African-American Males Conference Inspires
Participants to ‘Run the Marathon’
By Eleanor Lee Yates

DURHAM, N.C.
The statistics presented at the African-American Males in Education conference held late last month were downright painful at times. But for the 650 educators, counselors, students and community leaders in attendance, the statistics, informational sessions and assemblies were more inspirational than depressing.

The conference, “Collective Works and Responsibility: A Community Response to African-American Male Success in Post-Secondary Education,” was a partnership between the North Carolina Community College System, the Historically Minority Colleges and Universities Consortium and North Carolina Central University.

Nationally renowned author and scholar Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu, cited recent figures indicating that Black men are becoming increasingly rare on college campuses, even historically Black ones. At one HBCU, the ratio of Black women to men is 8-1.

For many students, college plans can get derailed as early as elementary school. According to Kunjufu, almost half of the students in special ed classes are Black, while only 3 percent are enrolled in gifted classes. He also said Black students don’t see enough teachers who look like them, citing a 66 percent decline in the number of Black teachers since the 1950s. Today, White females make up approximately 83 percent of the country’s teaching force.

Conference participants also went beyond the statistics to discuss programs that have met with success in educating Black males, including gender-specific teaching methods and extracurricular learning programs. Kunjufu praised single-gender classes, in which Black youth often posted much higher grades than peers in co-ed classes. 

He also urged parents to be stricter with their children and encouraged conference participants to serve as mentors and positive role models for Black male students.