Are black men better endowed? Cosmo talks to the author of a provocative, book about the pervasive belief that black equals bigger.(LOVE AND LUST)(Scott Poulson-Bryant's Hung: A Meditation on the Measure of Black Men in America)(Interview)

There's one rumor that never dies: Black men are very blessed below the belt. That stereotype is file catalyst for a compelling book by Scott Poulson-Bryant called Hung: A Meditation on the Measure of Black Men in America. Poulson-Bryant interviewed men and women about the topic and recounted his experiences as a 38-year-old black man. Read on to hear what he discovered.

Q Why did you write Hung?.

A When I was a teenager, the men in my life led me to believe that if I didn't have a 9-inch penis, I wasn't a real black guy. When I realized I'd never reach those proportions, I acquired a mental hang-up. So I wrote this because I never wanted another man--black or white--to be as "hung" up on size as I was.

Q Did your insecurity affect your relationships?

A Years ago, after I had sex with this white girl, she said, "I thought you'd be bigger because you're black." My response was "I thought I'd be bigger too." I saw how prevalent the stereotype was and that it's not always good.

A Is there research that proves black men are bigger in general?.

B Based on a study from the Journal of Research in Personality, black men measure--on average--about 1 inch bigger than other men. But it's those perceptions that go along with it that you're great at sex, last longer in bed, are stronger--that make that inch so significant.