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We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity

4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 · rating details · 268 ratings · 32 reviews

When women get together and talk about men, the news is almost always bad news," writes bell hooks. "If the topic gets specific and the focus is on black men, the news is even worse."
In this powerful new book, bell hooks arrests our attention from the first page. Her title--We Real Cool; her subject--the way in which both white society and weak black leaders are failing b...more

Paperback, 160 pages

Published November 12th 2003 by Routledge (first published November 7th 2003)

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Apr 19, 2008 Jessica rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: black men; anyone else raising black boys, or with a special interest in black men/masculinity

Shelves: dicklits, leetle-boys, wish-i-owned

You, like many people (me, anyway), might be a little frightened of bell hooks, and understandably so. Hooks is going to yell at you. Well, okay, there I go enforcing racist, sexist stereotypes of strong black women: of course she's not actually going to yell, but she is also not going to go too gentle. Hooks is going to let you know straight up what the problem is, and part of that problem is you. She is going to call you and your imperialist white-supremacist capitalist sexist society on all o...more You, like many people (me, anyway), might be a little frightened of bell hooks, and understandably so. Hooks is going to yell at you. Well, okay, there I go enforcing racist, sexist stereotypes of strong black women: of course she's not actually going to yell, but she is also not going to go too gentle. Hooks is going to let you know straight up what the problem is, and part of that problem is you. She is going to call you and your imperialist white-supremacist capitalist sexist society on all of your shit, and she's likely going to get you feeling very uncomfortable about any number of of terrible things you probably didn't even realize you were doing or thinking. And she's going to do all this in a way that might be fairly unpleasant, in a form you're not that comfortable with. There won't be any footnotes (there's not even a BIBILIOGRAPHY, though hooks cites many works [is that even legal???!!!]), and hooks will often make sweeping statements and very provocative generalizations without citing any hard evidence for her point of view. You might get defensive and stop listening, or you might feel chastised and guilty and just accept that you're a privileged jerk, and stop really thinking critically about what she's saying and hoping if you just nod enthusiastically and say something nice about how smart and right she is about everything, that maybe she'll stop being mad at you and let you off the hook (hah hah hah, hilarious pun totally intended). This applies not only if you're a straight white man who runs an oil drilling project in Nigeria or develops luxury real estate in "upcoming neighborhoods": IMO no matter who you are and which boxes you happen to check on the census form, if you're paying attention hooks is eventually going to hit something pretty personal in you, and you're going to feel it. And also, she's going to carry on quite a bit about how screwed up things in the world are. Even if -- hell, especially if -- you've already noticed that, you might get a bit tired of hearing her repeat it.

For all these reasons, if you read just half of what bell hooks is saying and then stop listening, it could be real tempting to throw up your hands and shout, "It's all such a mess! White supremacy! Patriarchy! Everyone's mad at me and things are so screwed up no matter what I do, so why even bother?! I'm gonna go Netflix a South Park and some really offensive interracial porn and just call it a day."

And honestly, that'd be a shame, because the thing is that hooks is NOT just complaining about bad we all are and how screwed up everything is. Not at all! First she describes the problems, and then she provides clear and concrete solutions, and that, my friend, is a beautiful thing. Hooks -- especially, I think, more recent hooks -- is all about LOVE. Love! Didn't you get her memo? Love and healing and all that sweet and softy stuff! Not mean or scary or hopeless at all; in fact, quite the opposite! And for me, that's kind of what was most interesting about my own reaction to this book. Some of my Booksters already know that I'm a social worker, and that I also really hate reading about psychology and am not at all a self-helpy, therapyish type of girl, perhaps to a rather surprising degree given my chosen profession. So in way, it's sort of surprising to me that I wound up liking what's essentially a self-help book for black men. But I did mostly like it, probably because hooks arrives at the personal place that she does via a deeply political route, and also because as a white social worker who's worked predominantly with black male clients, I found her approach and conclusions really resonated with many of my own observations, and gave me some context I did not otherwise have.

Being neither black nor male, I'm not in the best position either to support or refute many of hooks's assertions in this book. Basically, her starting point is this very common refrain we've all heard about the various crises of black men in America. Hooks is calling bullshit on the popular exhortation that many black men need to clean up their acts and become better patriarchs. Patriarchy isn't the solution, hooks says: it's the goddamn problem, and here's why, and here's what to do about it. And then she tells you! God, I love that. I am so, so sick of people complaining about things without coming up with any actual solutions, and hooks doesn't do that at ALL. Here's what needs to be done, she says, and here's how to do it. Step by step. Here. Like this. I love that!

For me, the second half of this book was stronger than the first. Hooks articulates some very crucial points about black male sexuality, violence, and parenting that are perhaps not exactly revelatory but which I'd never been able to think about myself this coherently. I really do agree with a lot of what she says about how patriarchy hurts men, and how the intersectionality of race and gender creates very special problems for a lot of black men. It's not like I never noticed any of this stuff before -- I probably think about it more than most people -- but hooks gives a good framework that really ties the macro-level racism and patriarchy stuff to the personal experience and psychological impact of these forces on individuals. I often find this connection between the political and personal realms a bit of a black box, and its mechanism is one hooks seems to understand and explain better than most other writers. Maybe that's partly because of this same form that I find so frustrating: her observations usually aren't based in hard evidence, just in her personal experiences and observations, and things (often memoirs) that she's read. This book is mostly just someone who's thought very deeply about these questions sharing her insights, which is probably what makes reading hooks both especially difficult and so rewarding for me. It drives me crazy that there are no endnotes and no bibliography, but the way hooks so frankly and disarmingly reveals personal experiences from her family and romantic life is much of what makes her writing so truthful and real.

In light of our recent Jack Kerouac/"cool" brawl on here, I must note that hooks does quote Kerouac directly (and non-judgmentally) in reference to "his fascination with black male cool." She also delineates her own theory of cool, which I personally found excellent:

Once upon a time black male "cool" was defined by the ways in which black men confronted the hardships of life without allowing their spirits to be ravaged. They took the pain of it used it alchemically to turn the pain into gold. That burning process required high heat. Black male cool was defined by the ability to withstand the heat and remain centered. It was defined by black male willingness to confront reality, to face the truth, and bear it by not adopting a false pose of cool by feeding on fantasy; not by black male denial or by assuming a "poor me" victim identity. It was defined by individual black males daring to self-define rather than be defined by others (p. 147).(less)

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Jul 18, 2009 Aunnalea rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Ironically, the imperialist white-supremacists state, which claimed the black family would be healthier if black men headed households, had no difficulty taking men away from households and sending them far away from families to wage war, to sacrifice their lives for a country that was denying them full citizenship." p. 13
"Unlike patriarchal thinking, which insists that the presence of a father is needed in family life because men are superior protectors and providers, healthy parenting is root...more

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Mar 05, 2011 Ebony rated it 3 of 5 stars

The book is about the patriarchal forces that are oppressing and depressing black men. Instead of being loved they are desired when they fulfill the imperialist white-supremacist capitalist patriarchal ideals of violence and domination. Black men become violent, compulsive fuckers (pun intended), absent fathers and abusive partners as they try to live up to patriarchal standards that cannot provide any sort of intimate connection that would ultimately lead to freedom or peace. White folks and bl...more

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May 03, 2009 Lumberjuan rated it 4 of 5 stars

A really interesting collection of essays.

When she started introducing the ideas of role-models and the lack there-of for African-Americans I was a little confused. She brought in the realm of music as an area in which black men could express themselves fully. Where they could be honest with their feelings, emotions and the expression of pain and weakness; especially using the idea that this was a positive aspect of the blues (and jazz, referencing Coltrane), but is totally lacking in hip-hop mu...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Stephen Yates added it

bell hooks is hard to get through at first, as she immediately declares her perspective on 'white supremacist imperialist patriarchy' - unfortunately, a number of her arguments take a hard line on racism without offering positive solutions for those beyond African-Americans. Where the book shines is in is holistic view of black men - issues are raised from generational sin and a lack of emotional development to real effects of racism to black-on-black violence. Interesting how many of her recomm...more

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May 24, 2011 David rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is an amazing book. bell hooks from Hopkinsville, Kentucky is a prolific author of book of social commentary. This is one to ponder late at night. She envisions a new paradigm for masculinity that is not based on a patriarchy. She argues that we, black men, need a model of masculinity that transcends the white, western patriarchy and the disengaged one of the slave. There is more to being a man than money and power which the current capitalist system denies most black men, anyway. Also, bla...more

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May 14, 2011 Michael Strode rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: afrowomenwrite, afroessential, nublackmale, chipublib, read-in-2011

There are times when one enters into a text blindly knowing not what to expect. One sets no expectations that their present opinions will be confirmed or refuted. They simply are on a journey and reaching out for other input about the direction of their walk. I came to locate this text at while browsing the Chicago Public Library and am delighted that I chose to add it to my present reading list. She calls it "radical black masculinity" though by the time you reach the end of the text you realiz...more There are times when one enters into a text blindly knowing not what to expect. One sets no expectations that their present opinions will be confirmed or refuted. They simply are on a journey and reaching out for other input about the direction of their walk. I came to locate this text at while browsing the Chicago Public Library and am delighted that I chose to add it to my present reading list. She calls it "radical black masculinity" though by the time you reach the end of the text you realize that she is seeking a certain return of a black masculinity that we once held which is now lost to many of us.

Upon reading such chapters as "Gangsta Culture" and "Schooling Black Males", I saw glimmers and glimpses of my formative years pass by. I recall one instance where I was in the car with my mother and I decided to play the tape in my Walkman which was by a group called the Luniz and an album titled "Operation Stackola". In the particular song I played, "Put The Lead On Ya", a rapper named Dru Down utters the words "and if you're a woman / don't think i still won't put the lead on ya / bitchhhh". My mother without pause snatched the tape out of the deck and tossed it from the car window. Why did I think this sort of material was acceptable to play either for my mother's ears or my own? Why was I obsessed with emulating the sexual lothario and street combativeness that I saw emanating from my brother's daily existence? How did I come from the place where I previously lived to the ground where I now stand? I credit the women.

Whether it was my mother snatching that tape from the car and clearly showing me that certain language and actions were entirely unacceptable or my daughter now who cautions me to both censor myself until the practice becomes a lifestyle and also to stop trying to shield her in ways that might make her consider patriarchy and paternalism the manner all men should exhibit in her future. There are many other women in between who have shown me how "quaint" some of my assumptions were and helped to groom and grow me forward. For their presence I am forever grateful.

After my daughter was born, I was known to say that it was probably a good thing that I didn't have a son because I would not know how to teach him how to be a man as I perceived the world to see them. I don't play the usual sports or watch them. I enjoy the kitchen and cooking and poetry. Had I a son, he might suffer a terrible time during his schooling years subscribing to some the ways I live at present, but I am wholly aware of what a fool's errand that statement was now. There are many ways to be cool as hooks' offers to us now and they don't have to be rooted in the dying patriarchy of the past, but a brilliant, bold, and creative manhood of the future. One that subscribes to the notion that men mustn't always be stoic, they can be open and vulnerable and self aware. They can say the things amongst friends that others have chosen not to say because of masculine groupthink and they can find more innovative ways to be cool that don't involve sexual exploits, physical combat and domination, or monetary gain. We too cool to be caged by white supremacy. In other words, we off that.(less)

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May 02, 2013 Erika rated it 3 of 5 stars

Very interesting read; I love bell hooks for always offering perspectives which many academics neglect in normative mainstream debates, and I am grateful that she challenges me with her ideas. The passage toward the end of the book where she delineates a more holistic, nurturing and fulfilling masculinity from which Blues arose and the embrace of patriarchal masculinity as embodied in contemporary hip hop or rap music and culture was very interesting, and provides for me at least the foundation...more

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Jul 26, 2007 Jamia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Hooks explores why American culture “does not love black males” (Hooks, xi). According to Hooks, “Black males in the culture of the imperialist white-supremacist capitalist patriarchy are feared but they are not loved.” Hooks argues that the historic dehumanization and devaluation of African-American men resulted in devastating their individual and collective self-esteem, confining and containing their emotional, social, and spiritual progression.
Approaching her analysis of black masculinity f...more Hooks explores why American culture “does not love black males” (Hooks, xi). According to Hooks, “Black males in the culture of the imperialist white-supremacist capitalist patriarchy are feared but they are not loved.” Hooks argues that the historic dehumanization and devaluation of African-American men resulted in devastating their individual and collective self-esteem, confining and containing their emotional, social, and spiritual progression.
Approaching her analysis of black masculinity from a feminist perspective, Hooks insists that dominant culture’s notion of patriarchal masculinity serves as a menace to black community growth and solidarity, hindering progress in the fight against oppression. We Real Cool is a nurturing but tough love letter from the author to her community, providing solutions to questions other books on the subject (mostly written by conservative black men) have left unanswered.Hooks focuses on solving problems instead of communicating negative messages without solutions.
Hooks explores the history of the systems that perpetuate violence, sexism, unhealthy consumerism, and barriers to education in the black community throughout the book. Providing readers with an academic theoretical framework, some colloquial language and pop cultural references, Hook’s book resonates with the community she aims to impact politically as well as scholars. Noting the absence of books that provide meaningful social critique and opportunities for real introspection and empowerment for black men, Hooks urges African-American men to follow the self-reflective and empowering formula black feminists used to organize, spread the word among themselves, and heal in order to literally and figuratively release themselves from patriarchal prison. Even though her approach is critical, she draws upon the strengths of black men in her personal life and the community at large, exploring the positive possibilities and opportunities that could occur with the abolition of patriarchal masculinity in the African-American community.
In ten well-organized chapters discussing various representations of black masculinity, Hooks considers black masculinity in relation to slavery, “gangsta” culture, public education, violence, sexuality, anger, parenting, and love relationships. Careful not to speak for black men directly, Hooks explains that her political goal is to educate black men about the impact of patriarchy on black society, in hopes that more black men will cease believing that their survival depends on their right to fulfill patriarchal roles.
Hooks practices what she preaches, taking the role of leadership she asks from the men she aims to reach.
.Hooks maintains that black men will ascend from the negative space white supremacy, capitalism, and patriarchy reserved for them, by rejecting sexist and oppressive religious norms. In We Real Cool, Hooks does not promise to solve the problems caused by the xenophobia, hate, and sexual objectification black men experience. Alternatively, Hooks puts theory into nurturing practice, offering a proactive and therapeutic approach to conquering racial and gender inequality by promoting messages of self-love, gender equality, community building, and the abolition of religious fanaticism. With We Real Cool, Hooks provides the foundations for healing black men and society as a whole, providing a holistic but effective method for confronting systems of domination with love and solidarity.

(less)

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Jun 26, 2012 Tawanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

The information was good and well supported, however I the delivery was poor to me. I thought she did a disservice to herself and the reader by not discussing homosexuality in the context of black male masculinity. Especially since black homophobic culture lends itself to the violence and hypermasculinty that Hooks often discussed. It was not an engaging read but still a decent presentation of her thoughts. I'd be interested in reading Hooks' other books.

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Jan 30, 2012 Crystal Belle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: grad-school

bell hooks rocks my world every single time. I loved how this book is divided into different sections regarding black masculinity, and its construction in response to patriarchy and racism in particular. At some points I felt as if hooks was denouncing all black men, however, it is evident that her love of black men is what makes her critique so harsh yet healing at times. Powerful read!

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Dec 30, 2008 Kelley rated it 2 of 5 stars

We checked out the VA Beach library system this weekend, so I grabbed bell hooks' book of essays on black masculinity. I almost checked out _Hung_ again but was limited to three books because I have yet to update my license. Until I do, VA Beach is worried about my residential stability and won't let me borrow more than three books at a time -- which is a real problem for us since we normally check out a couple-three dozen books at a time.

Surprisingly, Florida librarians appreciated our habits....more

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Jul 01, 2009 Severin-aime rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book obliterated any stereotypes I may have associated bell hooks with. It will do the same for other pessimists out there. As far as contemporary social theory goes, this book was clear and thought-provoking. I was most inspired by the author's call to WRITE, WRITE, WRITE!!!!

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Aug 09, 2012 Everett Darling rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Not only does Bell Hooks "challenge the misguided notion that ours is a culture that loves black men," she also emphasises why our culture SHOULD care about black men.

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May 31, 2009 Lisa Jahn rated it 4 of 5 stars

An interesting perspective on male masculinity and a strategy for
radically changing the mold that black men must fit in.

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Nov 16, 2011 Isaac Holloway rated it 5 of 5 stars

an excellent text describing the various ways where the lived existence of black men and patriarchy intersect hampering the quest for freedom liberation healing love and partnership.

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May 21, 2012 Gerard rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read the book awhile ago.and thought it was a good book then and ,I think it's a good book now.

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Jul 04, 2011 Dinahw added it

Awesome, enligtening book! Especially the chapter entitled "it's a dick thing".

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Feb 11, 2011 Rmorgan1 rated it 5 of 5 stars

anything written by bell hoooks is worth the investment of your time--

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Jun 25, 2012 Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Eye-opening in SO many ways, but I was disappointed that she didn't talk about gay or transgender men.

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Jun 08, 2009 Amanda is currently reading it

found this on the free shelf at my job,interesting so far.

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Mar 19, 2013 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

The chapter on educating black men was especially helpful. Must read for all teachers of children of color.

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Jul 31, 2012 Nakia White rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: booktini2012, oakland-library-ereserve

3.5 stars - She explains how the introduction of white male patriarchy was extremely damaging to African men brought to America in shackles because they were bombarded by the image of men taking financial care of their families, while being members of a society that would not allow them to due so because of their status as slaves. With the abolition of slavery, came the black codes, KKK, segregation, and other discriminatory practices that... (full review at http://zoratonimaya.tumblr.com/post/2 ...more

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Jul 02, 2010 Malenekai rated it 5 of 5 stars

Brillant and hopeful and hearttwisting.

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Oct 12, 2009 RK Byers rated it 4 of 5 stars

this was good. i don't hate bell hooks.

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Apr 14, 2013 Kaitlin Weiler rated it 4 of 5 stars

Read for WGST 302.

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Oct 18, 2011 Troy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: socialandorpolitical

What I think I take away from this book, along with some things that happened to me around the time I read it, was that a lot goes into conferring what masculinity is, and its a long road ahead to get to a place where the balances of love, power, sex, and humanity are tipped correctly. I can only affect myself, though, and this book is a piece to use to figure out where I fit in and how I can get better, but most importantly, WHY.

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May 18, 2008 Miss Jones rated it 4 of 5 stars

It's hard out there for the Black man. Now I understand why my Black male friends all seem to have issues with self expression and communication. It's the gender role pedegogy in action.

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Nov 19, 2007 Donovon Ceaser rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who knows a black man

I learned a lot about how black men are treated in America, and how we need to heal ourselves from all the destructive messages, and pressures.

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Apr 16, 2007 sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

bell hooks blows my mind. . she keeps it real and challenges us all to rethink what we accept as natural.

she's been a huge inspiration to me.

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About Bell Hooks

bell hooks (born Gloria Jean Watkins) is an African-American author, feminist, and social activist. Her writing has focused on the interconnectivity of race, class, and gender and their ability to produce and perpetuate systems of oppression and domination. She has published over thirty books and numerous scholarly and mainstream articles, appeared in several documentary films and participated in...more

More about Bell Hooks...

Books by Bell Hooks

Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics

Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism

Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom

All About Love: New Visions (bell hooks Love Trilogy)

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“Once upon a time black male “cool” was defined by the ways in which black men confronted hardships of life without allowing their spirits to be ravaged. They took the pain of it and used it alchemically to turn the pain into gold. That burning process required high heat. Black male cool was defined by the ability to withstand the heat and remain centered. It was defined by black male willingness to confront reality, to face the truth, and bear it not by adopting a false pose if cool while feeding on fantasy; not by black male denial or by assuming a “poor me” victim identity. It was defined by individual black males daring to self-define rather than be defined by others.” — 13 people liked it

“Within neo-colonial white supremacist capitalist patriarchy, the black male body continues to be perceived as an embodiment of bestial, violent, penis-as-weapon hypermasculine assertion. Psychohistories of white racism have always called attention to the tension between the construction of black male body as danger and the underlying eroticization that always then imagines that body as a location for transgressive pleasure. It has taken contemporary commodification of blackness to teach the world that this perceived threat, whether real or symbolic, can be diffused by a process of fetishization that renders the black masculine ‘menace’ feminine through a process of patriarchal objectification.” — 7 people liked it

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