In seven representative episodes of black masculine literary and cultural history—from the founding of the first African American Masonic lodge in 1775 to the

Explores how African-American males have been portrayed in literature and society from 1775 to 1995.

Masculinity Under Construction: Literary Re-Presentations of Black Masculinity in the African Diaspora analyzes Black male identity as constructed by Black male

Traces the origins of Black body politics in the United States and its contemporary manifestations in hip-hop music and film.

Discusses what black males fear most, their longing for intimacy, the pitfalls of patriarchy, and the destruction of oppression through redemption and love.