Rejecting a gay culture they perceive as white and feminine, many black men have settled on a new identity, with its own vocabulary and customs and its own name: Down Low. There have always been men -- black and white -- who have had secret sexual lives with men. But the creation of an organized, underground subculture largely made up of black men who otherwise live straight lives is a phenomenon of the last decade. Most date or marry women and engage sexually with men they meet only in anonymous settings. This practice alarmed public health officials. Of the black women living with HIV/AIDS the primary category was high risk heterosexual contact. Most DL men identify themselves not as gay or bisexual but first and foremost as black. The DL label is a separation from white gay culture. DL will let you in if you look ''black enough,'' which is code for looking masculine, tough and “straight”.
DL culture has grown, in recent years, out of the shadows and developed its own contemporary institutions, for those who know where to look: Web sites, Internet chat rooms, private parties and special nights at clubs. To them, it is the safest identity available -- they don't risk losing their ties to family, friends and their black culture.
Why do you think that it is so important for the DL brother to stay connected to his black culture, while believing that this same culture would see his lifestyle as deviant? Some believe that this new culture is just a way to continue to fill a need for sex. Would you view this behavior as the African American male expressing hyper sexuality? How do you view these black men in relation to their roles with their spouses, children, jobs and community? What else sociologically crossed your mind or captured your attention?
http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=8084
http://www.africanloft.com/brothers-on-the-down-low/
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Living in an environment that first and foremost creates barriers due to prejudice and discrimination, these men struggle to overcome racial barriers/negative stereotypes in work, health, and media. Thus, these DL men encounter yet another challenge. To be openly homosexual/bisexual will be perceived negatively by not only in the workplace or by potential employers, but by their community/family network as well because non-heterosexual relations are seen as deviant in mainstream culture.
ReplyDeletePerhaps these DL men reject white gay culture because these two groups have struggled in different ways. One has to live with the constant struggle of everyday racist discrimination and prejudice on top of homophobia and the other has struggled with homophobia but has utilized the social advantages that are given to white males. (I'm just guessing)
The DL men stay connected to their black culture due to the discrimination and prejudice they receive from the dominant while society. It is a form of resistance. Not only that their own culture sees their lifestyle as deviant, but also the dominant white culture keeps pressuring them on their lifestyle. But keep in mind that the dominant white culture pressures on all forms of non-heterosexualities.
ReplyDeleteIt is a double jeopardy to be black and homosexual/bisexual. Society adjusts itself through time. The created term “Down Low Brothers” represents another form of homosexuality. These DL men not only want to keep and enjoy their privilege as being men, they also want to be accepted by the mainstream society for their sexualities.
Something that really caught my eye was the "are you black enough" concept. Does this also relate to the feeling (though the term is psychological at this point it will lead to a sociological meaning) that many that are of a lighter skin tone feel? Many that are of either a mixed ethnic background or have a lighter skin tone sometimes report that they are rejected by or feel uncomfortable with in groups that occupy both sides of the spectrum. Their skin is to dark to fit in with African Americans, or to light to be considered white. So here, these individuals that become evaluated on the scale of their skintone and shade still may not even be allowed into this group that they assume their status puts them in? How does this DL group classify what is "dark enough" in order for them to be a member? If a member would participate in these homosexual acts and would categorize himself as that and he is black by decent, what happens when the DL group rejects him because he may be to light of skin or not "masculine enough" in structure? Then what group does he belong to? Will that group become a subgroup of the DL i.e the tweenie weenies? How does this group now identify and with what?
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ReplyDeleteI would like to make a revision on my previous statement: "Their skin is to light to fit in with African Americans and yet to dark to be consider white"....
ReplyDeleteSocial heirarchy comes to mind when I read the article.
ReplyDeleteEach culture/race has their form of heirarchy and that climbing the ladder is a life-long commitment.
To have broken free of the ties that bound a black man to be a poor, ghetto individual is a successful feat.
Secrets are secrets for a reason, and unfortunately, being attracted to other black men in the black culture is cause for a step or two down the ladder. For a black man, the homosexual is the oppressed and would be hesitant to join the rank with the oppressed black homosexuals.
I would say that the subculture was born from social control. The DL culture and those in it are mainly anonymous because they want to enjoy male privilege. But like most sociological events, the reasons intersect. As mentioned, the top of the hierarchy are males in society; the black community is no exception. I'm not positive that DL members reject white gay culture exactly. I believe it has more to do with the hypersexuality that is attached to being black. In order to hold on to this label, black men who engage in homosexual behaviors do not allow others outside of the subculture to have knowledge it is occurring. To "come out" would subject these men to a lose of ALL their privileges. I think another big factor would be the black community's ties to religion. It is a well documented fact that religion plays a large part as a social support in the black community. Most religions reject homosexuality, so to come out would put these men at risk for losing this support as well.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that the main reason for the Down Low culture's existence is security and safety. Losing status is a big deal, especially if you find yourself belonging to an intersection of marginalized groups.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find interesting beyond that is the masculine blackness that is used as an identifying mark or a qualifier to be in the group. Members of the group are either passing as straight-looking or tough-looking, or sometimes both. For these men, their blackness is what has forced them into this secretive culture. But they also use their blackness to gauge how much they belong to the group, how strong they are compared to others in the group, and how well they are at passing for straight. For an oppressed group, this seems like a strong survival tactic. The tactic being finding solidarity and strength in the characteristic that has put them in a separate group.
Pretty interesting discussion! Some of you continue to do that binary thing... DL brothers do NOT identify as homosexual or gay. If you have time in your Fall schedule, consider taking SOC/PSY 333 Human Sexualities. Dr. Tim Lower is teaching it face to face this fall. This comment section is now closed.
ReplyDeleteYa'll were very persuasive in class today, so I reopened this comment section.
ReplyDeleteI’ve often been asked, as a sociologist with a particular interest in race and ethnic relations, why black people only ever hang out with other black people, and my answer, in the most uncomplicated, simplified, and, by no means comprehensive, way is simply this: members of this group share a common experience. They share a common history, and set of everyday life experiences that few outside the imposed label of this category can ever fully understand or comprehend. The simple utterance of this word conjures up a general understanding, whether erroneously stereotypical or a form of self-identification, as well as certain connotations and meanings. Because of this shared experience, there is a strong desire to identify one’s self as black, first and foremost, as well as be seen as actively taking on a role that maintains this label. So my first thought is that I understand the down low brothers’ desire to use this label as their metaphorical measuring stick for membership, but after a little closer examination I begin to ponder the situation and its irony.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I understand why the down low brothers strive to maintain their “blackness” rather than come up with a new (but sociologically unnecessary) label or group association based on their shared, collective identity as homosexual African-Americans. It is important for members of this group to first and foremost be labeled as black because it is a norm that they have so internalized and learned to self-identify with, that it may be that many are afraid to part from it. To be seen as deviant in a group that is already considered deviant by the white patriarchal society we live in, would cause a further sense of isolation for non-heterosexual members of this ethnic group.
However, after these initial thoughts, it seemed incredibly ironic to me that the members of this group themselves were imposing a label that is socially constructed. Race is a socially constructed concept, but the down low brothers are using it as a tool to include or exclude people from their organization, if you will. Are you black enough? That is the measuring tool for admittance. I found this to be rather ironic. And part of answering that question is whether you appear straight enough. Sexuality, along with ethnicity, is socially constructed; there is an entire spectrum of sexuality, not merely the dichotomous concept that is implied from this question, and so to use one end of it to determine eligibility seems absurd to me.
It is unfortunate that individuals feel that they must live their sexual/personal lives on the “down low.” But with society being as judgmental and metaphorically stuck in the evolutionary mud as it is, who can blame them? As mentioned in previous posts, to be part of a continually marginalized group, only to find oneself either more ostracized due to one’s choice in sexual partner or repressed because you can’t openly exercise your sexuality, is a choice few would want to make.
I am confused with conflicted theorist's comment "I believe it has more to do with the hypersexuality that is attached to being black. In order to hold on to this label, black men who engage in homosexual behaviors do not allow others outside of the subculture to have knowledge it is occurring." Do you mean to say that black men who engage in sex with other men would rather be seen as the stereotypically hypersexual/aggressive male? I take issue with the idea that in order to avoid one negative stereotype and its connotations, that they would rather be ascribed another, "lesser" negative label. I could be wrong however...
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am unclear on that point, I do agree with theorist's statement that there is some influence that serves as a deterrent for homosexual actions from the black community's religious involvement. There is generally strong agreement against homosexuality in Judeo-Christian based religions, and the black community's religious affiliation would be no exception. So to agree with theorist, i do believe that coming out would put these individuals at risk for losing the strong support of their church and religious communities.
Yes, I desperately need to take SOC 333... So please explain to me... If the DL brothers do perceive themselves as being heterosexual but engage in homosexual activity, they are still heterosexual? If you perceive yourself to be homosexual, then you are? Why are there so many labels for everything?? :p
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