NBA Players, Others Holding “Black Men’s Summit” Feb. 17 from 3-5 PM

Photo: Facebook

On Feb. 17th, from 3: 00 pm to 6:00 pm, the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and Dove will be holding a three-hour virtual presentation entitled: "The Black Men's Summit."

People interested in participating in this virtual event can log on  here.

Black men in America experience negative perceptions that can impact all areas of their lives, from educational opportunities and economic well-being, to interactions with the justice system, discrimination in housing and adverse effects on health.

The burden of these biases can limit the ability of Black men to achieve their goals and participate more fully in society. To examine the magnitude and impact of these perceptions, Dove Men+Care commissioned a research study titled "Bias Against Black Men – Understanding Perceptions and How They Impact Black Men & Boys," to quantify the bias and stereotypes against Black men and boys. The study included 3,000 people, including 2,600 men, and the results are an undeniable confirmation of the negative effects of bias and stereotypes against Black men and boys.

Dove Men+Care joined forces with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) to help create a world that cares for, respects, and celebrates Black men by working to change the misrepresentation of Black men in media and culture. The initiative, Commit To C.A.R.E. (Care About Racial Equity) Now, elevates voices of Black men by bringing awareness to the way Black men are portrayed in society and shifting the narrative to show real, human stories of Black men and boys. The research study reinforces the importance and urgency of the initiative. Topline results of the "Bias Against Black Men – Understanding Perceptions and How They Impact Black Men & Boys," study include:

• Descriptions of one another - When looking at self-descriptors of how men see themselves, Black men are 2.5 times (150%) more likely to be described as criminal (by White men) and 2 times (100%) more likely to be described as threatening and intimidating by White men.
• Self-perceptions decline over time - Negative stereotypes lead to a decline in confidence of Black men as they move from high school to college, with Black men saying they feel less "smart," "outspoken," "like a leader" and "like a social magnet;" demonstrating the significant impact of a racially segregated education system in which 77% of high school students attend same-race school.
• Differences in how people see themselves - From the personality assessment done with all the men in the study, researchers observed that while Black and White men see themselves the same way, with overlap of 80 percent on positive identified personality traits, White men see Black men differently than Black men see themselves. Overwhelmingly, White men see Black men as "athletic" rather than "smart," fueling a 401-year stereotype about Black men that was rooted in slavery.
• Negative descriptions - 37% of White men used at least one of the following words to describe Black men: "Aggressive, Threatening, Criminal, Dangerous, Apathetic." During the casting exercises where respondents were asked to assume who had committed a fictitious crime, Black men were more likely to be assigned 'criminal' 7 out of 10 times if the White men held preconceived negative biases.
• Racial slurs still prevalent – Over 51% of Black men have been called a racial slur.

"We know that our culture is filled with negative and stereotypical portrayals of Black men, and this study adds profound dimension to the impact of these stereotypes," said Esi Eggleston Bracey, EVP and COO of North America Beauty and Personal Care at Unilever. "The data is clear. These are not perceptions held by a select few; these are broadly held and pronounced views engrained in our culture. We must face these facts to begin addressing the problem, and that's what the Commit to C.A.R.E. joint initiative from Dove Men+Care and the NBPA is all about, an action-oriented initiative to Care About Racial Equity."

In an effort to create a world that cares for, respects, and celebrates Black men, Dove Men+Care and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) have:

• Illuminated the issues of harmful stereotypes against Black men by sharing powerful stories from NBPA members that are debunking myths about Black men.
• Established a "Tech & Talk" Camp program in partnership with select NBPA members to create a platform for young students of color to build and share their own narratives about themselves and their communities. The camps, which teach students the foundations of storytelling and how to build their own websites, provide education, technology training, and access to mentors and life coaches. Camp participants across the country received new laptops from Dell Technologies.
• Called on the public to take the pledge to care about racial equity (CommittoCAREnow.com) by educating themselves and others, and standing up against the racial injustices that disproportionately affect Black men and boys in America.

On February 17, 2021 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST, at the Dove Men+Care and NBPA Black Men's Summit we will showcase several NBPA members, along with men and women from business, entertainment, media, academia and civic engagement who are working to drive change in the world. Confirmed participants include:

• Chris Paul – President, NBPA
• Danny Green – NBPA member
• Donovan Mitchell – NBPA member
• Aaron Gordon – NBPA member
• Jaylen Brown – NBPA member
• Maverick Carter – CEO of SpringHill Entertainment, founded by NBA star LeBron James
• Laz Alonso – Actor ("The Boys")
• Marc Morial – President and CEO of the National Urban League
• Derrick Johnson – CEO of the NAACP
• Esi Eggleston Bracey – EVP and COO of Unilever N.A. Beauty & Personal Care
• Payne Brown – President, THINK450 (NBPA)
• Christina Norman – Head of Content, THINK450 (NBPA)
• Louis Carr – President of Media Sales, BET Networks
• Carlos-Javier Gil, Global Brand VP, Dove Men+Care
• Jeff Johnson – Journalist and Communications Specialist
• Roland Martin – Journalist and Host - Roland Martin Unfiltered
• Tiyale Hayes – CEO of Modulize, Inc.
• Dr. Rashawn Ray – University of Maryland Professor and Author
• Reed Tuckson, MD, FACP – Managing Director of Tuckson Health Connections
• Brian Reaves – Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Dell Technologies
• Deon Jones – Musician and Activist
• Joe Clair – Comedian, DJ, and Host of the event

To participate in the Black Men's Summit on February 17, 2021, beginning at 3:00 p.m. EST, stream it live at https://Facebook.com/DoveMenCare or https://youtube.com/DoveMenCareUS. The full "Bias Against Black Men – Understanding Perceptions and How They Impact Black Men & Boys" study will be available at https://www.committocarenow.com.

Learn more at https://DoveMenCare.com.