Black Masculinity and Homosocial Bonding

At the core of many of Wilson's plays are male characters who often uphold a patriarchal worldview. These male characters are often written as dominant, boisterous, and, in some cases, sexually aggressive womanizers. This chapter offers a closer look at how Wilson dramatizes male-to-male relationships that defy conventional traits associated with Black masculinity. It also examines how Wilson subverts popular illustrations of Black masculinity by rendering male characters who are vulnerable nurturers outside of their relationships with women.