The present study assessed how American-Americans males between ages 13 and 17 learn to develop a masculine identity. The goal of the study was to explore the following questions: (a) What are the images of masculinity for African American male adolescents, (b) What influences their identification of what is masculine? (c) How do these images affect how they see themselves and what they aspire to be? It also examined the impact of socioeconomic on their masculine identity development. A retrospective qualitative design was used in this study. Fifteen African American adult men 18 to 22 years of age were recruited to recall their experiences of forming a masculine identity during adolescence. They were interviewed utilizing a semi-structured interview protocol, which consisted of (a) a demographic questionnaire, (b) an interview questionnaire designed to obtain information about the principal research questions, and the Multicultural Masculinity Ideology scale. The participants responses were analyzed thematically using the Weiss (1994) model. Findings indicated that seven archetypes of masculinity were available to participants during adolescence including "tough guys", "gangsters/thugs", "players of women", "flashy/flamboyant", "athletes", "providers", and "role models." Positive male role models, in particular fathers and grandfathers, played the largest role in predicting positive, healthy and adaptive masculine identities in contrast to one's peers or the media. Also, parental involvement, encouragement, and support highly con-elated with participants decisions to pursue higher education and academic success. Study limitations, implications, and directions for future research are offered.