On campus, grim statistics for African-American men

St. Petersburg Times ^ | January 5, 2004 | Bill Maxwell

[Cincinatus' Wife]

African-Americans should be afraid - very afraid.

We have many reasons to be afraid, but two that should cause the most alarm are the low number of black men in college and the low number of black men who are graduating from college.

Nationally, a mere quarter of the 1.9-million black men between 18 and 24 attended college in 2000, the last year the American Council on Education reported such statistics. By contrast, 35 percent of black women in the same age group and 36 percent of all 18- to 24-year-olds were attending college.

A grimmer statistic, according to the American Council on Education, is that the graduation rate of black men is the lowest of any population. Only 35 percent of the black men who enrolled in NCAA Division I schools in 1996 graduated within six years. White men, on the other hand, graduated at a rate of 59 percent; Hispanic men, 46 percent; American Indian men, 41 percent; and black women, 45 percent.

Where are the black men, why are so few on our college campuses and why are so few graduating?

"In 1999 there were 757,000 black men in federal, state and local prisons," according to the Autumn 2003 issue of the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. "In 1999 . . . there were 604,200 African-American men enrolled in higher education in the United States. Therefore, there were 25 percent more black men in prison in the United States than were enrolled in institutions of higher education. Today, black men make up 41 percent of the inmates in federal state, and local prison, but black men are only 4 percent of all students in American institutions of higher education."

Many black and white educators at major colleges and universities, including Amherst, historically black Howard, Swarthmore and Wesleyan, are trying to help end this crisis. Several years ago, the University of Georgia established the African-American Male Initiative, a research program with the purpose of removing the hurdles to college enrollment and graduation for black men.

The obstacles to black males earning college degrees are many, some seemingly intractable. They include inferior public education before college, the absence of black men as role models, low expectations from teachers and other adults, low self-esteem, black men's own low aspirations and their tendency to drop out of high school in disproportionate numbers.

Yes, these are serious obstacles to college enrollment and graduation for African-American men, but, taken together, they represent the least important part of the problem. A role model, for example, means nothing or next to nothing to a child who is ill-prepared to emotionally and intellectually apprehend the significance of the role model's accomplishments.

The seeds for success, especially academic success, are most effectively planted at home. The presence of books in the home and parents who read and discuss ideas and current affairs almost always influence children to read and to care about things of the mind. Too many African-American homes are headed by parents, single or otherwise, who lack interest in the long-term efficacy of education, who do not insist that their children learn.

The efforts of the University of Georgia and others are to be applauded. But a parenting initiative has to be established, an initiative that forces parents and children to become introspective and diligent. At the core of the black male crisis is our failure to assume total responsibility for the destiny of our children - our future. Nearly 100 years ago, educator and civil rights attorney Charles Hamilton Houston said of black people and education: "Without education, there is no hope for our people and without hope, our future is lost."

By any means necessary, black adults must teach black children to take hold of their lives. While we should continue to acknowledge the debilitating effects of racism, we cannot afford to live as victims. We must forge a world of self-determination parallel to that of society's racism, an evil that is not disappearing any time soon.

External programs, such as Georgia's African-American Male Initiative, are good things, but they cannot replace black people's own will to succeed academically. Until we look inside ourselves and change our perspective on education, the grim statistics will continue to pile up, and our men will fall further behind and the dreaded cliche - black males are "an endangered species" - will become a reality.

We should be afraid - very afraid.

[dwd1]

I am shocked... SHOCKED, I tell you, that you would have the tamarity to suggest that people use statistics to further their prejudices... Did you ever see "The Tuskegee Airmen"? Shades of "Senator Conyers"...

[cyborg]

:sigh: When given the same opportunities as white people in the past, black people have performed just as well even better (because of overcompensation for the racism of the time). Tuskegee Airmen show that.

[Conservomax]

It's the colleges' fault for having such racist admission policies. Wait a second. Ummm... It's still gotsta be some white man's fault...

[dwd1]

Now, you and I are going to get in major trouble suggesting that for a black person to succeed in this country, you have to be far better because than all other candidates when all other things are equal or you will be denied opportunity... I am sure that does not happen... Perish the thought... I would say that I know some very accomplished people... I have a friend in LA who I have know for 12 years.... She is one of those black women that puts all of these statistics in doubt... www.marshapowell.com

[dwd1]

Well, if Bush is the man, obviously we can conclude that intelligience and academic achievement are not about race... I can think of people from all types of backgrounds smarter than him... Where he is very bright, however, is in his honesty about the fact that he recognizes his limitations and surrounds himself with smart people...

[cyborg]

A person does not have to be black to know that there are legions of black people who are succeeding just like everyone ELSE. SOME people are only surrounded by the rubbish gangsta rapper and to them that's the sum total of black achievement. They LOVE to wallow in their ignorance, instead of challenging their OWN personal prejudices. I know too many people who are black, who have been through HELL with racism and prejudice and poverty then turned out better than a lot of my white friends (who thought they could just slide through life with daddy's money). SOME people just do not want to know, meet, be friends with intelligent smart dynamic black people so they can continue to post how black people are lazy,single parents,stupid, committ crimes and get their degrees in prison.

[dwd1]

Now that is some real truth... Cuts both ways... We have idiots and we have heavyweights.... I think the act of pointing out that there are bad fathers, criminals, uneducated, apathetic people in the black race is something we can all accept and recognize... Nothing to be proud of... However, it does not mean that we are the only ones... And sometimes, I feel like this all boils down to one kid on the playground sticking his tongue out at another kid and saying "I got more than you" or "You are less than me"...

[dwd1]

And as much as I would love to go back to school, I am not willing to commit armed robbery (a respectable crime in criminal circles) to go... :-)

[cyborg]

I read stuff that mhking posts from Project21 and Jesse Lee Peterson that legitimately addresses problems stemming from dumb liberal programs,irresponsibility, racism and just general human dysfunction. OK but the media ONLY looks at black people when everyone has problems. This why I disagree with the concept of 'communities'. If one wants to think that way, there's nothing that impresses me about either community. If one is going to point out black people's problems then don't get offended when people point out white racism, or anyone else's drama.

I think you're right. This really is about fingerpointing.

[cyborg]

LOL stay out of school

[iconoclast]

The illegitimacy rate among African-Americans in 1965 was 26%. Today, the rate is 68% and climbing. In inner cites, the figure is typically in excess of 80%.

LBJ

[dwd1]

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!

[cyborg]

war on poverty?

[dwd1]

I guess those riots in LA were a result of the legitimacy rate...

[dwd1]

Accentuate the positive... Eliminate the negative...

RIP General Donnelly....

It is about attitude... Well stated... Taking it to the house... Pleasant evening to you...

[cyborg]

same to you, time for me to actually do some work in my job

[vetvetdoug]

Disprove the Bell Curve facts and statistics. I am not upset that my ethnicity is behind the Asians. I served with Daniel James and had great respect for him as he did me. Would you like to have the Justice Department Statistics on Crime for another source? I find those that routinely scream prejudice are those that have no cogent argument against facts.

[Conservomax]

Hmm. I appreciate your points. I am not one of those people who denies Bush probably has an above-average is intellect nor would I ever deny that there are plenty of people around him who are more intelligent.

However, my post was essentially an attempt humor, as I am completely exhausted when it comes to discussions about race, some would use this article to point out racism, while those some would use it to justify personal prejudice, when the real answer stems from far more complicated societal ills which too few leaders, black or white have the balls to deal with.

One thing I believe, though, is that more lax admissions policies are not the answer.

[cyborg]

I care nothing for your racist propaganda material. Spare me your 'those whose scream prejudice'. Unlike certain black race baiters, I don't point out prejudice unless I see it. I have better things to do with my time than further address you however.

[vetvetdoug]

You proved my point.