New Black Man

by Mark Anthony Neal

From headlines to street corners, the message resounds: Black men are in crisis. Politicians, preachers, and pundits routinely cast blame on those already ostracized within African American communities. But the crisis of black masculinity does not rest with "at-risk" youth of the hip-hop generation or men "on the down low" alone. In this provocative new book, acclaimed cultural critic Mark Anthony Neal argues that the "Strong Black Man"-an ideal championed by generations of African American civic leaders-may be at the heart of problems facing black men today.

Genres: African American, Nonfiction, Feminism, Gender, Race

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Jim Robles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will be attending:
Inaugural Trinity Distinguished Lecture
Mark Anthony Neal, Professor, AAASFeaturing: Mark Anthony Neal, Professor, Department of African & African American Studies
Thursday, May 4, 2017

By delving into such topics as hip-hop music and gender relations within African American culture, urban sociology, black masculinity, and queer theory, Mark Anthony Neal challenges audiences to engage with the ideologies of black popular culture. He seeks to understand how the music, television, film and literature of African diaspora cultures impact the societal and cultural norms of the United States and around the world. Neal is the founder and managing editor of the blog NewBlackMan and he hosts the weekly webcast Left of Black.

I hope to see you there.

"For a generation of young black men who have become accustomed to "death by drive-by," AIDS is now the leading cause of death among African-American men between the ages of twenty-five and forty-four."

". . . . October 2004 neither Vice-President Dick Cheney nor nominee John Edwards were aware that for black women between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-four HIV was the largest cause of death" (p. 153).

" - and the black community's continued willingness to close ranks around black men, particularly when they prey on women and children" (p. 94).

What about the influence of professional and big college sports, particularly football?

"Such oversights are likely to occur within a culture that valued Kelly's celebrity over the lives of young black girls who accused him of having sexual contact wit them" (p. 121).

More on p. 122 and 123. Back to football: young white women were sacrificed at Baylor University and white boys were sacrificed at Penn State.

[Curtis Chamblee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book needed these theoretical concepts as an emerging scholar.

[Edwina Louise Dorch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanted more than I got from this book. Love Neal's podcast. Always so informative.

[Craig Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Mark Anthony Neal is fully aware, this is more a conversation starter than a final word on the topics it raises. Tracing the emergence of his black feminist consciousness to the mentorship of African American poet, playwright and intellectual elder Alexis DeVeaux, Neal combines autobiographical and scholarly approaches to the question of how to bring his abstract beliefs to bear on the messiness of gender in America. Neal identifies himself as a member of the hip hop generation and he circles back, appropriately, to the music's place in the conversation. What emerges is both a moving picture of Neal's connection with his daughters and a call to others, especially black men, to keep on working things out. His final chapter provides a set of take home messages: "Black Femnism is not the enemy"; "Real Black Men are not homophobes"; "Hip Hop is not the problem, but it is a problem"; etc. I read this book in the context of a group independent study with students in and around the Afro-American Studies Department at the University of Wisconsin and it generated a great discussion.

One note: the book, which obviously unfolded over a long period of time before its publication in 2006, shows some signs of the process. There's quite a bit of repetition and it takes a long time to get around to the thesis. That's defensible as an honest reflection of the process of becoming feminist, but I would have liked a few more guideposts early on.

[K Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Black Man is my first feminist book that I have read cover to cover, and it is definitely my first feminist book written by a Black man.

The theories and ideas presented are true and have the power to convict the misogynist and homophobic mind. Not only was I able to finally admit that at one point I was homophobic mostly due to high school social stratification, I was able to truly see the beauty in the interaction with people no matter what.

I wish that I was able to read this in a class setting because I would love to share views and dialogue about points that I may have missed or need to re-examine.

I would recommend this book to anyone. It is an easy read, and it will add more so many books to your list of must reads.

[Clare · Rating 2 out of 5]

In essence a memoir of a black male feminist traversing the different cultural aspects of american life. From homophobia in the black community to hip-hop and gangsta-rap that promotes misogyny, how does a black male feminist view these issues. I think the author explains these issues and makes them somewhat relevant but I also think there is a bit of privilege that he holds that allows him more power in being able to tackle these everyday contradictions within the black community in an individualized way. A lot of his analysis is on point but no real solutions are given just a relay of his personal experiences being a self labeled "black male feminist" within the black community where there seems to be an over-abundance of essentialist rhetoric and thinking without deeper analysis.

[Ryan Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that celebrates a feminist stance for black men in relation to women, specifically black women. It addresses the problems that face the hip hop generation with regard to its anti-woman and anti-homosexual attitudes. It takes on the Strong Black Man ideal (a parallel to which exists in almost all cultures) and shows how embracing fatherhood, anti-homophobic views, and pro-woman values is necessary for the progress of Black Americans. The book really challenged my views on race, patriarchy, and sexuality. At less than 200 pages, it packs a quick, powerful punch.

[Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't expect this to appeal to, well, those folk who aren't involved with or black men themselves, but the pragmatism and optimism appealed to me, even though I'm a pessimist at heart. Sheds light on the contradictions and hopes we have as black men; the "big dick" theory, thepro-Africa movement, the use of culture as definition. A friend loaned it to me, and I've bought copies for others after reading it.

[Jeremy Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as research for my book and I found it to be a mixed bag. On one hand, I strongly agree with Neal's sentiments; we're on the same page about where fatherhood and masculinity need to go. Also, Neal is a very sharp cultural observer--when he talks about music, TV, or whatever, I learn something new. On the other hand, the autobiographical passages of this book are stilted and sometimes even trivial. I came away with the impression that Neal is a man somewhat afraid of himself.

[Crystal Belle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good points overall, but a little cliche. I was hoping that his term, "new black man" would encompass more than being a feminist supporter and a nurturing father, although those qualities are significant.

[Royce Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nowhere near the most challenging text on black masculinity this book did however inspire me to declare a Women's Studies major.

[Larry Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book opened my eyes. I always thought I was a thoughful, enlightened man. Dr. Neal helped me see how wrong I was. The book made me reevalute my politics and convinced me to go back to school.

[Enrique · Rating 5 out of 5]

His view on what the black male archetype is will be a very challenging one for black men in general to embrace. We must continue to promote the idea until we as brothers buy in.