Day 3, Entry 2 -- Masculinity, Gender Identity and the promise of an Obama Presidency

While wandering quasi-aimlessly through the jam-packed Pepsi Center with afro-feminista and fellow Netroots activist, Shireen Mitchell of Digital Sistas, we bumped into two colleagues of hers from BlogHer.

They said they were walking around interviewing folks, and I decided to speak up and request that I add my perspective to the mix. I have several progressive colleagues who are active members of the BlogHer community including blogdiva Liza Sabater and comrade and journalism professor Kim Pearson, among many others.

In the following video clip, I sought to express my thoughts on the implications of Obama's candidacy and potential ascendancy to the White House on modern American masculinity and gender identity for men -- particularly those of us who define ourselves as progressives.

I felt compelled to speak for three reasons. First, the night before I left for Denver last Monday, I had a wonderful conversation with friend and colleague Rob Okun, publisher of VoiceMale Magazine and the former executive director of the Men's Resource Center for Change who encouraged me to think about how Obama's presence and footprints during this long campaign may have incrementally moved men and boys to see masculinity in a broader, more nuanced light.

Another reason that led me to speak up and speak out is that just as public discourse around racial justice must not be ceded to people of color alone, the same is true for gender equity to women. Men have an important role in speaking truth to (our own) power and allying with women toward this end. It is not a leading role, but a necessary one that few of us do -- or do boldly or consistently enough (myself included). So, I thought I should lead by example and acknowledge the unearned privilege from which I benefit as a man for the benefit of expanding good faith dialogue on issues of gender identity, sexual orientation, and how we choose to define modern masculinity.

The final reason is simply that I saw in the Pepsi Center hallway (not far from the actor who plays "Bunk" from The Wire") none other than Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier. I immediately thought of my young sons for whom we have oftened played his moving song, "It's Alright to Cry" from Marlo Thomas' classic album and TV show, "Free to Be You & Me".

A 300-pound, former NFL star who needle-points and sings about emoting got my vote back in the 70's and now thirty-odd years later as a father, husband, Black American and progressive weeks away from voting for our country's first Black presidential nominee who does not appear to back down from revealing a masculinity not fettered by violent rhetoric and domineering bravado.

Comments

[Maria Niles]

Chris,

Thank you so much for sharing your perspective with BlogHer's readers. I deeply appreciate it both as the interviewer but also as a woman.

[Katy Chen]

I made my fiance watch this! I think every man should hear your thoughts on this. Also, you're an amazing writer.