Question Bridge: Black Males is a revealing exploration of the complexity, beauty, and inherent challenges of defining and representing black male identity in the United States. The video features a diverse demographic of African American men across geographic, economic, generational, educational, and social strata. They engage in a transmedia conversation on themes that divide, unite, and puzzle black males in the 21st century. The 1,500 question-and-answer exchanges between these men provide surprising and profound insight into the struggles, resilience, triumphs, and humanity of black men in America.
Description:
A "documentary-styled art installation" with the title Question Bridge: Black Males. At the beginning of the video, the entire screen is black, with the exception of a smaller frame within the screen. In this smaller, rectangular frame, positioned to the left of the screen, along it’s middle plane, there is a man wearing a white t-shirt. He looks directly at the camera and says: “So I have a question for you. What does it mean to you to be a black male?” His frame then disappears and instantaneously another one, of the same size, appears in the center of the screen. Another black man, actor Malik Yoba, occupies this second frame. He wears a white shirt which has the words [can’t commit] printed on it. He looks directly at the camera and asks: “What is your purpose in life?” His frame then disappears, and another appears just to the left of where it was. The man in this third frame wears a white t-shirt, eyeglasses and has dreadlocks. He asks: “How do we reclaim our communities?” Videos of black men asking questions continue to appear in succession, randomly positioned along the screen’s center plane.
At 00:00:24, a frame appears to the far left of the screen, exactly where the very first one was. The man occupying it asks: “What is the last word that we can remember you by, as a black man? For your last day on this Earth, what is the last…a word… that we can remember you by?” Another frame appears to the far right of the screen, and both frames remain visible as the man in this second frame responds: “Umm, the last word as a black man, that I’d like to be remembered by is warrior.” Both of their frames disappear and three others appear in rapid succession, also offering responses to the question posed. One man says “sincere,” another says “motivated,” another says “dedicated.” The last person to respond to that question says: “Father. I think it is the greatest thing a black man can be. Father.”
The video continues in this fashion, with different men asking questions, others responding and some serving as the audience to each discussion. Many of the men are prominent members of the African American community, such as actors Malik Yoba, Delroy Lindo and Jesse Williams, as well as academics such as author and professor E. Patrick Johnson. Others are less famous and some of the men are even incarcerated. They broach topics relating to black masculinity including crime, violence, sexuality, fatherhood, physical and mental health, spirituality, Black Israelite and numerous others.
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Chris Johnson, Hank Willis Thomas, Bayeté Ross Smith, Kamal Sinclair, Jesse Williams, Dr. Deborah Willis, and the Campaign for Black Male Achievement
