Focusing on the Flight, Not the Plight Of Black Men

The retention of Black men at the collegiate level, within the general context of the “plight” of Black males, has been generating significant scholarly and public interest recently, with stories on the subject appearing in The New York Times, The Washington Post and Diverse, to name a few. Last year, I attended several regional and national conferences addressing the topic.

I believe that every crisis creates an opportunity. And some colleges and universities are implementing strategic initiatives designed to improve the status of Black men in higher education.

From the “War on Drugs” to “No Child Left Behind,” Black men, young and old, are often placed in a defensive posture. Many Blacks and other minorities have been able to enjoy the individual fruits of their labor, but far too many have been left behind. From Frederick Douglass to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Blacks have always had to appeal to America’s moral consciousness. One of the goals of the Million Man March held more than 10 years ago was to bring about atonement and spiritual regeneration, yet there is still a need for spiritual healing among Black men.

“Why is it so hard for me to get a job, but so easy to sell drugs?” was the rhetorical question posed by University of Pennsylvania sociologist Elijah Anderson during the conference “Poor, Young, Black and Male: A Case for National Action?” We are all painfully aware of the statistics —  there are more Black males in prison (840,000) than in college (635,000) in this country. So why do we build more prisons instead of programs to incorporate ex-offenders back into society? Where do we draw the line between personal integrity and societal responsibility while acknowledging the lingering effects of institutionalized racism? Mentoring and successful role modeling for young men are critical. One possible remedy is to reestablish the after-school and summer job programs that have become virtually extinct over the past few decades. Another possibility is to place more emphasis on academic enrichment programs in inner city and rural communities.