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| Education Dedicated to Black Males Still Relevant |
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As president of Morehouse College, the nation's premier institution of higher learning for men, I am often asked why there is still a need for a college dedicated primarily to the education of black males. People who ask this question point to the fact that since the 1970s, an increasing number of African-Americans have gained admission, matriculated and graduated from Harvard, Yale, Duke and other respected majority institutions. They add that with the recent Supreme Court decision that upheld race as a legitimate factor for admissions decisions, opportunities for black men to attend historically white institutions will continue to be open.
Having spent about 30 years of my academic career in four different major universities–the University of Illinois, Brown University, the University of Chicago and the University of California–I have personally witnessed the positive changes at these and other historically white institutions. The increased diversity on these campuses has enhanced the educational and social experiences of all the students, and no one can doubt that our nation is better off because of the thousands of highly educated, competent minorities who have graduated from these institutions who might not have without race-sensitive admissions. These men and women have contributed to economic growth and educational advancement within the African-American community and the nation at large.
Indeed, African-Americans of both genders have benefited from increased opportunities in higher education. However, over the past several years, it has become clear that despite these opportunities, the educational achievement of African-American men lags severely behind every other group in America, especially black women. Just 30 years ago, the number of black men and women in college was nearly equal. Today, more than 60 percent of all blacks enrolled in college are women. And while the gender gap in higher education persists across all racial categories, it is far greater for African-Americans.
The reasons for this gap are varied and complex. Two years ago, Morehouse hosted a national symposium attended by more than 100 academicians and policy makers to review the status of men and boys along the educational continuum and to discuss some of the factors that deter men from attending and/or completing college. Among the causal factors that negatively impact male education are the legacy of racism and poverty among African-Americans, the low expectation many people have for young, black men, the experience of boys in early childhood education, particularly the lack of male role models in schools, and the anti-intellectualism fostered by black street culture.
Participants in the symposium also discussed the practices that have proved most successful in engaging men in higher education. While there emerged no easy solutions to this multifaceted issue, over and again the experts stressed the importance of fostering the appropriate learning environment for black men to succeed. The fact that young black males face different cultural and social environments requires different strategies for them to remain fully engaged in the educational process. Treating black males differently, however, does not mean discriminating against women or other ethnic groups. In fact, helping young men develop to their potential allows them to move more successfully into the mainstream, which is good for everyone.
That is exactly what we have found to be the case at Morehouse, where, with a relatively small enrollment of about 2,800 students, we still graduate more African-American men with bachelor's degrees than any other institution in the nation. And it is not just the number of our graduates (an average of 500 each year) that is significant, but also the quality of our graduates that makes a difference. Morehouse men compete favorably with male and female graduates of all races from other colleges and universities for coveted spots in the top graduate and professional schools, as well as for career positions in corporations and other organizations. Simply put, if Morehouse did not exist, there would be a critical, unmet need in higher education.
So, why an all-male college that focuses on African-Americans? Because among black men who choose to pursue higher education, there continues to be a strong demand for the right kind of institution, offering the right kind of education for their needs. Yes, the nation must have Harvard, Yale, Duke and other majority institutions to educate some African-American men. But it also must have Morehouse to educate those for whom our unique academic and social experience is the perfect match.
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By Dr. Walter E. Massey
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