In light of St. Vincent DePaul’s mission – social justice and social action – DePaul University commemorated some of the best-known social activists of our past this week and one in particular: Martin Luther King Jr.
DePaul’s School of New Learning and a variety of the DePaul community gathered Jan. 21 for their 12th anniversary symposium in celebration and remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. The event took place on the 11th floor of the DePaul Center in the Loop.
The symposium titled “Rethinking Black Masculinity” started with a prayer and consisted of refreshments and a panel discussion, regarding black masculinity in relation to Martin Luther King Jr., and how it has changed over the years.
With Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday on the same day as President Obama’s inauguration, the symposium examined how Obama might be the ideal black masculine figure not only because of his presidency, but because he is also the ultimate father figure to his daughters. The panelists chose to include this in the discussion using the president as a positive representation of black masculinity and fatherhood.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about Obama as a father and the history of black fatherhood in relation to black masculinity,” said professor Francesca Royster, who is also the director of African and black diaspora studies at DePaul and a panelist at the event.
This conversation over Obama and ideal black masculinity raised questions about what it means to not only be a father in this society, but a black man in general.
The struggle of black masculinity through the lens of society showed two sides that were discussed in the symposium. The sides consisted of President Obama as the ideal of black masculinity to the younger generation, and the other side of black masculinity showing the opposite of a positive fatherly role model.
“Obama and his family are the face of black respectability,” said Mark Anthony Neal, a professor of black popular culture at Duke University, another speaker at the event.
As a part of the discussion of remembering Martin Luther King Jr. and the struggles he went through as a black man in a racially-judged society, the panelists reminisced on past events, such as the March on Washington and numerous occasions of marginalization that he, as well as other black men and women, went through at the time.
“We need to be rebranded,” said Neal, speaking on the state of black masculinity from its past state to present.
While the event was based on black masculinity, black femininity played a part of the talk as well.
“It makes me question why black masculinity isn’t being undermined the way womanhood is,” said DePaul philosophy professor Darrell Moore, in response to hip-hop culture playing a role in the shaping of black masculinity.
The panelists dove into the parts of hip-hop culture, which play a significant role in creating black masculinity in a way that reflects it. They reflected on popular icons in today’s media that shape the idea. Some of the icons that were discussed were LeBron James and Jay-Z and how they are portrayed as successful iconic images of black men in the media that reaffirmed the notion that black masculinity can come in different forms.
The event encompassed more than just a look at black masculinity. It showed how a new era has brought a new mindset about what it means to be a man in society, the positive ideals that are held with black masculinity, and ideals that society is still working towards
“Positive is not always real, but it’s reality,” said Neil.
The dean of the DePaul School for New Learning, Marisa Alicea, ended the symposium and set the tone for Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday by quoting President Obama at his inauguration.
“You and I, as citizens, have the power to set this country’s course,” said Alicea. “You and I, as citizens, have the obligation to shape the debates of our time – not only with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient values and enduring ideals.”
