Kenneth Maurice Tyler identifies and describes the multiple identity components of young African American men using the theoretical and empirical literatures from education and the social science disciplines. Identity and African American Men: Exploring the Content of Our Characterization provides a comprehensive, research-based account of the ideologies and mindsets of many young African American men. The study critically discusses eight identity components that young African American men begin to negotiate during their adolescent years. These identity components include gender, sexual, racial, ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic, athletic, and academic identity. Tyler begins with a premise that a discussion of the behaviors and attitudes of young African American men must take into consideration not only their feelings about being Black; but feelings about being a man; about being homosexual, heterosexual, or bisexual; about Black people in general; about the specific cultural values one is socialized towards; about access to resources and ability to make it; about the ability to physically perform in sports; and about academic performance and educational achievement. Identity and African American Men makes a unique contribution to the scientific and popular literature by offering a conceptual framework which identifies the multiple identity components possessed by young African American men. Such a framework expands the conversation about African American men and their behaviors by broadening the understanding of who these individuals are, the identities they possess, and how their identity-based attitudes and orientations may influence the behaviors exhibited by them."

Kenneth Maurice Tyler identifies and describes the multiple identity components of young African American men using theoretical and empirical literatures from education and the social sciences. Identity and African American Men: Exploring the Content of Our Characterization provides a comprehensive, research-based account of the ideologies and mindsets of many young African American men. The book critically discusses eight identity components that young African American men begin to negotiate during their adolescent years. These identity components include gender, sexual, racial, ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic, athletic, and academic identity. Identity and African American Men makes a unique contribution to the literature by offering a conceptual framework that identifies the multiple identity components possessed by young African American men. Such a framework expands the conversation about African American men and their behaviors by broadening the understanding of who these individuals are, the identities they possess, and how their identity-based attitudes and orientations may influence the behaviors exhibited by them.