The EmpowerMENt experience, hosted in the Belk Library on Feb. 5, offered students more than a discussion — it created a space for reflection, vulnerability and honest dialogue about what positive masculinity looks like in real life.
The event was run by Charles Evans, a counselor at Elon, and Abdul-Malik Harrison, assistant director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education. Evans said he wanted to create a space for dialogue.
“I really wanted to invite all of campus,” Evans said. “But particularly men to come in and have an open, honest conversation.”
This year's EmpowerMENt, which is the second in this format, coincided with Black History Month. Evans utilized clips from the television show “A Different World,” a program that attempted to realistically portray the Black college experience while covering a variety of societal issues. Evans said the show demonstrates the right sides of masculinity
“‘A Different World,’ in particular, is such a representative example of what positive Black masculinity looks like,” Evans said. “It was really dope to see the room reflect on that.”
The event invited participants to unpack themes of respect, restraint, vulnerability and responsibility — particularly through the lens of Black male identity. Rather than framing masculinity as dominance, speakers and students repeatedly returned to the idea that strength often shows up in quieter, more intentional ways.
Throughout the discussion, students debated how men should navigate conflict, whether by standing their ground or choosing restraint.
Several participants emphasized that masculinity is not about escalating situations, but about knowing when and how to respond, especially when race and safety are involved.
Harrison told Elon News Network that the diversity of answers in the discussion reflects the many attributes involved in positive modern masculinity.
“It doesn’t have to be this grand idea, where one size fits all,” Harrison said. “There are thousands of different kinds of shades of masculinity. We all think it’s like two or three types, but it’s as long as you express yourself and be vulnerable.”
Students also discussed the importance of understanding duality. According to Evans, having proper intentions and understanding of context is important to understand what the correct behavior is in different situations.
Harrison graduated from Elon in 2021. He said this type of community and conversation was not accessible when he was a student, which would have helped him in maturing. He said these events are exactly what Elon is all about.
“Doing stuff like this is how you literally become a person,” Harrison said. “You have to step out of your comfort zone. You have to speak. You have to get off your phone and on your feet. That’s why we call it the EmpowerMENt experience.”