TL;DR
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The Good Men Project published “Try Humility,” a satirical essay by Matt Kane that presents humility as a response to racism, sexism, xenophobia and hypermasculinity. The piece uses mock advertising language to urge readers to acknowledge what they do not know and listen with curiosity. The supplied material does not establish publication timing beyond identifying the essay.
The Good Men Project published “Try Humility,” a satirical essay by Matt Kane that frames humility as a remedy for racism, sexism, xenophobia and hypermasculinity. Written as a mock advertisement, the piece asks readers—especially white Americans—to question their assumptions and approach difficult conversations with curiosity rather than defensiveness.
Kane’s essay opens by addressing white readers who feel confused or frustrated by changing relationships with Black friends and by criticism of social and political views. Its examples include unanswered messages, social media unfollows and difficulty understanding why a daughter or friend might react negatively to a comment about race or sexuality. These scenarios are presented as satire, not as reported cases or independently verified evidence.
The proposed “treatment” is a shift in attitude: recognize that one does not know everything, then use curiosity to learn and keep learning. Kane presents that approach as useful in relationships with family, friends and partners, as well as in everyday conversations about race and gender. The essay also warns against treating humility as a tactic for gaining Black friends, improving dating prospects or appearing more politically aware.
The mock advertisement promises benefits such as feeling more comfortable and strengthening relationships, while joking that an invitation to a cookout is only a possibility. It labels the “price” as free and uses exaggerated claims about recommendations and side effects to sustain the parody. The supplied source identifies the piece as “Try ‘Humility’ (Part 1)” and also references “Session 9: The Dream” on Substack under “Off the Clock w/ Matt Kane.”
Humility as a Relationship Practice
The essay’s central point is that conversations about race and gender can affect personal relationships, not only public debate. By asking readers to pause before assuming they already understand another person’s experience, Kane presents humility as a practical starting point for listening and reconsidering a remark or belief. That is the argument of the essay, rather than a measured finding about how humility changes relationships.
The satirical format matters because it turns familiar marketing language into a way to challenge self-interest. The piece specifically cautions readers against adopting humility only to gain social approval, dating success or a reputation for being “woke.” Its message is that curiosity and acknowledging mistakes should be genuine practices, not a sales pitch or a shortcut to acceptance.
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A Mock Advertisement With a Message
The supplied report is written in the style of a commercial, complete with a named “treatment,” a list of benefits, imagined side effects and a free offer. That format is part of the piece’s humor: humility is treated like a product even as the essay argues that meaningful self-reflection cannot be reduced to a purchasable outcome.
Kane’s examples focus on situations involving political views, race, sexuality and social connection. The source attributes the essay to Matt Kane and describes him as a psychologist, writer and advocate. It does not provide independent reporting, research data or interviews supporting the essay’s broader social observations, so those observations should be read as the author’s framing and satire.
““Humility is a simple approach that begins with the important recognition that we don’t know everything.””
— Matt Kane, in “Try Humility”
What the Source Does Not Establish
The supplied material does not state when the essay was published, provide a publication update or show how readers responded. It also offers no data to verify claims made in the mock advertisement, including its joking “9/10 Black people” recommendation. That figure is part of the satire and should not be treated as survey research.
The source does not report evidence that humility will produce particular personal outcomes, such as repairing a friendship or improving a romantic relationship. Those outcomes are framed as possibilities and jokes within the piece. The essay is commentary, not a clinical recommendation or a study of treatment effects.
Further Publication Details to Check
No follow-up, second installment date or response from the publisher is included in the source material. Readers seeking the full text can consult the cited Good Men Project report and the referenced Substack publication, “Off the Clock w/ Matt Kane.” Whether Kane has published additional parts or expanded on the essay’s argument is not clear from the material provided.
Key Questions
What is “Try Humility”?
It is a satirical essay by Matt Kane, published by The Good Men Project, that uses the language of an advertisement to advocate humility and curiosity in discussions about race, gender and relationships.
What does the essay mean by humility?
Kane describes it as recognizing that you do not know everything and responding with curiosity so you can learn. The essay also presents admitting a mistake as part of that approach.
Is the “9/10 Black people” claim based on research?
The supplied source presents the figure as part of the essay’s satirical advertising language. It provides no survey method, sample or research evidence, so the number should not be read as a factual statistic.
Does the essay promise better relationships?
No. It jokes about possible benefits, but the source does not establish that humility will guarantee improved relationships, dating success or social acceptance. Its argument is that listening and acknowledging mistakes may help people engage more thoughtfully.
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