Mercy, mercy me -- Introduction: A legacy of anti-patriarchy -- Lay of the land. The shore ; Patriarchy is... ; On the eighth day, the Lord made oppression ; The first Colossus ; False binary ; Generational curses ; Green prisons ; The rot in the garden ; Gaslighting culture ; If these hands could talk -- Impact or (the unbelievable pain caused). The blood of forty-four ; Of monsters and men ; The hypocrisy of Hoteps and the bourgeoisie ; Expectations and shadows ; A case for decriminalizing sex work ; View (by Novell Jordan) ; Who carries the hatred ; As they rampage ; The epidemic of rape culture ; Womanizer ; I come apart ; Purity and grace ; Accountability in caste and intersectionality ; On patriarchical violence -- In defense of Black women. Black women are not mules ; Dear Oluwatoyin ; Black body politics ; My mother's son ; Notes from a king ; What does a Black person owe this country? ; The oppressed may also be the oppressors ; A good white woman (I'm an ally) ; What white feminism has taken. Part 1, The shield ; What white feminism has taken. Part 2, The sword -- Building anew. Therapy (how do you feel?) ; What was made, may be broken ; In that dirty mirror ; In the end (letting go of our fathers)

In this thought-provoking collection of essays, poems, and short reflections, Frederick Joseph explores issues of masculinity and patriarchy from both a personal and cultural standpoint. From fatherhood, and "manning up" to abuse and therapy, he fearlessly and thoughtfully tackles the complex realities of men's lives today and their significance for society, lending his insights as a Black man