Reviewer: Alan Chin
Publisher: Cleis Press
Pages: 246
In Deconstructing Tyrone, two black journalists examine
black masculinity in the hip-hop generation from a variety of perspectives.
With chapters on black men in politics (Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick), on the
relationship between the misogynist hip-hop culture and women, on how gay men
fit into the black masculinity picture, on babydaddies, on gay black men on the
“down low,” and black men in the office, at school, and in jail, this book
presents a multifaceted picture of American black men today.
I confess I know little about the black experience today,
and I found this book to be both illuminating and inspiring. These two writers
examine a complex subject with empathy, wit, and acute intelligence. They attempt to break down the myths presented
in the media surrounding black masculinity, with a focus on how it effects
black males, hip-hop culture, and the relationships between black men and
women. I was particularly interested in how gay black men fit into this
culture, and I found that fascinating, yet that is only a small part of an
intricate puzzle.
This book goes beyond scrutinizing a snapshot of today’s
black culture. It makes an honest attempt to understand where black masculinity
as it relates to black women will evolve to in the near future.
Thoughtful and absorbing, I can highly recommend this book
to anyone wanting a greater understanding of American black culture, and what
directions that culture is moving.
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