Coming to the Defense of Black Masculinity ft. Ecclesiast Guerrier

A great conversation between friends on the Financial Griot Podcast about Black Masculinity in a changing world. Black masculinity reflects the complexity of Black lives in America. Additionally, it also reveals the deeper flaws.

Black Masculinity in a Service-Based Society

Firstly, it’s no secret that racism and a history of systemic discrimination are linked to various adverse financial, physical, and mental health outcomes. The effects of systemic racism have been persistent, calcified, and profound. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) pointed out that the increase in media reports and images of police brutality and violence inflicted upon members of the Black community has added insult to injury.

Secondly, the running narrative of the perpetual victim has stagnated confidence. That impact can be chronic, says Angela Neal-Barnett, Ph.D., director of the Program for Research on Anxiety Disorders Among African Americans. “Traumatic events related to racism have been unrelenting for Blacks. In good times, racism is a stressor; in bad times, racism is trauma,” she says.

Specific challenges to Black masculinity include: 

• Racism and discrimination make existing employment opportunities less available to African-American males. The is a growing wealth divide because of it.
• Job shortage adversely affects black men to the extent of not having jobs with good pay and benefits. Among adult men (20 years and older) by race and ethnicity groups, Blacks were the least likely, with a rate of 65.6 percent.
• Black men face barriers in finding housing. In 2021, 44% of Black Americans owned a home, compared to 72.7% of White Americans. This is the largest gap in homeownership between Black and White Americans in a decade.
• There is a lack of access to social services, including federal student aid, catering specifically to addressing the gender gap for Black boys. Black families are disproportionally represented in child welfare and are more likely to experience negative outcomes compared with White families.
• Black men are underrepresented in the undergraduate student population at predominantly white universities. Black men have the lowest college completion rate at 40%. Overall, male college enrollment rates have been declining over the past decade.
• Fathering is an important aspect of the definition of masculinity and identity to African American men. According to the National Center for Fathering, 57.6% of Black children live without their biological fathers. This is compared to 31.2% of Hispanic children and 20.7% of white children.
• Other challenges include Police brutality, Physician disrespect, Shopkeeper vigilance, Waiter indifference, and Teacher devaluation. 

So where do we go from here?

The Financial Griot is a play on two words (Finance + Griot) that hold significance in closing the wealth gap while embracing our differences. This is the perfect space to share our collective knowledge of economic hardship and perseverance. For Black men, it’s critical to be in “community with” other confident Black men.

These relationships will foster growth and opportunity. Beyond that, we have to start talking about Finances. Specifically, how to become Financially literate, incorporate actionable steps, and ultimately build generational wealth.

To improve, we need to move past outdated roles and encourage better care.

Find the TFG Crew Hosts on Instagram 

• Alainta Alcin – Blogger, Travel and Money Enthusiast @alainta_alcin
• Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez @theneighborhoodfinanceguy
• Lovely Merdelus – Entrepreneur and Small Business Growth Specialist @lovelymerdelus

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Lawrence Gonzalez

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