This phenomenological study explored 13 African American men's experiences of masculinity. We examined how participants defined masculinity, who and what contributed to their understandings, and how they experienced construction of masculine identities within the context of social class and sexuality. Results showed that, despite challenges, the African American men in this study found ways to be successful in constructing masculine identities. We explore 2 themes that emerged from the data: (1) Three primary categories of role models influenced participants: in-family role models, mentors from the community, and the presence of a negative role model. (2) Regardless of the participants' economic situations, there existed a tension created by expectations many of them held in contrast to the actual circumstances into which many of the young men found themselves.