Throughout history, African American literature has given many a look into the struggle of a race.

Now, David Ikard, UT associate professor of English, is offering insight into the world of black feminism and the black men who are supporting it in his new book, "Breaking the Silence: Toward a Black Male Feminist Criticism."

"My book seeks to address a political debate among many black women feminist scholars that are skeptical of black men that do feminism criticism, fearing that they are simply academic opportunists capitalizing on the recent popularity of black women and gender-centric scholarship," Ikard said.

Ikard believes that black men can offer productive insight into black feminist readings and issues like sexism in the black community.

During the summer prior to his doctorate work, Ikard read Chester Himes's novel, "If He Hollers Let Him Go." The character of Bob Jones is portrayed as a savage in his search for revenge on a white woman. Ikard used the novel as a model to fight the stereotype since none existed at the time.

"My primary concern is to work through issues of status and intra racial issues considered culturally taboo," Ikard said. "Literature is the ideal medium because it is imaginary space rather than lived space."

Ikard said his women's literature students are often excited about discussing sexism, but don't want to explore racism as much. He said that ignoring one prejudice in favor of the other defeats the purpose of fighting all oppression.

"Defending privilege is supporting the larger problem and sabotaging your own ends," Ikard said.

"I show, for example, that women who are willing to confront sexism in the black community are treated by black men as emasculators and women that give in to patriarchal black men's demands for subordination are routinely celebrated and revered in the community," Ikard said. "These ideas are so deeply entrenched in the cultural mindset, that black women often police these patterns...providing black men with social license to ignore black women's unique oppression."

"I use African American literature to get at the root of these problems and imagine possible paths beyond the conflicts," Ikard said.