In his introduction to Black masculinity: The Black Male’s Role in American Society (1982), noted African-American psychologist Robert Staples states that, It is difficult to think of a more controversial role in American society than that of a black male. He goes on to say that, He is a visible figure on the American scene, yet the least understood and studied of all sex-race groups in the United States.” Since Staples wrote those remarks, there has been a proliferation of studies with African American males as the subject and object. So, what is so controversial about the African Ameriican male? Especially of interest to Sociologist, Psychologist and educators is crime, poverty, the underclass and education. Black males and low academic achievement, crime, violence, alcohol and drug dependency have all been well documented. However, the study of black males, homelessness and poverty has not been the focus of many studies. According to Blumberg, Shipley and Barsky (1978), “They also suggest that social scientists, social welfare workers, social welfare policy makers and public officials have neglected homeless Black people who are also living a Skid Row-like lifestyle within the racially segregated districts of our cities.”

Williams, David A. (2009) unpublished manuscript; Invisible Men: African American Male Homelessness and Poverty in America: Origins and Meaning, European Cultural Hegemony and Globalization