Dear BI Career Consultants:
What can be done to get more young Black males to pursue careers in education?

Dr. Eric Abercrumbie,
Director, Ethnic Programs and Services,
African American Cultural and Research Center
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio

One of the major issues that confronts the Black community is the lack of Black males who pursue careers in education, especially at the elementary and secondary education levels. Many individuals believe that knowledge is power.
It is imperative that more Black males be encouraged to become teachers, counselors and/or administrators. Therefore, I would like to propose that Black Issues In Higher Education sponsor a national summit and/or a video conference on education concerning Black males interested in pursuing careers in education and to continue exploring strategies to get more Black males to become professional educators.
Black males who represent many different areas of education and young Black males interested in issues in education should be invited to this think tank. As a result of this summit, a network should be set up which presents a directory of Black males who will serve as resources for other brothers interested in pursuing careers in education. In addition, information needs to be provided concerning the perks that result in becoming an educator. Many myths need to be dispelled concerning the negatives of pursuing careers in education, especially the one that states that there is "no money in education."
Many educators experience a more lucrative career than engineers, doctors, lawyers, etc. Additional scholarships and fellowships must be established by the Black community — Black churches, fraternities and sororities — that specifically are earmarked to assist Black males who are interested in pursuing careers in education. Older Black male professionals who have retired should consider being retrained to become professional educators.
We must teach our community to think about the long-term advantages of pursuing a career in education and most of all the fact that so many of our young people need to be exposed to the creative intelligence, God-given wisdom, charismatic energy and genuine caring of Black men.