http://www.theroot.com/articles/cul...about_black_males_and_academic_success.4.html
In general, the data presented often paints a bleak picture of the educational experiences of black males in school and the circumstances that frame their experiences. This image is reinforced by the language we too often use when we assess the living conditions of black males in urban areas. Phrases like “crime-ridden,” “broken homes” and “drug-infested” are catch-all phrases that each contribute to a myriad of deficit-oriented viewpoints that, in effect, condemn the families and communities that are entrusted with shaping the lives of black male youth.
In order to promote their academic success and well-being, there is a need to delve deeper in to the data, as well as go beyond the data to understand the various ways in which young black males are surviving, thriving and demonstrating a level of resilience belied by popular statistics. We also have to do a better job of vetting the data to make sure they are true.
The following are a few of the greatest lies ever told about black males:
1. There are more black men in prison than in college. Today there are approximately 600,000 more black men in college than in jail, and the best research evidence suggests that the line was never true to begin with. Read more.
2. Black boys can’t read. Before blindly accepting reports that less than a fifth of black boys (and less than half of white boys) can read, learn about the NAEP, take a practice test and learn about diverse learning styles. Read more.
3. Black youth of today are more violent than any generation in history. Today, the rate of violence among black youth is slightly less than it was before 1980 and less than half the rate that it was in the 1990s. Read more.
4. One third of black boys will serve time in prison. One in three black men will go to prison because a white man named Thomas P. Bonczar’s “double-decrement life table” (pdf) said they will. Actually, Dr. Bonczar was only referring to black males born in 2001. They were 2 years old when he predicted it. They are 12 years old now. So far, they are far from the "super predators" we forecasted them to be.
5. Black boys are at a natural disadvantage because most are from single-parent households. As a single variable, household composition carries little weight and appears to serve as a proxy for more serious issues, such as teenage pregnancy and incarcerated parents. A myriad of co-variants (e.g. parents’ education and parent practices) nullify the effects of household composition on academic progress. Read more and more.
6. Black students purposefully underachieve because they associate being smart with acting white. Consistent across decades of survey research, black students demonstrate more positive attitudes about education than their white student peers. Read more.
7. Black males are avoiding the teaching profession. Primary school teacher is the No. 1 profession of college-educated black men and No. 3 for white men. Secondary school teacher is No. 5 for black men and No. 14 for white men. Educational administrator is No. 6 for black men and No. 20 for white men and counselor is No. 7 for black men and No. 40 for white men. Read more.
8. Black men are underrepresented in institutions of higher education. The nation’s 12.7 million black men 18 years old and older make up 5.5 percent of the adult population, and 1.2 million black male college students make up 5.5 percent of all college students. By contrast, white males are 32.7 percent of the adult population and 27 percent of college students. Read more.
9. Black men are a “dying breed.” According to census figures, since 1980, there has been a 19.9 percent increase in the total number of black men age 15 to 25 in the U.S. population. By contrast, there has been a 22.5 percent decrease in the total number of white men age 15 to 25 in the U.S. population.
This list does not suggest that no problems exist in the black community. However, the problems have everything to do with system inequities, not cultural pathology. We need to understand the true nature of the issues before we can begin to resolve them. “Don’t cut off my foot, if my problem is a hole in the bottom of my shoe.”
The article does on to point out numbers that do matter but I didn't think the whole thing would fit.
In general, the data presented often paints a bleak picture of the educational experiences of black males in school and the circumstances that frame their experiences. This image is reinforced by the language we too often use when we assess the living conditions of black males in urban areas. Phrases like “crime-ridden,” “broken homes” and “drug-infested” are catch-all phrases that each contribute to a myriad of deficit-oriented viewpoints that, in effect, condemn the families and communities that are entrusted with shaping the lives of black male youth.
In order to promote their academic success and well-being, there is a need to delve deeper in to the data, as well as go beyond the data to understand the various ways in which young black males are surviving, thriving and demonstrating a level of resilience belied by popular statistics. We also have to do a better job of vetting the data to make sure they are true.
The following are a few of the greatest lies ever told about black males:
1. There are more black men in prison than in college. Today there are approximately 600,000 more black men in college than in jail, and the best research evidence suggests that the line was never true to begin with. Read more.
2. Black boys can’t read. Before blindly accepting reports that less than a fifth of black boys (and less than half of white boys) can read, learn about the NAEP, take a practice test and learn about diverse learning styles. Read more.
3. Black youth of today are more violent than any generation in history. Today, the rate of violence among black youth is slightly less than it was before 1980 and less than half the rate that it was in the 1990s. Read more.
4. One third of black boys will serve time in prison. One in three black men will go to prison because a white man named Thomas P. Bonczar’s “double-decrement life table” (pdf) said they will. Actually, Dr. Bonczar was only referring to black males born in 2001. They were 2 years old when he predicted it. They are 12 years old now. So far, they are far from the "super predators" we forecasted them to be.
5. Black boys are at a natural disadvantage because most are from single-parent households. As a single variable, household composition carries little weight and appears to serve as a proxy for more serious issues, such as teenage pregnancy and incarcerated parents. A myriad of co-variants (e.g. parents’ education and parent practices) nullify the effects of household composition on academic progress. Read more and more.
6. Black students purposefully underachieve because they associate being smart with acting white. Consistent across decades of survey research, black students demonstrate more positive attitudes about education than their white student peers. Read more.
7. Black males are avoiding the teaching profession. Primary school teacher is the No. 1 profession of college-educated black men and No. 3 for white men. Secondary school teacher is No. 5 for black men and No. 14 for white men. Educational administrator is No. 6 for black men and No. 20 for white men and counselor is No. 7 for black men and No. 40 for white men. Read more.
8. Black men are underrepresented in institutions of higher education. The nation’s 12.7 million black men 18 years old and older make up 5.5 percent of the adult population, and 1.2 million black male college students make up 5.5 percent of all college students. By contrast, white males are 32.7 percent of the adult population and 27 percent of college students. Read more.
9. Black men are a “dying breed.” According to census figures, since 1980, there has been a 19.9 percent increase in the total number of black men age 15 to 25 in the U.S. population. By contrast, there has been a 22.5 percent decrease in the total number of white men age 15 to 25 in the U.S. population.
This list does not suggest that no problems exist in the black community. However, the problems have everything to do with system inequities, not cultural pathology. We need to understand the true nature of the issues before we can begin to resolve them. “Don’t cut off my foot, if my problem is a hole in the bottom of my shoe.”
The article does on to point out numbers that do matter but I didn't think the whole thing would fit.
Ppl just make all types of shyt about us and everybody eats it up as fact
good stuff
