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Stereotyping Black Masculinity

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For many years, black males have been betrayed to be these violent, sexual human beings and this has made it difficult for black males to get in touch with their humanity. To be able to have sex with as many girls as possible or to be this tough figure all the time, does that really make you a man? The discussion of black masculinity is an issue that’s destroying black men’s humanity. In today’s world, black males are looked upon to be the “tough guy” in their definition of masculinity. Black males have historically been associated with thugs, gangsters, and pimps. These are negative images that society portrays young black men. To some degree the media to blame for that and our youth because the radio and the T.V. keeps stereotyping black males through rap music and their videos, and the young people today are listening and buying this music. Wars have been started because some individual wanted to expand his power over others. Men have raped because of the hatred they feel toward women. Some men have sexually molested children because they could not get their sexual needs met with an equal. According to historian, Michael Hatt, “Men have claimed to be tough by ignoring their health and other problems with their bodies. Men think it is a weakness to show or express their feelings towards other human beings.” These problems of black masculinity are so complex that people don’t really want to tackle these issues that are at stake.   Although black males have been described as this dominant figure, there are those who have been normal human beings. It has been stated that; “There are men who treat their spouses as equals. There are men in this society who take care of babies and children and men who shun violence and sexual promiscuity to prove their manhood. There are men who value their bodies and are comfortable in their own sexuality. There are men who see the need to reconstruct the norms of masculinity” (Ha

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