Do you remember Mary McLeod Bethune, Enolia McMillian, Martin Luther King Jr, and many other civil rights leaders who stood up for African Americans? One crucial matter that these powerful figures fought for was education. Throughout U.S. history, there have been significant barriers to equality in education. These figures did not let these barricades hinder them from influencing, teaching and mentoring all African Americans. Right now, in the 21st century, a crucial social issue affecting many communities is the low African-American male graduating rate. President Barack Obama has often said he wants this country to have a 90 percent high school graduation rate by 2020. African Americans can look forward to accomplishing the President's quota to prove themselves beyond society's expectations. An immediate resolution must be found for this concern. These young black males have been displaced in society as a lost cause, contributing to high dropout rates as a result of the absence of mentorship, funding, and positive male role models,
Students at Cornell University have created an organization named Scholars Working Ambitiously to Graduate that works together to find the causes of high school dropout rates and to create solutions to decrease them. They have discovered that family problems are the root of these low graduation rates. Some of SWAG’s initiatives to improve the rates include mentorship programs, extracurricular activities, and the recruitment of more staff of color. Because of SWAG’s contributions, there has been an increase of 8 percent in the African American high school graduation rate. Programs to keep young males off of the streets and to give them one-on-one study time not provided in the classroom would be beneficial. These programs would offer the mentor the ability to guide and assist students with any concerns, personal and/or financial, that they may have. More academic work would be accomplished, such as completing homework and studying for tests, as well as time to engage in extracurricular activities such as sports, clubs and community service. These programs should be held every day of the week from the release of school until dark. A program such as this would decrease the number of black males wandering the streets with the risk of getting into trouble, which in turn helps to minimize the number of robberies and killings. Also, by receiving this personal time with mentors and teachers, their grades will start to improve and then they will begin to feel empowered with positivity, just to know that they can. When grades are improved, graduation rates are increased.
Black families headed by a single mother with children 18 years of age and under have a 48 percent poverty rate. The government is assisting more than 50 percent of the African American race in America (“Poverty”). Family background is a significant factor in understanding how family income influences the chances of a child being born into a low-income family. African American poverty rates are the highest, averaging at 35 percent compared to Caucasians, Hispanics, and other ethnic groups; Caucasians average at about 13 percent, Hispanics 30 percent, and others 20 percent. These poverty rates place some young African Americans in the unfortunate position of taking care of their parents and siblings. While in school these students must find employment. Balancing schoolwork and a job tends to be a burden for many because it becomes a challenge to meet work hours during school days. Most colleges look for extracurricular activities on student resumes. How will you further your future? How will you become successfully involved in your education if you need to work to help support your family? Most ask themselves this question and follow up with thoughts of dropping out of school. Stress and the pressure lead to these dropout rates. Bills must be paid or families will find themselves homeless. These alternative obligations leave students with no choice but to take on the monetary responsibilities of their parents. African-American males that can defeat the stereotype will begin to broaden their horizons. For example, some people believe African Americans do not aspire to higher education because they are dumb and lazy. To see children label themselves as these ignorant stereotypes is an abomination. However, it is not because the African-American male does not want to learn; there are personal obstacles and family matters that may stand in the way.
Hiring more successful African-American male teachers in more school systems to educate and communicate with all ethnicities is a prime example of what the African American race is capable of. In order to attract these male teachers, higher salaries and bonuses for extra mentoring should be provided. Salary rates starting at $150,000 per year, with a bonus minimum of $500 per check are more attractive to educators. These men are not just “teaching,” but also showcasing their knowledge and changing lives everyday. These young teachers can be confident role models to help students gain more respect and prepare for an extravagant future. This could enthuse students to one day grow up and become teachers themselves. It shows that you don’t always have to be Caucasian, Asian, or any other race to attain success. These strong figures will help to shape more of our African-American male students into doctors, scientists, and engineers. Black male academic achievement is not taken as seriously as it should be. Research has proven that black male students academically underperform all students in different races throughout the educational course. Black men should not depend on other races outside of the black community to educate the young black futures of this world – they must do it themselves.
Becoming involved and improving black male academic achievement is vital. Using more effective tools to engage student in learning is advantageous. I have observed in my high school years that most males were fonder of hands-on activities than of sitting at a desk for 90 minutes while being lectured to. Using visuals, music, and videos to get educational messages across would be more effective. Teenagers listen to music all of the time. If more teachers made raps and songs, students could now listen to enjoyable music that they can groove to while stimulating their minds. For example, instead of answering questions out of books, have students prepare lessons to teach their peers to show information that they have gained. All teachers should create labs, not just science teachers. Using games to learn material is a lot more appealing to students than copying notes from PowerPoints. Rewarding students with free homework passes, candy, and gift cards for exhibiting excellence or for completing a project or even a homework assignment will guarantee teachers to have 100 percent class participation. This would make learning more interesting and fun. This way, students will not skip school, and they will be ecstatic to attend because they know that exciting activities such as these are awaiting them. At this point, students will gain more information than they ever believed they could because they are learning in ways that appeal to them.
In the words of the great Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Use these words to your advantage. Using these words will encourage the African American males of our generation to set higher standards for the next generation. I believe this is possible.
