The Violent Social World of Black Men

Violence among black men - from assaults to homicides - has escalated at an alarming rate, yet no-one has thoroughly examined the problem at its very roots.

This text is based on interviews conducted with lower-class black men who have been involved in repeated violent confrontations in bars, pool halls, and other hangouts.

The author explores the social and cultural roots of such aggression, which define violence as an integral part of black manhood.

In addition, Oliver considers the hidden side: what are the participants' feelings as the fight unfolds and and what is the rationale for getting involved?

This book should be useful in any discussion of how structural pressures and disfunctional cultural adaptations lead to such astronomical rates of violence among black men.