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Why should I care about young black men?

The media’s coverage of the 2014 shooting of Mike Brown in Ferguson, MO, and the events thereafter highlighted the tensions associated with race, gender, and class that affect the lives of many black men. Oftentimes members of this group experience discrimination, encounter narrow stereotypes, and face significant economic, neighborhood, and social hardships.

 

Many stresses experienced by young black men are unique to them and are related to deeply held beliefs about what it means to be a “man.” Young black men who believe they are not living up to the expectations placed on them are at risk for substance abuse, depression, and anxiety.

 

In addition, beliefs about masculinity discourage seeking help from loved ones and health professionals alike. Despite this, the mental health challenges experienced by young black men have largely been overlooked and left out of national discussions. Programs are needed that are sensitive to culture and gender; and that aim to improve the living conditions, health, and well being of young black men.

Potential Sponsors

Why should I care?

What does the YBMen Project do for young Black men?

The Young Black Men, Masculinities, and Mental Health (YBMen) Project is a culturally-sensitive and gender-specific program that works to better understand and address the pressures experienced by young black men, especially issues related to their masculinity and mental health. The YBMen Project takes place over 6 to 8 weeks, and uses the social media platform, Facebook, to provide mental health education and social support to young black men using information and prompts from popular culture (e.g., YouTube videos, photos, lyrics, and current headlines).

 

Our team leads daily discussions by facilitating interactive communication between participants through posts, comments, “likes,” and “shares.”

 

Preliminary results from our initial YBMen Project with young black men at Jackson College (Michigan) found that depression scores decreased among men who participated in the YBMen Facebook group but not among men in the comparison group.

What does the YBMen Project do?

What is next for the YBMen Project?

We are currently working on expanding and lengthening The YBMen Project, as requested by participants. Looking ahead, we plan to carry out The YBMen Project in several locations across the United States, in efforts to focus on different health issues affecting young black men today.

 

We believe The YBMen Project not only directly improves the lives of young black men, but also has a ripple effect on the communities they live in, and has the potential to influence service providers and policies affecting young black men’s lives. 

What is next?

How can I sponsor an iteration of the YBMen Project?

Please contact us at ybmenproject@gmail.com or call The YBMen Project Director, Dr. Daphne C. Watkins at (734) 274-4MEN

How can I sponsor the YBMen Project?
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