Morehouse College Creates Institute for Black Male Research
With the support of a four-year grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Morehouse College is creating a new institute dedicated to black men’s research. In collaboration with Morehouse’s Africana studies and history department, this new endeavor will lay groundwork for what would be the very first Black masculinities minor at an HBCU. The initiative plans to fill a gap in research and engage in scholarship dedicated to understanding Black mens’ experiences from a holistic point of view.
As reported by Yahoo! News, the prestigious HBCU recently announced that they are launching an initiative, the Black Men’s Research Institute (BMRI). BMRI will study the “personal, cultural, social and economic outcomes of issues affecting Black men.” The majority of the studies will focus on disparities faced by black men in America and across the globe.
The following is an excerpt from Morehouse’s press release on the initiative:
“By amplifying collaborative thought leadership, the institute strives to counter conflicting narratives, distrust, and ambiguity with a clear, authoritative voice on the experiences of Black men. The BMRI will also strengthen the intellectual discovery, discourse, and scholarship at Morehouse in areas related to LGBTQ history, culture, and social challenges, as well as sexism, patriarchy, and misogyny.
The BMRI will also equip Black men and allies to challenge and navigate through a society constructed in ways that may marginalize Black men’s contributions and humanity. In addition, the institute will serve as an incubator for faculty to create curricula and scholarship that can be adopted by other higher education institutions seeking to provide more inclusive and authentic education about Black masculinities. Moreover, the institute will convene and facilitate interdisciplinary research by faculty, visiting scholars, and students.”
Morehouse’s faculty hopes that BMRI will influence other institutions to create similar initiatives in the future.