Transcending the “Scepter”: Advancing Nonconforming Black Male Sexuality and Genre

Abstract: This article critically interrogates the symbolic weight of the phallus, conceptualized as the “scepter,” in Black feminist, intersectional, and queer theory, exposing its limitations in representing nonconforming Black male sexuality and genre. It explores how dominant frameworks perpetuate restrictive patriarchal and sexual binaries, marginalizing fluid and nondominant Black male expressions of nonconformity. The article is situated as a rejection of traditional constructs of masculinity, sexuality, and gender, emphasizing agency and individuality. The article advocates for a reclamation of Black male sexuality and genre, addressing stereotypes such as hypersexuality and the “Mandingo” myth while advancing a vision of genre and sexual fluidity that transcends binaries. Drawing on cultural and historical contexts, case studies, and artistic expressions, it proposes a new framework: Postbinary Black masculinity. This conceptual model prioritizes fluidity, individuality, and agency, inviting deeper exploration of race, genre, and power. Concluding with a call for liberation, it underscores the need to move beyond the “scepter” to embrace expansive understandings of Black male sexuality and genre, fostering inclusion in academic, social, and cultural discourse.