T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E.: A Conceptual Framework for When Keeping It Real Goes Right — My Other Brother (M.O.B.) and Black Male Student Narratives of Authenticity, Community, and Power

• In Event: 66.065 - "My Cypher Keeps Moving Like a Rolling Stone": Centering Youth Voice in Hip-Hop Education

Abstract

In connection with the notion of Black authenticity, community, family and power, this submission utilizes Tupac Shakur’s Construct of T.H.U.G.L.I.F.E. and Tara Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth as conceptual frameworks to emphasize cultural strengths and racialized experiences that empower Black, male students to succeed. This submission connects Black authenticity and Hip Hop expression to themes of Black power, community and family as elements that engage Black males in higher education to impact Black male student success. This research study is important as it is a Participatory Action Research (PAR) study that includes M.O.B. students in the data analysis stage,- providing M.O.B. students the opportunity to re-examine what Black Authenticity means to them.

Author

• Ishman Anderson, San Francisco State University