Creating a New Narrative: Reframing Black Masculinity for College Men

Abstract:The way Black men make meaning of their college experience is implicitly tied to how they internalize and demonstrate their masculinity. This research briefly reviews the concept of Black masculinity from a critical theory lens, situating it within the college milieu. Critical race theory (CRT) is introduced as a practical approach for challenging hegemonic ideologies about Black masculinity. CRT calls for the use of counter-narratives as a way for marginalized groups to retake ownership of their authentic voice. Colleges must create counter-spaces on campus where Black college men can begin to rethink, re-author, retell what it means to be a Black man.