Cool is possibly the most important force in the life of a black man in America today. This book examines what cool is, and why, but it does not define what is, or is not, cool. African captives brought to this country had to internalize their emotions, and this internalization became the beginning of cool. The repression of natural emotions is one of the first characteristics of being cool. As the need to survive ebbed, black men faced the need to define an achievable manhood, and cool became a system that serves many purposes. The white perception of cool is narrow and distorted, with cool often perceived merely as style or arrogance, rather than a way to achieve respect. Cool is discussed in various contexts, including its portrayal in the media. What is cool is determined by the peer group, the family, and an individual's point of view and perspective. While what is cool differs, the concept remains that of a boy trying to become a man in his environment, with the requisite and well-deserved self-esteem and respect that come with manhood. (SLD)