Shut Your Ass Up! Why Black Boys Don't Cry?

“Black males don’t cry," is a phrase I have heard my entire life from the media, peers and even family members. Old and young black males continue to hear this, to this day. I remember growing up and watching most of the men around me hide their emotions and refrain from expressing them even when you knew that something or someone hurt them. It was a coping mechanism I was so curious about, but could not keep from using myself. I adapted far too quickly and realized that if I wanted to continue to keep up this persona, I had to make sure I played the part. This persona was one that portrayed a tough, nonemotional black male. I couldn’t show any type of vulnerable emotion, and I definitely couldn’t cry.

It’s funny to think about how much the culture around you influences your perceptions of what you can and cannot do. I remember my parents letting me know it was OK to cry by saying that they would be there for me whenever I needed them. I believed that, but I couldn’t bring myself to express that, knowing that I had never seen my own father shed a tear throughout my childhood.

By Aubrey Harrison