The African American male psyche is a complicated multi-layered mixture of outside media influences, stereotypes, peer pressure, how they see themselves, and how they think others see them. This article describes how school and public librarians can help raise the literacy efforts of young African American males. It cites the need for libraries to create opportunities for African American males to identify texts that mark their times and lives and involve them in selecting books through surveys and suggestion boxes and simply by asking them. It notes the importance of school libraries and public libraries where librarians can share what they learn with others and reach out to extended communities to teach and collaborate.