Golden: This piece challenges the very vision of black men in contemporary media and art; the contradictory beliefs and opinions of black males fail to address their complexities and their role as a scapegoat in society.

Mercer- Fani Kayode’s work addresses the identity politics that confronts most artists that belong to traditional oppressed groups; He expands on the complexities by expressing other factors of marginalization for black men, not belonging in regards to sexuality, upbringing, and his navigation of the art world.

Looking for Langston- The film provides an in-depth look at the struggle ; however the film is unique in the absence of a direct narrative.

Golden- The exhibit has an interesting view of the struggle of complete humanity for black males in America. Black men are the scapegoats of society; simultaneously pitied and hated, which reflects the insecurities of whites more than the reality of black men’s identity. The representations of black men in art/media have been presented and mainly consumed by white audiences, who are invested in the fetishization of their identity. This fetishization became commercialized through film & art, notably with the popularity of blaxploitation films like Sweetback. These films provided an opportunity to present an exaggerated form of black culture, which was appreciated and consumed by black and white audiences. Other events have contributed to the images of black men in contemporary art. The era of Black Power & the ascendance of hip-hop tell the story of the struggle of black males, mainly from poverty-stricken areas, and their ability to defy the norm of white American culture. These events contribute to the exaggerated image of black males; however they each were initiatives in respond to the oppressive nature of American culture.