Introduction: Masculinity, identity, and the health and well-being of African American men.

Abstract

The status of African American boys and men is of significant concern. This article reviews the literature on African American males within the field of the psychology of men and masculinity. We focus on theory and research that describe African American men's masculinity, and how traditional masculinity and racial identity relate to the health and well-being of African American men. The article provides a context for introducing this special series of articles on African American men that advance our understanding of psychosocial factors associated with the health and well-being of African American men. Gibbs's classic 1988 book, Young, Black, and Male in America: An Endangered Species, brought much needed attention to the status of young African American males and suggested that there had been marked deterioration compared with past generations. Compared with earlier cohorts, young African American males were more likely to be unemployed, involved in the criminal justice system, unwed fathers, and victims of homicide and sui- cide. Almost 25 years later the status of African American boys and men continues to be an issue of significant concern. For example, African American men have the shortest life expectancy of all race/gender groups (National Center for Health Statistics, 2005). In 2006, the rate of new HIV infection for African American men was six times higher than European American men, nearly three times that of Hispanic/Latino men and twice that of African American women (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 2010). Further, African American men are six times more likely than European American men to be incarcerated (National Urban League, 2007). Lastly, the growth rate of African American men enrolling in college is the lowest among minority groups in the United States (Harvey, 2003). While these data are discouraging, other research has high- lighted strengths, progress, and psychosocial patterns character- ized by resilience. Compared with the national averages, African American men had lower rates of alcohol use and binge drinking from 2004-2008 (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Service Administration, 2010), and lower rates of mood disorders than both African American women and Whites (Breslau, Su, Kendler, Aguilar-Gaxiola, Kessler, 2005; Brown & Keith, 2003; Robins et