Rethinking Black Masculinity and Sexuality

Presenter Information

Camron Millhouse

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Campus where you would like to present

SURC Room 271

Start Date

15-5-2014

End Date

15-5-2014

Keywords

Masculinity, Sexuality, Media

Abstract

The commodification and misrepresentation of Black masculinity and sexuality, specifically within American societies, has and continues to lead to a type of dehumanization that is unique to African American males. I contend that this occurs in part due to what I will call sexual alienation. Sexual alienation consists of someone being reduced to an object because their identity is projected into parts or qualities of their body. In order to combat this sexual alienation, patriarchal masculinity must be either become more flexible or be altogether abolished as it is now. In addition to this, the misrepresentation of Black masculinity and sexuality in the media must be combated with images of blackness that accurately reflect the diversity of different classes of Black males. This can be accomplished by synthesizing the efforts of several activists to articulate and demonstrate a less stringent view of what it means to be a Black male in America. In this era, technology is becoming evermore engrained in our lives and as a result it is time to stop merely giving lip service to the power that the media has in shaping our perspectives and our lives. By understanding how media has significantly shaped culture in the past as well as how it continues to do so today, humanity can take a step forward in terms of understanding how we come to have the perceptions that we do.

Faculty Mentor(s)

Coe, Cynthia

Additional Mentoring Department

Philosophy and Religious Studies

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May 15th, 3:00 PM May 15th, 3:20 PM

Rethinking Black Masculinity and Sexuality

SURC Room 271

The commodification and misrepresentation of Black masculinity and sexuality, specifically within American societies, has and continues to lead to a type of dehumanization that is unique to African American males. I contend that this occurs in part due to what I will call sexual alienation. Sexual alienation consists of someone being reduced to an object because their identity is projected into parts or qualities of their body. In order to combat this sexual alienation, patriarchal masculinity must be either become more flexible or be altogether abolished as it is now. In addition to this, the misrepresentation of Black masculinity and sexuality in the media must be combated with images of blackness that accurately reflect the diversity of different classes of Black males. This can be accomplished by synthesizing the efforts of several activists to articulate and demonstrate a less stringent view of what it means to be a Black male in America. In this era, technology is becoming evermore engrained in our lives and as a result it is time to stop merely giving lip service to the power that the media has in shaping our perspectives and our lives. By understanding how media has significantly shaped culture in the past as well as how it continues to do so today, humanity can take a step forward in terms of understanding how we come to have the perceptions that we do.