Hazel Carby's Race Men

Hazel Carby's book, Race Men is an interesting assessment of Black male sexism and the depictions and portrayals of the Black male body in American culture. I do, however, have some problems with it. I find it quite interesting that she would criticize W.E.B. Dubois and Cornel West for accepting the image of the Black intellectual as only "male and clad in a victorian three piece suit" yet she would vehemently criticize Paul Robeson's nude photographs for Nickolas Muray and juxtapose them as being "degrading and embodying the oppression of the Black male" as opposed to the suited picture of Robeson that was given as a present to Carl Van Vechten which she defines as "the picture of a quiet,thoughtful, and intellectual Robeson." I disagree with her assessment of Murray's photographs, as I think that they are expressions not only of Muray's talents and artistry, but they do exude the artistry, intellect, and integrity of Robeson as well.