Using longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, the objective of this article is to examine which factors over the life course contribute to African American males’personal sense of mastery. Although adolescent poverty does not appear to hamper the adult mastery of African American men, results show that consequential adolescent variables are parental educational attainment, region of origin, self-esteem, and educational aspirations. The analysis also suggests that current adult achievement (e.g., educational attainment and earnings) is also a significant determinant of adult mastery in African American males. This finding indicates that, despite the absence of economic and interpersonal resources in adolescence, African American males may be able to compensate for such deprivation through individual achievement—which directly affects personal mastery.
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