November 3rd 2023.
Recently, a heated debate was sparked on social media when two Black men in a TikTok video posted on October 28th shared their divergent approaches to handling finances and household responsibilities. The video portrays a candid conversation between a “50/50 man” and a “traditional man”, where the former is an hourly wage worker who has faced financial challenges, and the latter is a prosperous entrepreneur who has worked hard to accumulate wealth.
The “50/50 man” discussed his feelings of being questioned for his approach to masculinity, noting that it is difficult to maintain a 100% contribution when he is only making $14 an hour. He asked, “How do I still provide and still be a man?” The “traditional man” responded by saying, “Brother I applaud you, but we are men, so we have to go harder.” He further suggested that men should not enter relationships until they have direction.
The debate generated a lot of discussion on social media, with one TikTok user commenting that “50/50 men always have an attitude” and another stating that “he is so defensive he can’t understand the message.” Rapper The Game weighed in on the subject, saying that “if you can’t afford to take care of your household 100%, as a man just stay single or alone until you can.” He added that “A woman has duties in the home that are not easy at all, that I consider equal to the work that is required to financially secure that home.”
The conversation between these two men sheds light on the multifaceted nature of modern masculinity and the complexity of concepts surrounding it. It also serves as a reminder that the way we view masculinity is as varied as the individuals who embody it. In the end, the video garnered an impressive 1.7 million views on TikTok, 19,000 comments on Instagram, and even inspired the 2023 Black Men XCEL Summit to recognize and honor both men for their insights and guidance.
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