Infamous Mobsters and Legalized Trauma: A Justice Approach Towards the Sociology of Black Masculinities and Generational Trauma

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Black men are at a noticeably higher risk for exposure to trauma. Most are unaware of the sociohistorical beginnings of masculinity and manhood. Therefore, a high percentage of young men accept these representations of masculinities at face value and as inevitable. Reproduced traditional forms of Black masculinity may perpetuate violence and trauma. intentionally or otherwise. In this thesis, I ask the question: Would an increased awareness of these histories decrease their hold on concepts of Black masculinities? I will argue that increased understanding of the origins of Black masculinities can lead to a decrease in the hurt and violence of generational trauma.