One of the main obstacles in the way of employment for African American males is the public school system and the urban street culture mentality that a poor education system perpetuates. Poor public education does not prepare kids intellectually which makes it very tough to gain access to higher education. Public schools also do a horrible job socializing African American males for success, as members of the workforce. Instead public schools socialize African American males to either follow orders and/or prepare for a possible life dealing with the judicial system.
Currently, the high school graduation rate for African American males is at 73%, 10 percentage points less than that of European American males. African American males are also half as likely than European males to earn a degree by the age of 24.
Undoubtedly a result of institutional racism. A poor education system creates a cycle and the the community ends up with generations of low skilled African American males.
The qualifications for employment have changed over the years. If the education that we offer young black males does not reflect that change, we are doing these young African American males and the communities in which they live a great injustice.
What can African Americans do to improve educational attainment for African American males?
At one point in our American history, African Americans were outlawed from reading and writing. African Americans went to great measures, risking death in order to learn the English language. Universal education is a result of African Americans struggle to attain an education early on in our history shortly after slavery.
Frederick Douglass rose up from slavery to be one of the greatest intellectuals in American History.
We have a rich history of intellectuals who were self taught. Instead of accepting the poor education they were offered they took it upon themselves to find knowledge and empower the community. We have African American intellectuals who were formerly taught at some of the nations most prestigious institutions while embracing and applying their experience in America as black men.
Huey P Newton.
This is in the face of legal discrimination and overt racism.
Malcolm X had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. It was his life experiences and struggles that pushed him to that point. Fueled by the very adversity that was suppose to hold him down.
African Americans use to thrive in the face of adversity, and now we use a similar adversity to excuse mediocrity.
Intellectuals use to determine the course of thought and action in the African American community. Influential African American entertainers and athletes sought guidance, support, and education from these great intellectuals.
Nowadays, so called community leaders like Al Sharpton and Cornel West beg to be accepted by this current generations African American entertainers and athletes.
Our mentality and who we seek guidance and knowledge from has drastically changed and plays a huge role in why there is a lack of an emphasis on education within the African American community.
Institutional racism is the largest barrier that we have when it comes to attaining the education necessary to compete for high paying jobs, but our own mentality also plays a part. Ignoring or downplaying the fact that African American male culture is now dominated by the urban street culture mentality only hurts the African American community.
Rebels with a cause.
Rebels without a cause.
Urban street culture has been a part of African American male culture since the first wave of the Great Migration that occurred between 1910-1930, which took us out of the fields and placed us in urban cities. Over the next 80 years the African American male mindset would change drastically.
During this period of time, some of the intellectuals I just spoke of will be imprisoned and worse murdered for their ideas. Low skill jobs disappear due to advances in technology and outsourcing. Crack cocaine is introduced. Hip Hop is born and within 20 years it becomes another vehicle for exploitation of African American culture. The incarceration rates for young African American males rise. The message, the accomplishments, the awareness that African Americans came to embody during the Civil Rights movement were all but lost during this time period.
Currently, Biggie Smalls receives more praise and admiration from my generation of African American males for his misogynistic and genocidal lyrics than Malcolm X receives from my generation for his speeches on self determination and group autonomy.
Christopher Wallace, better known as Biggie Smalls.
It is not that I do not love some of Biggies music, which continues to inspire millions of people, it is the fact that we actually value Biggie and his message more than we value Malcolm and what he stood for that worries me.
African American males can not expect to change societies thought process with our current mentality. Our history tells us that we have to be the change we want to see in society, despite the adversity that we face.