilege Affects Health
General Health Status of Black Males
Impact of Homophobia and Racism
High Levels of Trust Lead to Good Outcomes for Black Men
Black Males are Viewed and Treated Differently by Healthcare Professionals
Black Males’ Lack of Trust and its Consequences
Areas of Black Male Wellness
Black Male Mental Health
Incarceration and Stress
Depression (How Men Express it Differently)
Black Male Suicide
How Black Males Approach Maintaining Their Mental Health and Well-being
Individual as Solution to Stress
Fighting for Liberation as Healing
Approaches to Enhancing the Overall Well-being of Black Males
Black Men as Enhancers of Black Male Health
Black Families as Enhancers of Black Male Health/Especially Black Women
Spirituality as a Source of Health Enhancement for Black Males
Conclusion
A Final Note
Glossary
References
Index
The initial idea for this research grew out of my attendance at several conference presentations dealing with topics on or related to Black men and/or boys. Although intriguing, so many of them painted remarkably similar pictures of Black males. So much appeared to be missing; historical context, social and cultural context, variation, diversity, and the voices of Black males themselves. This experience sent me searching through library databases for books and articles related to Black males. The available body of literature on Black males was like an exciting and provocative box of puzzle pieces. But alas, it was as if half the pieces were missing. Part of my existence I owe to my father, yet there are few reflections of men like my father in the vast body of literature on Black males. He was not alone—the fullness of most Black males’ lives is seldom reflected in most literature about Black males. What emerged was an awareness of the need for a systematic approach to studying the lives of Black men and boys.
The process of developing the systemic approach laid out in this text was aided by many conversations with my family, friends, colleagues, and students. First and foremost, I must thank my father Serie McDougal Jr. and my grandfathers, Serie McDougal Sr. and Will Ellis. This book is dedicated to these men. I would like to thank my editor, Sean Dennis. I owe a great deal of gratitude to my Black male mentors Molefi Asante, James Earl Davis, Daniel Johnson, Marc McConney, Wade Nobles, and Oba T’Shaka and others who have at critical times in my life seen potentialities in me that I was unable to see in myself. I also owe a great deal of thanks for the support of my brothers who repeatedly had critical conversations with me about this project, including John Adams, Eric Durnell, Paul Easterling, Justin Gammage, Clarence George, Le’Shaunte Le’Flore, Orron Marshall, and Michael Tillotson. This work benefited greatly from critical dialog with Tanisha Burke, Ifetayo Flannery, Crystal Guillory, Sureshi Jayawardene, Natalie Lewis, Patricia Nunley, Dorothy Tsuruta and my mother and sister Anne and Shannon McDougal. Lastly, throughout this process I have benefited from the love and support of my dear Precious Zamaswazi Dlamini.
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Trying to See Black Men and Boys
In Malidoma Somé’s book, Of Water in the Spirit, the second chapter is titled “Trying to See.” The author details his experience being led by elder men through a Dagara initiation process for young males. The Dagara are an ethnic group found in Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Cote d’Ivoire. One part of this initiation process is dedicated to the development of sight. Without sight, Somé and the other initiates could not go through the other trials and lessons in their route to manhood. On page 203, an elder addresses the young males:
“Tomorrow we will begin working with your sight,” the coach continued. “You must learn to see. Without good sight, you can’t continue with the other sessions. When you have learned to see well, you will journey one by one to your respective places in this world and find every piece of your
