--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...enslaved black males were socialized…" description: "\"“...enslaved black males were socialized by white folks to believe that they should endeabor to become patriarchs by seeking to attain the freedom to p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/bell-hooks-464_black-women_enslaved-black-males-were-socialized-by_2222603.jpg" --- # ...enslaved black males were socialized by white folks to… ![“...enslaved black males were socialized by white folks to believe that they should endeabor to become patriarchs by seeking to attain the freedom to provide and protect for black women, to be benevolen patriarchs. Benevolent patriarchs exercise their power without using force. And it was this…” quote by bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/bell-hooks-464_black-women_enslaved-black-males-were-socialized-by_2222603.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/bell-hooks-464_black-women_enslaved-black-males-were-socialized-by_2222603.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/bell-hooks-464_black-women_enslaved-black-males-were-socialized-by_2222603.jpg) > ““...enslaved black males were socialized by white folks to believe that they should endeabor to become patriarchs by seeking to attain the freedom to provide and protect for black women, to be benevolen patriarchs. Benevolent patriarchs exercise their power without using force. And it was this notion of patriarchy that educated black men coming from slavery into freedom sought to mimic. However, a large majority of black men took as their standard the dominator model set by white masters. When slavery ended these black men often used violence to dominate black women, which was a repetition of the strategies of control white slave masters used.”” [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques how enslaved Black men were conditioned to adopt a benevolent patriarchal role, yet many instead emulated the oppressive dominator model of white masters, leading to violence against Black women post‑slavery. **In simple terms:** Black men were taught a gentle patriarchy but often chose violent domination. Key Takeaway Recognize and reject oppressive power patterns. Themes gender race power patriarchy violence Mood reflective critical Type analytical historical When to use this quote - post‑slavery community rebuilding - gender relations - family dynamics - activism - education Key Concepts socialization hegemonic masculinity intersectionality Questions to Reflect On - How do modern Black men navigate patriarchal expectations? - What alternatives to domination exist today? A Different Perspective The historical context may limit its direct relevance to contemporary dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black males](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-males/) [Black women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-women/) [Masculinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masculinity/) [Patriarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriarchy/) ## Related quotes > [“Patriarchal hip-hop ushered in a world where black males could declare that they were “keeping it real” when what they were really doing was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/patriarchal-hip-hop-ushered-in-a-world-where-black-males-could/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Once upon a time black male “cool” was defined by the ways in which black men confronted hardships of life without allowing their spirits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/once-upon-a-time-black-male-cool-was-defined-by-the-ways-in-which/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“From working with black males for more than a dozen years, I can say with confidence that many black males are both lazy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-jesse-lee-peterson/from-working-with-black-males-for-more-than-a-dozen-years-i-can-say/) [Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rev-jesse-lee-peterson/) > [The criminalization of Black life was something specific to the United States in the post-Reconstruction period and there's something like it happening today with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-criminalization-of-black-life-was-something-specific-to-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The liberal wing of the feminist movement may have improved the lives of its middle- and upper-class constituency--indeed, 1992 was the Year of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/the-liberal-wing-of-the-feminist-movement-may-have-improved-the-lives/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [“I can say with confidence that many black males are both lazy and irresponsible. This view isn't popular with problem profiteers who”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-jesse-lee-peterson/i-can-say-with-confidence-that-many-black-males-are-both-lazy-and/) [Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rev-jesse-lee-peterson/) > [Given the inefficiencies of what D.C. laughingly calls the 'criminal justice system,' I think we can safely assume that 95 percent of the black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/given-the-inefficiencies-of-what-d-c-laughingly-calls-the-criminal/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [ The inspiration for this movie \[Something New\] was this Newsweek article that came out a couple of years ago that talks about 42.4 percent… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/the-inspiration-for-this-movie-something-new-was-this-newsweek/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [I carry a lot of feminine energy as well as masculine energy, and that's the hit that people are getting. 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That must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusef-komunyakaa/i-see-many-black-males-grasping-for-some-thread-of-hope-there-are-so/) [Yusef Komunyakaa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusef-komunyakaa/) > [It is extremely interesting to me that black males, and other black folk, are viewed as self-pitying, by either other blacks who have failed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/it-is-extremely-interesting-to-me-that-black-males-and-other-black/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [The cops drive by to do some more good deeds A young black male spits a sunflower seed in the air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dred-scott/the-cops-drive-by-to-do-some-more-good-deeds-a-young-black-male-spits/) Dred Scott > [The Bureau of Justice reports that one in three black male babies born this century will go to jail or prison - that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/the-bureau-of-justice-reports-that-one-in-three-black-male-babies/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) > [I think that one of the hardest things in the world to be is a black male. I mean everyone hates your guts. White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-think-that-one-of-the-hardest-things-in-the-world-to-be-is-a-black/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) ## More by bell hooks > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Most folks believe we are hardwired biologically to long for sex but they do not believe we are hardwired to long for love. Almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-folks-believe-we-are-hardwired-biologically-to-long-for-sex-but/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Couples who rarely or never have sex can know lifelong love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/couples-who-rarely-or-never-have-sex-can-know-lifelong-love/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The power of patriarchy has been to make maleness feared and to make men feel that it is better to be feared that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-power-of-patriarchy-has-been-to-make-maleness-feared-and-to-make/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“I feel enormously blessed to be a successful black woman writer in this culture, but I have found my small fame, such as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-feel-enormously-blessed-to-be-a-successful-black-woman-writer-in/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Language is also a place of struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/language-is-also-a-place-of-struggle/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [In this culture, the phrase 'black woman' is not synonymous with 'tender,' or 'gentle.' 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A good teacher is someone who can help you to go back and touch the true teacher within,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-true-teacher-is-within-us-a-good-teacher-is-someone-who-can-help/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Advancing the notion that there can be many "feminisms" has served the conservative and liberal political interests of women seeking status and privileged class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/advancing-the-notion-that-there-can-be-many-feminisms-has-served-the/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [I love my family, even as I critique their dysfunctionalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-love-my-family-even-as-i-critique-their-dysfunctionalities/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [You must have courage to love, you have to have a profound will to do what is right to love, and it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/you-must-have-courage-to-love-you-have-to-have-a-profound-will-to-do/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [To truly love we must learn to mix various ingredients - care, affection, recognition, respect, commitment, and trust, as well as honest and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/to-truly-love-we-must-learn-to-mix-various-ingredients-care-affection/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Often emphasis on identity and lifestyle is appealing because it creates a false sense that one is engaged in praxis. However, praxis within any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/often-emphasis-on-identity-and-lifestyle-is-appealing-because-it/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) [Explore all 541 bell hooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## More Black males quotes > [I think that one of the hardest things in the world to be is a black male. I mean everyone hates your guts. 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This view isn't popular with problem profiteers who”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-jesse-lee-peterson/i-can-say-with-confidence-that-many-black-males-are-both-lazy-and/) [Rev. 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Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rev-jesse-lee-peterson/) > [“Today, it is predicted that nationwide one in three black males and one in six Hispanic males will be incarcerated in their lifetime. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dubois-gilliard/today-it-is-predicted-that-nationwide-one-in-three-black-males-and/) Dominique DuBois Gilliard [Browse all 53 Black males quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-males/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...enslaved black males were socialized by white folks to believe that they should endeabor to become patriarchs by seeking to attain the freedom to provide and protect for black women, to be benevolen patriarchs. Benevolent patriarchs exercise their power without using force. And it was this notion of patriarchy that educated black men coming from slavery into freedom sought to mimic. 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