One of the first books to unite practice, research, and theory in addressing manhood development, Manhood Development in Urban African-American Communities aids in the construction of more holistic and progressive notions of African-American manhood. Proceeding from a psychological perspective, this text explores issues of culture and race as they impact on the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral characteristics of African-American boys and men. You will see how the development of self-esteem and self-image in African-American men are specifically affected by issues of gender, race, culture, religion, and oppression. You will see how the development of self-esteem and self-image in African-American men are specifically affected by issues of gender, race, culture, religion. The understanding of culture, oppression, and gender you’ll gain from this book will enable you to promote the positive development of young men.Manhood Development in Urban African-American Communities covers theories, research, and intervention programs aimed at better understanding and addressing the challenges young African-American men face in urban areas. Psychologists, sociologists, social workers, and all others interested in research on youth development will be captivated by the books explorations of: the role of culture in the social development of African-American youth cluster profiles of racial socialization beliefs, giving special consideration to factors of spiritual/religious coping, extended family care, cultural pride reinforcement, and racial awareness oppression and sociopolitical development as a basis for interventions aimed at sociopolitical awareness and action findings from SQAKs (Student Questionnaire on Academic Performance, Cognitive Development, and Social Knowledge) completed by 100 participants of the RAAMUS (Responsible African-American Men United in Spirit) Academy and their implications for future youth interventions a multi-method study that explores the relationship between gender, spirituality, and spiritual well-being and several indices of religiosity, including religious participation and religious motivation a review of manhood and womanhood development in traditional African societies and the connection with contemporary developmentThe themes of gender, oppression-liberation, and culture found throughout Manhood Development in Urban African-American Communities provide a broad scope for the inclusion of a wide range of perspectives and disciplines, ranging from the psychological to the political. This broad perspective will bring to light the specific ways in which we need to change things to allow our young African-American men living in urban areas to form healthy, positive images of themselves as individuals and as part of a greater society in which they often face grave challenges.

Issues in individual, couple, family and group treatment, policy formulation, programme development and community practice.

This groundbreaking book applies the concept of social determinants of health to the health of African- American men. While there have been significant efforts in recent years to eliminate health disparities, serious disparities continue to exist especially with regard to African–American men who continue to suffer disproportionately from poor health when compared to other racial, ethnic, and gender groups in the United States. This book covers the most important issues relating to social determinants of health and also offers viable strategies for reducing health disparities.

African American males have never fared as poorly as they do currently on a number of social indicators. They are less likely to complete high school than their white male and female or African American female peers, they are more likely to exhibit depressive symptoms, and they have fewer sanctioned coping strategies. Arguably, no other group in American society has been more maligned, regularly faced with tremendous odds that uniquely threaten their existence. When they do receive education, mental health, and physical health services, it is often in correctional settings. They are marginalized in public policies on secondary and higher education attainment, marriage and parental expectations, public welfare, health, housing, and community development. Yet they remain overlooked in health and social science research and are stereotyped in the popular media. Taking a step back from the traditionally myopic view of African American males as criminals and hustlers, this groundbreaking book provides a more nuanced and realistic portrait of their experiences in the world. Chapter authors, both established and emerging scholars of social problems relevant to African Americans, offer a comprehensive overview of the social and economic data on black males to date and the significant issues that affect them from adolescence to adulthood. Via in-depth qualitiative interviews as well as comprehensive surveys and data sets, their physical, mental, and spiritual health and emerging family roles are considered within both individual and communal contexts. Chapters cover health issues such as HIV and depression; fatherhood and family roles; suicide; violence; academic achievement; and incarceration. With original research and a special eye toward enhancing social work and social welfare intervention practice with this often overlooked subpopulation of American society, this volume will be of great interest to researchers interested in African American issues, students, practitioners, and policy makers.

An authoritative, broad, and practical survey of the social, psychological, and physical development of American teenagers. In Adolescence in America, more than 100 leading experts from the fields of biology, medicine, behavioral and social science, law, education, and the humanities piece together the puzzle of adolescence. In readable, accessible language they analyze the explosion of research that has reshaped the study of adolescence in the last 30 years and explain how today's leading scientists and practitioners view the challenges of this developmental period. Best of all, they show parents how to apply the latest scientific knowledge, such as the 40 "developmental assets" that predict a child's behavior, to their own family situation.

Drawing on personal insights and research-based knowledge, this important work facilitates understanding of the psychological struggles of young African American males and offers ameliorative strategies. Despite examples set by successful black men in all walks of life, the truth remains that a disproportionate number of black boys and young men underperform at school, suffer from PTSD, and, too often, find themselves on a pathway to jail. The two-volume The Psychology of Black Boys and Adolescents marks the first attempt to catalog the many psychological influences that can stack the deck against black male children—and to suggest interventions. Bringing together an expansive collection of new and classic research from a wide variety of disciplines, this set sheds light on the complex circumstances faced by young black men in the United States. Contributions by authors Kirkland Vaughans and Warren Spielberg contain insights from the groundbreaking "Brotherman" study, conducted over a ten-year period to report on the lives and psychological challenges of over a hundred African American boys and their families. Among the myriad issues studied in this set are the often-negative expectations of society, the influence of gangs, and the impact of racism and poverty. Of equal importance, the work explores culturally specific ways to engage families, youths, communities, and policymakers in the development of healthy, safe, educated boys who will become whole and successful adults.

The linkages between a student’s health and a student’s ability to learn have been well established. Children who are sick stay home; and, children at home cannot learn if they are not in school leading to increased dropout rates among other educational outcomes. However, an understanding of this concept is just the beginning of understanding how education and public health are inextricably linked. In light of this, Linking Health and Education for African American Students’ Success examines health disparities and education inequities simultaneously and moves beyond a basic understanding of health and education in K-12 school programs. The structural inequalities which lead to reduced academic attainment mirror the social determinants of health. Education is one of the most powerful determinants of health, and disparities in educational achievement as a result of structural inequalities closely track disparities in health. These disparities lead to both sub-standard healthcare and reduced academic attainment among children from underserved minorities in the United States, especially African Americans. This book discusses how this may result in children with poorer mental health outcomes; higher school dropout rates; increased risks of arrests and incarceration; higher rates of chronic diseases and mortality; and overall diminished opportunities for success, while providing suggestions as to how to address these issues. This results in an insightful read for researchers, academics and practitioners in the fields of healthcare and education.

Wisdom and guidance for African American men in search of a full and empowered life. "From Brotherhood to Manhood explores-with rich clinical wisdom-the unique burdens of being black and male in America. A.J. Franklin offers insightful advice to inspire men from any background. This forthright book should be read by everyone interested in understanding the obstacles along the journey toward manhood."-Alvin F. Poussaint, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School "Dr. Anderson Franklin travels to the core of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man and reinterprets how this idea plays itself out today. For those African Americans who live with 'Invisibility syndrome' daily and are in need of relief, he offers solutions. For a nation still oblivious to the ways it tears out he heart of our democratic republic, he offers a wake-up call."-Bakari Kitwana, author of the Hip Hop Generation: Young Black and the Crisis in African American Culture "I believe this can be an extraordinarily useful tool not only for black males, but for all of those who will be interacting with black males in American society."-Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., M.D., Professor of Neurological Surgery, Oncology, Plastic Surgery, and Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions "Invisible brothers become visible men on the pages of this book. Dr. Franklin exposes the problem, unburdens the reader, gives hop for healing, [and] designs and forges new paths to visibility What a debriefing!"-Dr. Gwendolyn Goldsby Grant, psychologist, advice columnist, Essence magazine, and author of the Best Kind of Loving "Not since Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man has any author captured so powerfully and authentically the essence of what life is like in America for African American men."-Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Senior Pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, Illinois "This warm, real, and often heartbreaking book gives us an insider's view of what it is like to be black and male in this works. Dr. Franklin offers practical strategies for the affirmations needed and the celebrations required if we have men in our lives. If you know and care about a black man, you ought to read this book."-Gail Elizabeth Wyatt, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, author of Stolen Women, and coauthor of No More Clueless Sex

Community social work practice based on a capacity enhancement model offers tremendous potential for unifying communities consisting of groups from very different cultural backgrounds, and in the process of doing so, make physical changes in the community. Community Social Work Practice in An Urban Context aims to teach graduate students with an emphasis on community and urban social work how to create positive community environments in marginalized urban-based communities. The use of murals, gardens, playgrounds, and sculptures, for example provide social workers with an opportunity to identify, engage, and plan services with communities. These projects, in turn, are based upon a community's strengths and represent an effort at developing a community's capacity to help itself with assistance from professionals.

The plight of the Black male in American society has been well-documented by scholars and practitioners. Although Black males represent only 6 percent of the American population, they represent about 40 percent of the prison population; the number of Black males in prison and jail exceeds the number of Black males in higher education. The homicide rates for Black males were 72.5 percent per 100,000, nearly eight times higher than for White males. This bibliographic volume explores the extent to which American academia has addressed these problems. It will be an invaluable resource for researchers as well as practitioners in social service programs. In addition to more than 400 annotated publications, the book includes a selected list of works on the African American male and a compilation of doctoral dissertations. This publication will serve as a reference in public as well as academic libraries, human service agencies, government policymaking agencies, and in academic courses in gender and ethnic studies, criminal justice, and social psychology.