T.H.UG.L.I.F.E.: An analysis of adolescent black males’ figured manhoods and their quests for manhood

In a patriarchal society, such as America, males are socialized to adhere to a hegemonic manhood legitimizing the subordination of all women and men deemed feminine. For black males, “traditional” norms and roles associated with the dominant ideology ignore the structural discrimination that impede upon their ability to meet these standards. Currently, there is a limited understanding of black males’ figured manhoods hence this study was created in response to a call to explore the figured manhoods of black males throughout the different stages of their lives to further the deconstruction of black manhood. This study explored the figured manhoods of 12 adolescent black males (age 16 to 18) enrolled in an alternative education program facilitated by the U.S. National Guard utilizing a descriptive case study approach guided by the following research questions: (1) What are the figured manhoods of 12 adolescent black males enrolled in an alternative education program; (2) How were their figured manhoods formed?; and (3) In what ways, did their figured manhoods guided their quests for manhood? A thematic analysis of the participants Discourse revealed that: (a) they viewed manhood as a status achieved via the fulfillment of the provider and protector roles in relation to themselves and their families; (b) their figured manhoods were socialized through direct interactions with agents of socialization and indirect encounters with America’s social institutions; and (c) their quests for manhood were determined by their figured manhoods coupled with their perception of opportunities available to them to achieve manhood status