Jackson discusses masculinity for Black boys and men in The 19th

August 2, 2021

The 19th

Jenn M. Jackson

Political Science Department

Campbell Public Affairs Institute

Gender and Sex

Race & Ethnicity

United States

The 19th

Jenn M. Jackson

Young Black men are especially constrained by society’s narrow definitions of masculinity. That’s why having a safe place to be their authentic selves is crucial. Fostering self-care and self-love is part of building healthy masculinity, says Jenn Jackson, assistant professor of political science. And men’s societal expectations are "particularly violent" for Black men, she says. "When it comes to young Black men and performing this masculinity, the stakes are really, really high,” Jackson says. "You can’t, as some people have told me in my research, you can’t wave your hands and be upset in public…when you look irate, you’re more likely to draw attention and you may end up in a confrontation with police officers.” Read more in The 19th article, "Building through affirmation: How one class helps Black boys define masculinity." 08/02/21