The intent of this study was to identify the issues that impact the retention of African-American, Black males in college. The study was of two small focus groups comprised of African-American students of various grade classifications from a regional comprehensive university in the southeast. These focus groups were comprised of up to but no more than six students. The decision on the group size was made to allow all of the students’ ample opportunity to respond to the eight questions used in the focus groups. The student groups attended the university main campus as well as the university South Campus where developmental courses are taught. The students were from both rural and urban backgrounds, as well as single parent and traditional family backgrounds. Various themes emerged as a result of this study which includes: importance of family support prior to college and during the student’s college career. Additionally, the role of mentors was identified as affecting the student’s retention in college. There was also discussion of how Black males are viewed on campus by other Black students, as well as other students and the faculty and staff. It can be concluded that several factors have affected the retention of this small group of African-American males in higher education. The information gathered shows that family support is a key cog in the retention of this group; in addition, the role of mentors in their education was very important to this group of students.

Research in constructions of masculinities in South Africa is already an established field, having in part developed out of the need to contextualise global theories in the social, economic and cultural realities of African subjects. In its turn, this research has engendered a number of focused studies which have sought to depart from the traditional ‘men’s studies’ paradigm. Needless to say, studies in constructions of masculinities have infused the traditional paradigm with a new vitality. This thesis proceeds from the premise that to be a man in (South) Africa and elsewhere is contingent upon a diversity of social, economic, political, generational and cultural expectations. I argue that these expectations, which are linked variously to status, sexual orientation and choice, mean that recognition of gender subjectivity as performed must take precedence over the idea of a stable gender role. And, at times, this applies with more force in African societies, traditional and modern (or, as is often the case, a confluence of both), than it does in western ones where class, rather than the complex intersection of tradition and modernity, tends to set gender identities on a more stable platform. I then propose the view that a nuanced conceptualisation of masculinities in South Africa needs to inform analysis of representations of men and women, and I do so by means of an in-depth critical analysis of the shifting conceptions of black African men and women in Shaka Zulu (1986), Mapantsula (1988), Fools (1998) and Yizo Yizo 1 (1999). / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

The portrayed, stereotypical sexuality of the Black man in pornography is nothing short of extraordinary when it comes to stamina, skill and performance. The stereotype of the “Big Black Cock” and its impact on sexual partners is widely known by consumers of pornography but what impact does the depiction of it have on Black men and their sexual performances in real life? This thesis aims to examine, through a quantitative approach, if and how the tendency towards conforming to the stereotype of the “Big Black Cock”, makes an impact on the sex life of the participant and if it also brings about a perception of a societal expectation of being attracted to White women. It presents and discusses, through the lens of intersectionality, data collected from an online, anonymous survey directed at heterosexual, self-identifying Black men that was open for participation during late 2021 and early 2022. 84 participants in total answered the survey and after a first screening was made in accordance with the demarcations of this thesis, 72 participants remained ranging in age between 20 and 47 years old with an average of 31,57 years old. 53,5% of the respondents stated that they live in Africa, 39,4% stated Europe and 7% in other areas which included countries like India, USA and Cuba. The results show that a higher tendency towards identifying with the stereotype, correlates with the perception of a strong, sexual performance in real life as well as with experiencing societal expectations of being sexually attracted to White women. The conclusion of this thesis is therefore that although the stereotype is problematic in many ways, it serves as empowering for those that identify with it but that more in-depth research is needed to fully understand and dismantle the multi-layered, stereotypical sexuality of “the Black man”.

No description available.

From great African nations like the Ancient Kemites, Akan and Gikuyu, the world witnessed the development of the most powerful social structures, governance systems, ground breaking innovations in science and technology, and systems of thought that still exist today. Hence, in looking at the low performance levels of Black students today, the question becomes, how do the descendants of those who created writing, mathematics, and science; and then in the face of episodic disruptions laid their lives on the line to read, write, and built public schools, Sabbath schools, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities, close the excellence gap between their actual performance and deeply rooted cultural expectations? The present study reviews the essential questions and proposed solutions for closing the excellence gap that have been offered by previous generations of scholars. Africana Studies methodological framing questions were used to examine the long-view experiences of African people as well as a three tier critical ethnographic research methods approach. The study revealed that Black students gained a level of excellence in the face of disruption through: (1) Collective Training, (2) Spiritual and Moral Balance, and (3) Content Mastery. The prerequisite for sustaining educational excellence was found to be in the individual roles female and male representatives play as the primary educators of Black children. Secondly, nurturing a sense of identity through a spiritual understanding of social order and moral responsibility to the collective is also a requirement. Nevertheless, what unites and emerges as the chief element is content mastery. The ability to retain and keep content through listening and reading; and present a level of mastery on that information through speaking, writing and action to solve problems, completes the reciprocal process of educational excellence. / African American Studies

Scarce is the research on the effects of the social and political climates of the Civil Rights era on children of that time. Comparisons are made throughout these writings between that era and the social and political climates that exist today in the United States of America. Specifically, the effects of these climates on Black males are examined across contexts. To better understand the Black male perspective, this body of research contributes to filling the gap of scarce research about older Black men, exploring lived experiences of eight African-American and Black men, 66-78 years of age, through first person interviews. A phenomenological research design and first person interviews allowed the researcher to find themes in the lived experiences of these men. Some of their life experiences (e.g., experiencing racism and disrespect related to being Black men), parallel the research findings throughout the literature review about the life experiences of generations of younger Black males that are coming behind them. Six themes were drawn, from the lived experiences of these men, to answer two research questions that guided the study. Those themes are: 1) personal experience with discrimination, racism or prejudice, 2) the need for strong familial support, 3) the importance of being aware of differences, 4) learning about your-self, 5) giving back to family and community and, 6) views about the need for counseling. From this research, implications are made for counselors, counselor educators and community advocates. / EDD / There are not a lot of research articles that follow the lives of children that lived through the Civil Rights Era, specifically young Black boys of that time. That era was full of social and political climates that the researcher compares to the social and political climates that exist as recently as the time of these writings in 2018. In this research study, the researcher interviewed eight African-American and Black men, ages 66-78, about their experiences living as men in the United States of America. Their life experiences are filled with lessons about racism, building positive family support, learning about yourself, taking care of responsibilities and community advocacy, to name a few. One of many potential benefits of these experiences is the impact it can have on young Black boys today who are living through social and political climates like those that the men interviewed lived through. The men interviewed were able to look back on their lives as young men and offer words of wisdom and advice to young Black men today. These words of wisdom and research have the potential to benefit the way mental health clinicians provide care for their clients, the way community members advocate for their young Black male citizens and the way police interact with citizens, specifically young Black men. For the purpose of this research, African-American is the term used to describe an American of African and especially of black African descent. Black is the term used to describe a person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. The men interviewed were also asked about their view of respect which, for this research, is defined as: high or special regard: the quality or state of being esteemed.

Introduction: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), also called domestic violence, is defined as any physical, psychological, or sexual violence, and emotional violence perpetrated by an intimate partner (CDC, 2016). Sexual violence or rape is defined as a sexual act committed against someone without that person’s freely-given consent (CDC, 2017). IPV is experienced among heterosexual women globally, although this phenomenon is not unique to this population. IPV also disproportionately affects young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) (Stults et al., 2016). The purpose of this study is to examine the association between IPV victimization and the increased risk of HIV and other health outcomes among YBMSM. Methods: The 6-month follow-up was conducted in Jackson, MS. A total 600 YBMSM were eligible to participant in the study. The participants were recruited from two local clinics that were focused on diagnosing and treating STI’s. Also, recruiters promoted the opportunity to enroll in the study through social media, attending bars, and nightclubs. Inclusion criteria were: 1) assigned male at birth; 2) self-identification as Black/African American; 3) 15-29 years of age; 4) attending the clinic to be tested for HIV or other STIs, 5) having engaged in anal sex with a male partner at least once in the past 6 months, and 6) the ability to speak and comprehend English. Results: The overall study sample consisted of 600 YMSM. All participants were identified as African–American. The average age of the sample was 22.6 years (SD=±3.2). Bottoms were more likely to experience rape (AOR=1.7,CI 1.1,2.6; p=.02). YBMSM who experienced IPV since enrolling in the study, as compared to those who did not experience IPV, were more likely to use marijuana, alcohol, crack, and painkillers (AOR=7.7 ,CI 5.1,11.7; p= Conclusion: These findings suggest that IPV and Rape shows a significant association with decreased condom use, decreased condom negotiation, sexual position, drug use and HIV risk among YBMSM in Jackson, MS.

A pesquisa teve por objetivo analisar processos de resiliência em mulheres negras, considerando as influências de conteúdos oriundos de transmissão psíquica (familiares negras, descendentes, ascendentes, ancestrais), de simbolismos associados a mulheres negras, e de significados decorrentes do pertencimento a manifestações negras (culturais, políticas, intelectuais, religiosas). Como metodologia, entrevistas (com estratégia de cenas) com quatro mulheres negras de diferentes gerações na mesma família; os dados passaram por análise de conteúdo, com colaboração das entrevistadas. Considerou-se a demanda e interesse por potenciais para a saúde, abordando o problema com enfoque em pontos de resolução e fortalecimento, focalizando prevenção, superações, amadurecimentos, potenciais, e extrapolando o foco exclusivo ou maior em mazelas e impactos negativos. Foi escolhida uma postura de ampliação do panorama considerado na análise do fenômeno, conjugando os contextos individual, social e histórico do problema. Tais posturas estão em consonância com as teorias adotadas, passando pela psicanálise, psicanálise social, psicanálise dos vínculos, psicologia social, psicologia afrocentrada, entre outras, incluindo os recortes racial e de gênero e a abordagem psicossocial. A dissertação tem início pela introdução, com justificativas, enquadramento político e epistemológico, e apresentação da pesquisadora e dos capítulos. O segundo capítulo expõe o problema de pesquisa, apresentando os objetivos geral e específicos. O terceiro trata de mulheres negras, com perfil (histórico, contexto atual e saúde da população negra na primeira parte, e de mulheres negras na segunda) e psicologia e relações raciais (em geral e com recorte de gênero). No quarto, resiliência, subdividido em definições e discussão crítica. No quinto, resiliência em mulheres negras e suas influências, incluindo os itens transmissão psíquica, simbolismos associados a mulheres negras, significados decorrentes do pertencimento a manifestações negras, resiliência em negros(as) e resiliência em mulheres negras. No sexto capítulo, metodologia: colaboradoras, instrumentos, procedimentos, cuidados éticos e análise dos dados. O sétimo é de resultados e discussões, com categorias de análise. A primeira, Feridas até o coração, reúne experiências de adversidades e exposição a vulnerabilidades, discutindo efeitos prejudiciais dessas configurações, que vão desde comprometimentos orgânicos, passando pelos psicossociais e chegando às relações familiares e afetivas. Desde as ancestrais trata da herança relacionada a outras mulheres negras, seja por transmissão psíquica ou advinda de simbolismos. A terceira categoria, Nas tradições, expõe e analisa relatos relacionados ao pertencimento a manifestações negras, sendo possível identificar coerências ou discrepâncias em relação ao aporte teórico sobre enraizamento e pertencimentos, e discutir a influência desses aspectos sobre o processo de resiliência, por meio de reconciliação com sua origem, conscientização de sua história, ressignificação de sua autoimagem, reorientação para a resistência e potencialização da resiliência. A quarta categoria, Erguem-se guerreiras, ilustra e analisa os enfrentamentos e superações. A quinta categoria, Da resistência à resiliência, investiga a influência dos aspectos anteriores sobre a potencialização da resiliência, discutindo como resistência pode promover resiliência, por que meios, a que custo, com que efeito. Cumpridos os objetivos propostos, o oitavo e último capítulo traz lições aprendidas e recomendações. Posteriormente, são informadas as referências e anexados os termos de aceitação livre e esclarecida, o questionário de classificação social e o roteiro da entrevista / It was the objective of this research to analyze the processes of resilience in black women, taking into consideration the influences in content deriving from psychological transmission (black female relatives, descendants, ascendants, ancestors), from the symbolisms associated with black women, and from the meaning deriving from affiliation in black expressions (cultural, political, intellectual, religious). The methodology for the research included interviewing (with strategy with scenes) with four black women from different generations in the same family. The data collected went through content analysis, with the collaboration of the interviewees. The research also took into consideration the interest and demand for potential for health, approaching the problem focused on the points of resolutions and strengthening. It gives emphasis to the prevention, overcoming, personal growth and potentials. This research also goes beyond the main or only concern on adversities and on causing a negative impression impacts. It was chosen a posture at a widening of the view considered in the analysis of the phenomenon, combining individual, social and historical contexts of the problem. Such attitude is tuned to the followed theories, going through psychoanalysis, social psychoanalysis, psychoanalysis of family bonds, social psychology, afro-centered psychology, among others, including race and genre specially and the psychosocial approach. The dissertation begins with the introduction, together with justifications, of the political and epistemological framework and the description to the researcher and the other chapters. Chapter two approaches the problem of the research, its general and specific objectives. The third chapter refers to black women, with a profile (historical, present context and the health of the black population in the first item, and about black women on the second) and psychology and race relations (from a general view and with a race profile). In chapter four, resilience is divided into definitions and a critical discussion. Chapter five, resilience in black women and its influences, including the items psychological transmission, symbolisms associated with black women, meanings resulting from affiliation to a black expression, resilience in black population and resilience in black women. In chapter six, the methodology: collaborators, tools, procedures, ethical care and data analysis. The seventh chapter is dedicated to the results and discussions, with categories for the analysis. In the first category, \"Hurts to the heart\", experiences of facing adversities and exposure to vulnerabilities are put together, discussing the ill effects of those situations that go from organic compromising, through psychosocial up to familiar and affective relations. \"From the ancestors\" covers the heritage passed on by black women, by psychological transmission and resulting from the symbolism. The third category, \"On traditions\", shows and analyzes stories related to affiliation to the black expressions, where it is possible to identify points of coherence or discrepancy in relation to the theoretical aspects regarding the idea of putting down roots and affiliations, and discussing its influence on boosting the process of resilience, through the reconciliation with their origins, getting more awareness of their history, giving a new meaning to their self image, re-orientation for the resistance and potentialization of the resilience. The fourth category Raise themselves black women warriors illustrates and analyzes the clash and overcoming. The fifth category, \"From resistance to resilience\", studies the influence of the aspects above on the potentialization of resilience. It questions about how resistance can encourage resilience, means, costs and effects. Once the proposed goals be achieved, the eight and last chapter brings about lessons learnt and recommendations. Then, the references and the annexed terms of acceptance free and elucidated are presented, as well as the questionnaire for social classification and the list of questions for the interviews

Na cidade de Aracaju-Sergipe, durante os últimos anos da década de 1990, instituições negras, mulheres e homens ativistas chegavam a um ponto importante dos seus investimentos políticos, os quais se referiam à consolidação de suas organizações e à participação no poder estatal. Algumas daquelas instituições estavam inseridas em redes privilegiadas de captação de recursos junto a Agências Financiadoras e ao Estado, passando a modificar o perfil da atuação e das relações nos movimentos sociais negros, na medida em que alteraram os conteúdos da ação política. Neste cenário, as relações afetivas protagonizadas por homens negros e mulheres negras passaram a se adequar ao conjunto de projetos e propósitos políticos, vindo a dar novos tons às imagens simbólicas das relações entre esses dois segmentos e à noção de poder, mobilizando novos discursos acerca do papel que as relações de afeto desempenhariam em tais meios. Esta tese analisa os modos como essas demandas políticas e por afeto foram assumidas por mulheres e homens ativistas dos movimentos sociais negros da cidade de Aracaju durante a primeira década do século XXI. / In the city of Aracaju-Sergipe, during the last years of the 1990s, black institutions, women and men activists arrived at an important point of their investment policy, which referred to the consolidation of their organizations and participation in state power. Some of those institutions were entered in privileged networks of raising funds from the Funding Agencies and the state, going to change the profile of the work and the relationships in the black social movements, in that it changed the content of political action. In this scenario, affective relationships starring black men and black women began to fit the set of projects and political purposes, been giving new shades to the symbolic images of the relations between these two segments and the notion of power, mobilizing new discourses about role that relationships of affection would play in such media. This thesis examines the ways in which those policies and demands for affection were assumed by women and men activists of social movements in the city of Aracaju blacks during the first decade of this century.

Historically and contemporarily the Black male experience has stimulated and provoked meaningful discussions in the realms of sport and academia. Black males are uniquely situated in American society, as they inhabit a liminal existence that oscillates between love and hate. Ladson-Billings (2011) expounds that Black boys are loved in the narrow niches of sport but are often abhorred in academic settings. The majority of research on the athletic and academic identities of Black student-athletes is conducted at the collegiate level in the revenue sports of basketball and football, and the research asserts that the collegiate sport atmosphere renders the two identities as mutually exclusive (Edwards, 1984; Harrison et al., 2011; Singer, 2008). There are studies occurring at the middle school level; however, these studies combine all male athletes into one group and do not distinguish the research participants according to their specific sport participation or racial background (Alfone, 2013; Fuller, Percy, & Bruening, 2013; Gorton, 2010). The few studies that distinguish between race and sport participation are somewhat dated (Mahiri, 1991, 1998; Nasir, 2000, 2008). This study addresses a gap in the literature by focusing solely on elite Black male middle school student-athletes to discover what leads to the seemingly incompatible athletic and academic identities that surface during college. I employed an instrumental case study grounded in Critical Race Theory which investigated and examined the experiences and perspectives of seven elite Black middle school club basketball players. Themes were generated by coding the interview data of all relevant stakeholders such as coaches, players, and parents as well as a thorough analysis of field notes, artifacts, and focus group data. Five themes emerged from the data, Academic Recognition, Athletic Recognition, Career, Racial Expectations, & Time Devoted to Sport and Intellectual Endeavors. This study is significant because it contextualizes the racial, athletic and academic climate of Black male athletes at a crucial time in their identity development. It contributes to the current literature by providing insight and furnishing essential information for parents, coaches and educators in order to bolster and enhance the academic identity and attainment of young Black male basketball players.