Synopses & Reviews
From Brotherhood to Manhood"The white client stepped to the curb and effortlessly hailed a cab. Fifteen minutes later, Bill was still standing at the curbside with his hand up, while white men and women flowed around him to hail cabs of their own." The cumulative effect of all-too-familiar incidents like this one lead to what Dr. A. J. Franklin, a leading African American psychologist and psychotherapist, defines in this groundbreaking book as the Invisibility syndrome-the source of indignation, disillusionment, anger, depression, isolation, and substance abuse that stems from coping with lifelong racial tension.
Beginning in early childhood and continuing long into adulthood, the stereotypes are pervasive, wrong, and crushingly negative: that black men are angry, intimidating, and violent; that they are irresponsible, promiscuous, and undependable. Behind this wall of preconception and bias stand legions of African American men whose personalities, aspirations, and idiosyncrasies are not what many believe-they are invisible, not only to the white world, but often to their own communities, to their families, and even to themselves.
In From Brotherhood to Manhood, Dr. Franklin offers hope and healing for black men who long for the recognition, respect, inner peace, and integrity that every human being seeks. The first comprehensive analysis of black male psychology in nearly two decades, this powerful healing guide gives African American men the tools they need to identify and feel comfortable with who they are. It helps them learn to overcome both indirect and blatant slights; command respect without resorting to anger or violence; and find satisfaction at work, at home, and in every type of social encounter while pursuing their dreams. This book offers vision and direction for African American men to achieve the desired goals of manhood.
Whether you're an African American man struggling to overcome emotional frustration and find recognition, respect, and inner peace–or a woman trying to understand and support a loved one–this wise and deeply moving guidebook give you the strength, skill, and insight to succeed. From Brotherhood to Manhood is a landmark publication that also be an important resource for mental health professionals, social workers, educators, and anyone else who wants to develop a more complete understanding of African American men.
Synopsis
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
Synopsis
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
About the Author
Anderson J. Franklin, PH.D., is a professor and former director of the Clinical Psychology Program at the City College and Graduate Center of The City University of New York. He is past president of the Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues, a Division of the American Psychological Association, as well as past president of the New York Association of Black Psychologists.
Table of Contents
Preface.
PART ONE: THE ANATOMY OF INVISIBILITY.
1. Invisible Men.
2. The Brotherhood Rules.
3. Dilemmas of Trust, Power, and Control.
PART TWO: ENTERING THE DANGER ZONES.
4. Masculinity and Sexuality: The Myths and the Messages.
5. The Miseducation of African American Boys.
6. Becoming Our Fathers.
PART THREE: LOOKING BENEATH THE SURFACE OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS.
7. Friendships Among Black Men.
8. Relationships with Black Women.
PART FOUR: MOVING ON: FROM BROTHERHOOD TO MANHOOD.
9. Seeking Help: Trusting the Wisdom of Others.
10. The Twelve Lessons of Empowerment.
11. Strategies for Moving On.
Suggested Readings.
Additional Readings.
Appendix: Black Men: Facts and Figures.
Index.