The Black Men’s Research Institute (BMRI) is a pioneering initiative to study the economic, social, cultural, and personal outcomes of issues affecting Black men, particularly where disparities exist in the U.S. and internationally. 

Rooted in the scholarship of the humanities, humanistic social sciences, and the creative arts, the institute is unique in its expansive focus on diverse Black masculinities and the positioning of Black men in society as it relates to the intersectionality of race, class, religion, gender, sexuality, identity, politics and policy, history, art, and other factors. By amplifying collaborative thought leadership, the institute strives to fill a void of conflicting narratives, distrust, and ambiguity with a clear, authoritative voice on the experiences of Black men. BMRI will also strengthen the intellectual discovery, discourse, and scholarship at Morehouse in areas related to LGBTQ history, culture, and social challenges, as well as sexism, patriarchy, and misogyny.

Initial funding for BMRI has been provided through a four-year, $1.2 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

As the only higher education institution with a mission to prepare Black men for careers of leadership and service, Morehouse is uniquely positioned to generate new scholarship centered on Black men and their communities through BMRI, as well as to contribute to conversations and inform policy related to social justice. BMRI will also equip Black men and allies to challenge and navigate through a society constructed in ways that may marginalize Black men’s contributions and humanity. In addition, the institute will serve as an incubator for faculty to create curricula and scholarship that can be adopted by other higher education institutions seeking to provide more inclusive and authentic education about Black masculinities. The institute will also serve to convene and facilitate interdisciplinary research by faculty, visiting scholars, and students.
BMRI is designed to facilitate engagement as well as research. The institute, through collaboration with the Morehouse Africana Studies academic program, will serve as a launchpad for exploration of the first Black masculinities studies minor at a historically Black college or university (HBCU), along with an online certificate program. The institute also plans to launch an annual symposium, through which a single topic will be explored in-depth, a public lecture series, and acknowledge public and community projects that foster nuanced understanding of policies affecting Black men and their communities.