Abstract
Historically, representations of Islamic themes in media narratives of Black men have been characterized by personal transformations in the midst of surviving in crime-ridden inner city areas. These young Black men are usually at-risk due to their statuses as Black, economically disadvantaged men. Beginning with Malcolm X and Alex Haley’s The Autobiography of Malcolm X, the Black male Islamic redemption narrative has become a common theme in Black popular culture, as it is usually supplemented with unique methods of confronting the various dimensions of health. Throughout this study, the representations of these approaches among Black men in contemporary film and television are examined throughout realms of spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, social, and vocational health.
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Endnotes
1 Some Black Muslim organizations have organized separate units for men and women in which believers are taught basic Islamic principles and practices emphasizing doctrine and brotherhood/sisterhood. Additionally, many of the all-male units train young boys and men in martial arts and self-defense, as well as various militaristic disciplinary drills. In the units of younger children, a stronger emphasis is placed upon extracurricular activities such as crafts, field trips, and sports (Dannin 2002; Lincoln 1994; Curtis 2006; Curtis, 1994).
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Copeland, K.J. Approaches to Multidimensional Health in Representations of Islamic Themes among Black Male Characters in American Film and Television. J Med Humanit 40, 265–275 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10912-017-9499-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10912-017-9499-4