And Ain’t I a Man: An Examination of Violence Against African-American Men by Caucasian Men in the United States

Author

Bryan L. Greene, The Graduate Center, City University of New YorkFollow

Date of Degree

6-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Program

Liberal Studies

Advisor

David Halle

Subject Categories

Gender and Sexuality | Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | Race and Ethnicity

Keywords

Violence, African-American Men, Gender, Womanism

Abstract

Various scholars, particularly feminist scholars of color, have examined the experiences of women in the realm of violence perpetrated by men, particularly Caucasian/white men against women of color. Critical Race Theory has proven beneficial to discussing violence perpetrated by Caucasian men in the United States against various communities of color broadly. Using these two premises, this thesis seeks to bring into the conversation the subjugation of men of color by white men. By looking at classical theories concerning the dualities that people of color encounter and struggle with along with womanist theories of feminism, this thesis seeks to spark a conversation about how men of color, particularly African-American/Black men, are victims of violence like women of color. Particularly, this thesis will seek to support the idea that Caucasian American men are prone to exert violence against African-American men historically, contemporaneously and that in the hierarchy of American society, Caucasian Males in America are more like “perpetrators” and African-American Men are their most victims. This thesis nowhere negates the rampant perpetration of violence that men of color display against women of color. Rather, this article seeks to elicit intersectional concepts on the subject matter. The use of auto-ethnography contributes to this discussion by highlighting potential instances of violence by a white man against a young black man. The concept of a Hierarchy of Violence will be introduced in this thesis to support my claim. This thesis seeks to elicit a conversation about black men in general and how their lived experiences can be defined in race theories and feminist circles. There is a nuance and a void that is not really discussed that this thesis seeks to fill.

Recommended Citation

Greene, Bryan L., "And Ain’t I a Man: An Examination of Violence Against African-American Men by Caucasian Men in the United States" (2020). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/3755