Don't Blame it On Rio

There are very few books or media that focus on how African American men see the world. This is especially true when it comes to relationships. All too often a discussion of African American men in relationships focuses on trifling broke brother’s failure to be fathers or remain faithful to their mates. Well, this book follows this narrative to a certain degree but differs in that it explores the phenomenon of middle class African American men who take sex vacations in Brazil and truly attempts to understand their rationale and their beliefs about African American women.

Jewell Woods, the author, honestly made an attempt to understand how African American men view relationships with African American women and with Brazilian women. He also explored what motivated African American men to go to Brazil, moving beyond the obvious answer of sex and exploring some of the emotional and psychological factors involved. Rather than outright condemning the brothers, Jewell allowed them to have their say and then dissected their arguments, showing their hypocrisy, but also their humanity. Jewell manages to hold middle class African American men to account, without pandering to African American women who are likely to read his book.

Sexual tourism is a growing phenomenon in the African American community, and it is good that Jewell is holding middle class African American men, who normally get a pass on their sexism, accountable. One thing that I had a problem with in the book is that he opens with the question “Are Black Women Necessary” but does not really explain why they are. I love African American women, but considering what some of the complaints about them in the essay it felt like more of an effort to refute the arguments against sisters in the book would have been beneficial. Besides this, the book is an educational and a worthwhile read, especially considering the lack of literature that makes a real attempt to study African American outside of the prison and baby daddy categories.