The Disappearing Black Man on HBCU Campuses
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Posted By: William Jackson on August 07, 2013 The Disappearing Black Man on HBCU Campuses A new school year is beginning for HBCU’s, students are preparing to return to schools in August across our nation. Students and their families are shopping, packing and scheduling for college or university trips to HBCU campuses either close to home or several hundred miles away. The traveling may be by bus, plane, family car, train, carpooling or other means, the objective is to get students back into school, preparing them for future careers. I have prepared to make sure my son gets back to Florida A&M University to finish his final undergraduate year. HBCU’s have been preparing for new freshmen and returning students, the process to prepare dorms, cafeterias and other facilities to support higher educational learning is nearing completion. The excitement is rising for a year of educational achievement, progressively striving for the goals of graduating and receiving a degree that was earned with hard work, sacrifice and dedication. The history of HBCU’s is well known nationally and internationally, the service of Historically Black Colleges and Universities is not praised as much as they should be, this is excepted because HBCU graduates know they receive an education that has prepared them for excellence in their fields of study and passion to positively contribute to mankind like so many from the past. A growing issue on campuses of HBCU’s are increasing clusters of female students. Visually there are more females than men. It is almost eerie to see so many female students and a small mixture of male students. Not only are there smaller numbers of male students, but male students are not graduating in the numbers like female students. To add insult to these academic injuries male students seem to be challenged academically more than females in the important areas of math and reading comprehension. HBCU’s see that Black male students are diminishing , this absence creates a vacuum of educated professional Black men serving as role models to Black males in high schools that strive to obtain higher education, but do not have a mentor or role model in their families or even neighborhoods. The U.S. Department of Education shows the national college graduation rate for Black men is 33.1 percent compared with 44.8 percent for Black women. The total graduation rate is 57.3 percent. Black men represent 7.9 percent of 18 to 24 year olds in America but only 2.8 percent of undergraduates at universities. The question is raised are communities, schools, churches and businesses doing enough to encourage Black males to excel in academics? The school closures in Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit and other cities show that educational resources are diminishing and parents in these communities are either uninformed or satisfied with the educational failures that are present. Either way this is condemning Black children. What are Black churches doing, what impact does the clergy have in the 21st century? The discrepancies of attendance and graduation can be seen from data accumulated from the Department of Education where national college graduation rates of Hispanic men is 41.1 percent, Native Americans and Alaska natives 33.8 percent. The comparison in graduation to White males is 54.5 percent. Asian/Pacific Islanders have the highest rate, 60.6 percent, based on their cultural respect for learning and education. If theses discrepancies continue the education gap for Black males will create situations where Black males have less earning power than their counterparts of other cultures. The skill levels will be substantially low not allowing access to higher paying careers, but lack of education influences political influence, low socio-economic levels and the in- ability to provide for a family. Because of statistical evidence HBCU’s still play a very vital role in educating Black males especially those that will need additional assistance in reading, literacy, comprehension and mathematics. An example of the changes in college campuses can be seen at Howard University, undergraduate male enrollment dropped from 3,070 in the 1994-95 academic years to 2,499 during 2009-10. Female enrollment dropped by only 52 students, from 4,958 to 4,906. HBCU’s are still strong in encouraging Black males to attend college by providing services that address both academic and cultural uniqueness. Complicating these efforts are the changes in the structure for mandated state assessments, increase in discipline policies at high schools that leave no room for counseling and mentoring. Incarceration policies appear to be the only option if a student makes a bad call in judgment and actions in high school. The key to success of Black male and female students is parental and community involvement. Parents must have a vested interest in their children’s success. The costs of not having a college education is seen in limited job opportunities, reduced earning potential, stunted career advancement and negative long-term economic and social downturns in the Black community. Black males need solid careers with competitive wages, without solid incomes and steady careers, young Black males chances for success diminish greatly. As a graduate of South Carolina State University, in the area of education I learned the skills to be an effective educator, the support that I received even struggling in math and science allowed me to build my confidence, abilities and even grow a love for science and mathematics. Inspiring me to obtain years later a Masters of Education degree in Educational Technology and teaching Engineering and Technology at the elementary level. “Black men and women need college degrees more than ever.” William Jackson, STEAM Educator Resources should be made available to help Black males be successful in higher education, but starts in public education at elementary schools to high schools. The lack of male role models, mentors and educators does play a role in diminishing enrollment of Black males in higher education. Research on Black males on campuses shows that having supportive relationships with mentors on campus plays a significant and important role in Black male’s success. Parents as you take your children to college and university take the time to find out about mentoring services, clubs and organizations that can aid in your child’s success in college. It takes a village to raise leaders and the next generation of college graduates. William Jackson is involved in Courageous Conversations Ask A Teacher Dialogue Listen in about key issues to help students succeed and parents take a more active role. http://InstantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=442... If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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William Jackson
Enigineering Educator, Duval County Public Schools South Carolina State University class of 1985 Member Since October 2008 |
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THEY ALL IN JAIL ,,, ,Incarceration Trends in America From 1980 to 2008, the number of people incarcerated in America quadrupled-from roughly 500,000 to 2.3 million people Today, the US is 5% of the World population and has 25% of world prisoners. Combining the number of people in prison and jail with those under parole or probation supervision, 1 in ever y 31 adults, or 3.2 percent of the population is under some form of correctional control Racial Disparities in Incarceration African Americans now constitute nearly 1 million of the total 2.3 million incarcerated population African Americans are incarcerated at nearly six times the rate of whites Together, African American and Hispanics comprised 58% of all prisoners in 2008, even though African Americans and Hispanics make up approximately one quarter of the US population According to Unlocking America, if African American and Hispanics were incarcerated at the same rates of whites, today's prison and jail populations would decline by approximately 50% One in six black men had been incarcerated as of 2001. If current trends continue, one in three black males born today can expect to spend time in prison during his lifetime 1 in 100 African American women are in prison Nationwide, African-Americans represent 26% of juvenile arrests, 44% of youth who are detained, 46% of the youth who are judicially waived to criminal court, and 58% of the youth admitted to state prisons (Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice). Drug Sentencing Disparities About 14 million Whites and 2.6 million African Americans report using an illicit drug 5 times as many Whites are using drugs as African Americans, yet African Americans are sent to prison for drug offenses at 10 times the rate of Whites African Americans represent 12% of the total population of drug users, but 38% of those arrested for drug offenses, and 59% of those in state prison for a drug offense. African Americans serve virtually as much time in prison for a drug offense (58.7 months) as whites do for a violent offense (61.7 months). (Sentencing Project) Contributing Factors Inner city crime prompted by social and economic isolation Crime/drug arrest rates: African Americans represent 12% of monthly drug users, but comprise 32% of persons arrested for drug possession "Get tough on crime" and "war on drugs" policies Mandatory minimum sentencing, especially disparities in sentencing for crack and powder cocaine possession In 2002, blacks constituted more than 80% of the people sentenced under the federal crack cocaine laws and served substantially more time in prison for drug offenses than did whites, despite that fact that more than 2/3 of crack cocaine users in the U.S. are white or Hispanic "Three Strikes"/habitual offender policies Zero Tolerance policies as a result of perceived problems of school violence; adverse affect on black children. 35% of black children grades 7-12 have been suspended or expelled at some point in their school careers compared to 20% of Hispanics and 15% of whites Effects of Incarceration Jail reduces work time of young people over the next decade by 25-30 percent when compared with arrested youths who were not incarcerated Jails and prisons are recognized as settings where society's infectious diseases are highly concentrated Prison has not been proven as a rehabilitation for behavior, as two-thirds of prisoners will reoffend Exorbitant Cost of Incarceration: Is it Worth It? About $70 billion dollars are spent on corrections yearly Prisons and jails consume a growing portion of the nearly $200 billion we spend annually on public safety http://www.naacp.org/pages/criminal-justic... Thursday, August 8th 2013 at 3:32AM |
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