Date of Award
Spring 3-28-2023
Document Type
Dissertation
DOI
10.70013/p3rq1vn9
Degree Name
D.S.W. Social work
Department
Social Work
First Advisor
Dr. Stephen W. Stoeffler, MSW, PhD
Second Advisor
Dr. Amy Pfeiler-Wunder
Third Advisor
Dr. Ginneh Akbar, MSW, DSW, LSW
Abstract
This autoethnography offers a first-person perspective on Black male mental health experiences. It incorporates personal narratives and academic research to explore the intersectionality of race, gender, and mental health, as well as the impact of historical and contemporary systemic racism and discrimination on Black males' psychological and emotional well-being.
The Black Liberation Psychology theoretical framework and Africana Studies Conceptual framework examined how cultural norms, hip-hop culture, stigma, and societal factors, including racism, discrimination, and stereotypes about Black masculinity, shape Black male mental health experiences. The study also highlights Black males' development of coping mechanisms and resilience strategies to navigate these challenges. The researcher employs their clinical skills as a licensed clinical social worker to critically analyze firsthand experiences navigating the mental health system, illuminating Black males' unique challenges and barriers throughout their lives.
The findings suggest that Black male mental health is a complex issue, significantly impacted by white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism. Therefore, African-centered interventions are identified as the only remediation to counteract Eurocentrism's harmful effects on Black males.
The study calls for Black social work leadership professionals to create mental health programs that center on Black male experiences. Social work education should also educate prospective and current social work professionals on Black male experiences from a non-deficit perspective, promoting anti-racist practices through autoethnography and recognizing systemic racism and oppression.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Roundtree, Phillip J. Sr., "Liberating Self: An Autoethnographic Inquiry Into Black Male Mental Health" (2023). Social Work Doctoral Dissertations. 26.
https://research.library.kutztown.edu/socialworkdissertations/26
