Introduction -- Reference -- ch. 1. Excuses -- Underachievement -- Achievement -- A world perspective -- the illusion of racism -- The american dilemma -- Self-help -- Solutions -- References -- ch. 2. Race matters -- Blacklash -- The sexualization of racism -- The roots of rebellion -- Accommodationist vs. non-accommodationist -- Forms of control -- Cases of police brutality -- References -- ch. 3. Authenticity -- Being hard -- Keeping it "real" -- The 50 cent phenomenon -- Irony -- Training day -- Selling out vs. fitting in -- References -- ch. 4. Symbols of defiance -- Earrings and tattoos -- Anti-intellectualism -- Patriarchy -- Hypermasculinity -- References -- ch. 5. The roots of the Black Rebel in sport -- Lawlessness -- The integration of sport -- The ideal Negro -- Jack Johnson's Black male image -- Joe Louis' Black male image -- Jackie Robinson's Black male image -- David Robinson vs. Allen Iverson -- The commodification of the Black Rebel in sport -- References -- ch. 6. Lost currency -- Sports -- Music -- Men exploiting women -- Women exploiting women -- References -- ch. 7. Popular culture -- Cultural tourism -- Contradicting stereotypes -- White privilege -- Commodification of the thug -- References -- ch. 8. The criminal justice system -- Post-Rodney King -- Ignoble practices -- Social justice theory -- America's trap -- The system -- References -- ch. 9. Black-on-black violence -- The autobiographies of Black men -- Claude Brown -- Quincy Jones -- Nathan McCall -- James McBride -- Causes of Black-on-Black violence -- Self-loathing -- Menaces to society -- False bravado -- References -- ch. 10. Black icons -- Tupac Shakur -- Will Smith -- Tiger Woods -- Allen Iverson -- David Robinson -- Kobe Bryant -- Mike Tyson -- Selected results from the survey of young African American men (ages 13-19) -- References -- ch. 11. Redefining authenticity -- Embracing new values -- The American paradox -- Embracing the positive -- References -- appendix -- 1. The instrument used for the survey of young African American men (13-19) -- 2. Permission letter provided to assisting principals -- 3. Tabulated survey results -- Tupac Shakur -- Will Smith -- Tiger Woods -- Mike Tyson -- 4. Other results from the survey -- Index.