National Urban League releases new findings

by David J. Johns
Too often challenges faced by Black males are blamed on bad cultural practices and values, misattributed to laziness, or overstated to the point of becoming cliche. The State of Black America (SOBA) report attempts to correct for this. The compilation of essays, which focus on conditions of the African American community, was released today.

Providing a statistical measurement of the disparities that exist between Black and White Americans, the SOBA report shows that in the past year Black people as a whole have made few gains economically, educationally, civically, socially or in terms of health. In short, the findings are that Black people and more specifically Black men are still faring far worst than their White counterparts. However, some believe there is a cure.

"Empowering Black males to reach their full potential is the most serious economic and civil rights challenges we face today," says Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League. "At the National Urban League we have been focusing on the Black male crisis since 2003, it’s a deep crisis but one that’s solvable."

Morial hopes the report’s statistics will compel the nation as a whole to realize and react to the challenges facing Black males. "There are great stories of Black men who have achieved success in all walks of life but for too many young men the situation requires some drastic intervention," he says.

Some of the key factors highlighted are that Black men are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as White males; nearly seven times more likely to be incarcerated, and only make 75 percent as much as White males per year.

Beyond simply talking about the challenges faced by Black men, it is important to identify proven and effective strategies to support positive development.

The report suggests restoring the federal summer jobs program and developing community centers that provide apprenticeships for students. With the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act, the federal government has the opportunity to support the success of all students, especially African American boys.

We must also address the problem of fatherlessness in the Black community. Though fostering a love for learning is critical, we must commit ourselves to finding ways to help in the development of Black boys to grow up with a sense of self and history; relevant and validated definitions of manhood; and commitment to success.

"In the Black community we need an evolution and a revolution," says Morial. "We are at a tipping point where if we don’t push hard things can dramatically tip in the wrong direction."

One can only hope the nation as a whole, not just Black people, recognize that the inequities distancing Black males from all others is a reflection of American society as a whole. Only then can we begin to truly work toward solutions.

David J. Johns is a Congressional Black Caucus Fellow working in the office of Congressman Charles Rangel. His policy portfolio includes Education, International Relations, Civil Liberties and Civil Rights. He was recently named one of "Ebony" Magazines "30 Top Leaders Under 30" and his essay "Re-Imagining Black Masculinity" has been published in the National Urban League’s 2007 State of Black America Report.