African & Black Culture. Queer Experience. Public Education.
While some men are perceived as embodying society’s classic ideals of manhood — tall, muscular, athletic, affluent, or socially dominant — these standards can feel unattainable to many others. The …
How White Queer Culture Uses Masculinity to Control Black Queer Men Read More
Mandem simply means “my friends” or “the boys” and carries a positive communal meaning. This article talks about “Mandem Performance”: the strategic adoption or exaggeration of urban masculine aesthetics, mannerisms …
Mandem, DL and Power: Masculinity as Control in the UK Black Gay Scene Read More
Mandem simply means “my friends” or “the boys” and carries a positive communal meaning. This article talks about “Mandem Performance”: the strategic adoption or exaggeration of urban masculine aesthetics, mannerisms …
Hypermasculinity & Manipulation: What Black Gay Men Need to Know Read More
1. Muscularity vs. Hypermasculinity—Why the Distinction Matters For Black gay men, a muscular body often attracts assumptions—about sexual role, aggression, and even threat. And sometimes, too, macho labelling. While muscularity …
Muscularity vs Hypermasculinity in Black Gay Men—Key Differences & Signs Read More
A. Intro: Hypermasculinity is not ‘Premium’ Masculinity Hypermasculinity rarely reflects true confidence. Many men use exaggerated displays of masculinity to mask feelings of shame or boost social standing. While it …
Hypermasculinity in Black Gay Men—How Fear Drives the ‘Macho Act’ Read More
It’s Not “Toxic”—It’s Survival. When people talk about internal hierarchies among Black gay and bisexual men, they are usually describing the informal ranking systems that dominate dating apps, friendship circles, …
Why Internal Hierarchies Are So Common Among Black Gay Men Read More
Strong But Not Smart: The Creation of a Myth American slavery was instrumental in promoting the harmful myth of “strong bodies, weak minds,” which portrayed Black men as physically strong …
Impact of Slavery on Black Gay Masculinity and Desire Read More
Malik’s phone lit up with messages the way it always did—fire emojis, quick compliments, the same shorthand that reduced him to a silhouette. He had just posted a photo from …
Trade vs. Thinker: The Cost of Valuing Black Bodies Over Black Minds Read More