By Andrea Stevens
AFRO Staff Writer
astevens@afro.com
Being a Black man in America comes with clear trials and daily challenges—many of which go unspoken. Now, the anniversary of George Floyd’s death offers a moment to center the voices of Black men and their lived experiences.
In their own words, Matthew Stuart and Koby Greene reflect on the weight of racial perception, the importance of community and the urgent need for change.
“Black men get treated differently no matter the profession. Even if you’re a world medalist or in the military, you’re still seen as a problem,” said Stuart, a father and military veteran.
Greene, a young man raised with an acute awareness of America’s racial dynamics, shares that his perspective was shaped early by these hard truths.
“I was taught the hardships of being a Black man in America before I ever saw the positives,” said Greene. “So I tend to see the world through a negative lens first.”
For both men, navigating a society filled with assumptions means constantly staying alert. Stuart shared the difficulty of having to teach that vigilance to his children.
“The biggest challenge for me right now is explaining to my child how the real world works, and preparing them for the things I know they’ll face,” he said.
The emotional pressure to appear invulnerable weighs heavily on many Black men. Greene spoke on the expectations placed upon them to carry that weight without faltering.
“Black men are expected to be tougher than the average person,” Greene said. “When we can’t live up to those expectations, we’re looked down upon.”
He added that he initially distanced himself from the very support system he needed most.
“Growing up, I pushed my community away because I thought I had to figure it all out myself. I didn’t know the power of mentorship and support,” he said.
Both Stuart and Greene agree that media portrayal plays a central role in reinforcing negative stereotypes.
“You’ll see negative portrayals of Black men long before you see the good—and even the positive stories often come from pain,” Greene said.
Stuart expanded on that point, citing how the culture around entertainment supports that harmful narrative.
“They push the negative narrative through the music industry,” Stuart said.
Despite this, Stuart credits the strength and example of Black male mentors in shaping his identity and offering a blueprint for growth.
“Men need other men to thrive,” Stuart said. “I was raised by strong Black men—military men—and each one can lead the next. That’s how we build stronger communities.”
He also noted how assumptions about Black men cloud even basic human interaction.
“People see Black men and automatically think we’re aggressive or violent,” Stuart said. “Instead of taking time to understand who we are, they judge us based on stereotypes.”
Though their stories are personal, their hopes are shared. Both men see a path forward rooted in self-awareness, positive mindset and community healing.
“Mindset is everything,” said Stuart. “Once you elevate your thinking beyond your circumstances, you can change your life and help build a stronger community.”
Greene echoed that sentiment with a call to self-reflection and growth.
“As Black men, we’re always trying to dodge hate and negativity first,” Greene said. “But if we shift our mindset, we can start seeing the world—and ourselves—differently.”