Black Men’s Health : A Strengths-Based Approach Through a Social Justice Lens for Helping Professions

Now more than ever there is a need to focus on Black men's health in higher education and ensure that future practitioners are trained to ethically and culturally serve this historically oppressed community. This textbook provides practical insight and knowledge that prepare students to work with Black men and their families from a strengths-based and social justice lens. There is a dearth in the literature that discusses the prioritization of Black men’s health within the context of how they are viewed by societal approaches to engage them in research, and health programming aimed at increasing their participation in health services to decrease their morbidity and mortality rates. Much of the extant literature is over 10 years old and doesn't account for social determinants of health, perceptions of health status, as well as social justice implications that can affect the health outcomes of this historically oppressed population including structural and systemic racism as well as police brutality and gun violence. The book's 13 chapters represent a diversity of thought and perspectives of experts reflective of various disciplines and are organized in four sections: Part I - Racial Disparities and Black Men Part II - Black Masculinity Part III - Black Men in Research Part IV - Social Justice Implications for Black Men's Health Black Men’s Health serves as a core text across multiple disciplines and can be utilized in undergraduate- and graduate-level curriculums. It equips students and educators in social work, nursing, public health, and other helping professions with the knowledge and insight that can be helpful in their future experiences of working with Black men or men from other marginalized racial/ethnic groups and their families/social support systems. Scholars, practitioners, and academics in these disciplines, as well as community-based organizations who provide services to Black men and their families, state agencies, and evaluation firms with shared interests also would find this a useful resource. Foreword Reference Preface Acknowledgments Contents About the Editors About the Contributors Part I: Racial Disparities and Black Men Chapter 1: Modern Epidemiological Impacts on Black Men’s Health: Using a Social Justice-Oriented Analysis Introduction Social Capital Analysis of Health Literature Review Faith and Spirituality Significance to Social Work and Public Health References Chapter 2: Black Men and Healthy Together: Self-Management of Chronic Disease and Behavioral Health Black Men and Chronic Disease Self-Management Self-Management Programs Preliminary Support for this Culturally Competent Self-Management Program “Healthy Together” References Chapter 3: Positionality and Unpacking Current Perspectives on Black Male Health Toward Transformative Action The Permanence of Discrimination and Racism Distrust of Health Care and Government Response to Crisis Access to Mental Health Providers and Interpersonal Barriers The Need for Cultural Humility and the Decentralization of Whiteness and in Mental Health Services From Invisibility to Transformation: Revisiting Three Frameworks to Support the Positive Mental Health of Black Men Critical Race Theory Spatial Justice Capabilities Approach Conclusion: The Way Forward References Part II: Black Masculinity Chapter 4: Beyond Moving the Ball in Youth Sports: Making the Case for Mental Health for Black Youth Data on Black Youth and Sports Positive Youth Development and Youth Sports Addressing Mental Health for Black Youth What Can Be Done: ARMM Youth? Conclusion References Chapter 5: The Psychological Colonization of Black Masculinity: Decolonizing Mainstream Psychology for White Allies Working in Mental Health with Black Men References Chapter 6: Black Masculinity Remixed Introduction “At Risk”: Masculinity, Black Men, and Boys in Social Science Research Social Movements and Black Masculinity Defining the Remix: Exploring Complex Identities Among Black Men and Boys Case Studies Connections Truth N’ Trauma “Dude disappeared fuh ah lil while doe” Metropolitan Peace Academy Implications for Practice References Chapter 7: Building a Movement with Black Men: Culture Is the Key The Need for Rites of Passages: “A Strengths-Based Approach to Working with Black Men” A Strengths-Based Approach Culture as a Strength Building a Movement Utilizing Cultural Strengths: Men Healing Men and Communities Men Healing Men and Communities Rites of Passages Experience (ROPE): A Strengths-Based Approach to Working with Black Men Conclusion: Men Healing Men and Communities in Action References Part III: Black Men in Research Chapter 8: Asserting Voice: Navigating Service Delivery and Community Resources An Old Concept Revisited Service Integration: An Effective Solution to Raising Voice, Visibility, and Consciousness Continuing the Dialogue References Chapter 9: “The Talk” Revisited: Expanding the Conversation with Black Males in Trauma Mental Health Effects of Racism Racial Trauma: The Case of Kevin Digital Media and Racism Implications for Practice and Treatment Intersectionality Theory; the Criss-Cross of Social Identities, Social Systems, and Social Problems References Chapter 10: Innovative Strategies to Engage Black Men in Research Black Men in Research and Barriers to Engage in Research Studies Innovative and Best Practices to Engage Black Men in Research Intentional Tailored-Research Techniques (ITT) Innovative Tailored-Recruitment Intervention (iTRI) Personalized Innovative Comprehensive Strategies Why the (MOCHA) Project? References Part IV: Social Justice Implications for Black Men's Health Chapter 11: Social Justice and Black Men’s Health Racism and Mistrust Finances and Economic Stability Gender-Influenced Stereotypes Religion/Faith-Based Ideology Personal Health Management Incarceration Black Male Representation in Medicine Critical Race Theory Overview CRT Application: African American Men and American Healthcare Experience References Chapter 12: Advocacy, Politics, and the Sporting World’s Responses to Racial Unrest Background to Black Social Movements in America Critical Race Theory Blacks and Sports Before the Twentieth Century The Civil Rights Movement Police Brutality and Mass Incarceration State Violence Against Black Bodies and the Rise of Black Lives Matter References Chapter 13: Social Justice Implications for Black Men’s Health: Policing Black Bodies Introduction Top 10 Leading Causes of Death in Black Men Police Violence Against Black Men as a Public Health Concern Theoritical Framework Social Justice Implications Conclusion References Index