While many men face criticism for their decisions and lifestyles, those who advance from lower societal positions often encounter harsh judgment by those who remain in the original social class. When people achieve a new social status, the new social class hesitates to accept the outsiders. By addressing the struggle of staying authentic while still feeling obligationed to conform, one acknowledges the negotiations and the balance required for acceptance. Society’s expectations of black males regarding economic success troubles Benji’s father’s masculinity demonstrating the way authenticity enforces conformity.
The first example that demonstrates one’s struggle with his own masculinity and conformity states, “”Classy. A real lady. She …show more content…
He’d grown up poor, fighting his way home every day off Lenox Avenue, and any hint that he hadn’t escaped, that all his suffering had been for naught, kindled his temper and his deep fear that aspiration was an illusion and the Street a labyrinth without exit, a mess of connecting alleys and avenues always leading back into itself” (87). First, “street” has already been described as the “antidote” of men who work hard to become successful. “Street” goes against the origins of many men (“pathology”) who worked hard to overcome. The use of “suffering” reiterates one’s sacrifice and painful experiences. The hard work, criticism, and mental anguish associated with abandoning one’s background and livelihood greatly affect the sufferer. Also, “illusion” coincides with a deceptive image or appearance. The fear that success acts as an illusion represents the frustration many successful men encounter when they come from disadvantaged backgrounds. While they have achieved success in a respectable manner, they are often still viewed as outcasts by white society and they are viewed as “sell outs” by black society. Finally, “labyrinth” signifies a difficult course that few are able to successfully maneuver. It is extremely difficult for men to “escape” poverty, only to face criticism from those who got left behind. It is extremely difficult to balance authenticity with conformity when trying to gain acceptance by two different
The first example that demonstrates one’s struggle with his own masculinity and conformity states, “”Classy. A real lady. She …show more content…
He’d grown up poor, fighting his way home every day off Lenox Avenue, and any hint that he hadn’t escaped, that all his suffering had been for naught, kindled his temper and his deep fear that aspiration was an illusion and the Street a labyrinth without exit, a mess of connecting alleys and avenues always leading back into itself” (87). First, “street” has already been described as the “antidote” of men who work hard to become successful. “Street” goes against the origins of many men (“pathology”) who worked hard to overcome. The use of “suffering” reiterates one’s sacrifice and painful experiences. The hard work, criticism, and mental anguish associated with abandoning one’s background and livelihood greatly affect the sufferer. Also, “illusion” coincides with a deceptive image or appearance. The fear that success acts as an illusion represents the frustration many successful men encounter when they come from disadvantaged backgrounds. While they have achieved success in a respectable manner, they are often still viewed as outcasts by white society and they are viewed as “sell outs” by black society. Finally, “labyrinth” signifies a difficult course that few are able to successfully maneuver. It is extremely difficult for men to “escape” poverty, only to face criticism from those who got left behind. It is extremely difficult to balance authenticity with conformity when trying to gain acceptance by two different