Across philanthropic, academic, and policy landscapes, a growing national discourse is emerging around the well-being of men and boys. What was once seen as a peripheral concern is now gaining traction as a matter of social and civic urgency. Rising rates of mental health crises, suicide, and educational underachievement—particularly among marginalized young men—signal that these challenges are not simply personal, but societal. Increasingly, institutions are recognizing that masculinity is not only a private identity but also a public force—one with far-reaching implications for justice, equity, and institutional integrity.
These conversations are also unfolding across the pro-democracy ecosystem. Some frame the issue in terms of outcomes—asking how current models of masculinity shape behavior, participation in community life, and belonging in democratic culture. Others explore how masculinity intersects with family values, political polarization, and civic responsibility. Yet, too often, these discussions are framed through a deficit lens, treating boys and men—especially Black boys and men—as problems to be solved rather than people with dreams, agency, and civic potential.
The Institutional Response—and Its Limitations in the Face of History
In 2023, the launch of the American Institute for Boys and Men (AIBM) marked a significant institutional response to these concerns. As the first national organization dedicated solely to research and policy development around male well-being, AIBM seeks to surface overlooked challenges and offer data-driven solutions. Their work is timely and vital.
However, in a nation historically shaped by deeply entrenched ideologies and social practices reinforcing racial hierarchy, we must persist in asking harder questions: What happens when we layer race—and the enduring structures of racism—onto the conversation about masculinity? What does it mean to talk about male identity without accounting for Black masculinity in particular?
The Risk of Universalizing Masculinity Discourse
Too often, public discourse treats masculinity as a monolith, erasing the lived experiences of boys and men. When race is appropriately engaged, the universalizing tendencies of mainstream masculinity discourse become apparent. Tommy Curry, founder of the field of Black Male Studies, has powerfully illuminated this issue, showing how universal frameworks obscure the specific historical and structural forces that shape male life—especially for Black men and boys.
Building on Curry’s foundation, we must move beyond frameworks that focus solely on pathology and instead ask: What are the aspirations of boys and men? How have those aspirations been shaped by public policy? What values and visions are embedded in American masculine archetypes? And how can we produce better information about the aspirations of men and boys—especially Black men and boys—given the prevailing narratives written about them?
Aspirational Masculinity: A Framework for Democratic Renewal
My proposed intervention begins here—with those whom Derrick Bell might describe as the “faces at the bottom of the well.” From policing to public health, Black boys and men face disproportionate risks. They live shorter lives, experience harsher legal penalties, and are more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions.
And yet, contrary to persistent stereotypes, Black fathers are among the most involved in their children’s lives. A CDC study found that 70% of Black fathers with co-residential children bathed, dressed, or helped their children with daily routines—more than any other racial group. Additionally, the study supports the claim that Black fathers are more engaged in their children’s lives than fathers of other racial groups, even when not living in the same household.
These types of complexity suggest the need to revisit conversations about men in general and Black men specifically. Aspirational masculinity—the values, commitments, and dreams that men carry, often in resistance to dominant narratives—offers a way to do just that. Aspirational masculinity does not merely assess what males are doing; it requires society to enter these reflections collaboratively with deep awareness that the conversation must strive to capture the men we live with, love, nurture, and raise. It encompasses multiethnic, multigenerational, sometimes contradictory civic ideals profoundly rooted within American culture that should not be so easily discarded.
Reframing the Narrative
To engage the so-called “crisis” of masculinity, we must reframe the conversation. Aspirational masculinity offers a way forward—one that centers purpose, dignity, and democratic participation. It invites us to see men not as broken, but as builders. Not as threats, but as thinkers, fathers, workers, and dreamers.
Consider the legacy of Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, whose vision of masculinity shaped generations of Morehouse men—including a young Martin Luther King Jr. Mays modeled a masculinity rooted in moral clarity, intellectual rigor, and civic responsibility. His example reminds us that the most powerful expressions of masculinity are often those that challenge dominant archetypes of violence, domination, and militarism.
A Call to Action for Nonprofit Leaders, Organizers, and Philanthropy
To make this vision real, nonprofit executives, community organizers, and philanthropic leaders must take deliberate steps:
- Invest in Leadership Development: Create programs that cultivate civic leadership among all young men, rooted in their historically situated lived experiences and aspirations.
- Affirm the Mental Health and Identity of Boys and Men: Support initiatives that promote emotional well-being and affirm cultural and racial identity, especially in schools and community centers.
- Elevate Local Narratives: Launch storytelling campaigns that highlight the everyday heroism and civic contributions of boys and men.
- Invest in the Narrative Exploration of Minority Men and Boys: A sustained commitment to understanding, tracking, and changing their social outcomes.
- Build Intergenerational Bridges: Facilitate dialogues between elders and youth to explore evolving definitions of masculinity and civic duty.
Policy Implications and Democratic Renewal
Ignoring aspirational masculinity contributes to democratic backsliding by eroding meaningful civic participation and trust in institutions. Policymakers and funders must:
- Assess Impact Through an Aspirational Lens: Evaluate policies not just by harm reduction but by their ability to support purpose, dignity, and civic engagement.
- Fund Community-Led Research: Support data collection and analysis led by strategic community engagement to better understand and respond to the needs of boys and men within that context.
- Create Inclusive Civic Spaces: Ensure that public institutions—from schools to city councils—reflect and respect the voices of all boys and men.
A Vision for the Future
Imagine a democracy where all boys and men are empowered. Where their aspirations shape public policy, civic culture, and national identity. Where masculinity is not a barrier to justice but a bridge to it. A way forward not an obstacle blocking a brighter tomorrow.
This is not just a dream. It is a blueprint. And it begins with listening, investing, and believing in the full humanity of those too often overlooked.
Jarvis Williams served as the Director for Race & Democracy at the Horizons Project until June 2025, and continues to help shape the focus of our ecosystem organizing.