Chapter 1: Counseling African American Males Utilizing Nontraditional Clinical Treatment Approaches

The experiences of African American men are significantly different from men of other racial and ethnic backgrounds. It is essential for therapists to understand the longitudinal effects of the period of enslavement (Marbley, 2011), African Americans being one of the few involuntary (ancestors brought to America because of slavery) minority in America, the development of cultural mistrust, and how the above factors into African American men’s worldviews. In addition to historical discrimination (Bell, 1992) and the daily stressors of life, African American men’s worldviews are also affected by discriminatory macro- and microaggressions (Bonhomme, 2004; Erguner-Tekinapl, 2009; Marbley, 2011; Pieterse & Carter, 2007). Robinson (1999) noted that sustained prejudices and discriminatory practices against African American men are in part responsible for the myths and misconceptions about them. Counselors must be aware of the stereotypes that permeate African American males in the United States. These generalized misconceptions contribute to society’s aggressive behavior toward this population. These concerns are uniquely associated with African American men and other men of color who remain marginalized. It is critical that we have culturally competent therapists who can effectively understand and work with African American men. It is also important to note that the vast majority of African Americans reside in more female-headed families (Prince, 1997; Sarkisian & Gerstel, 2004). Thus, therapists must consider the cultural complexities and implications of African American boys being raised by single mothers.