For over a decade, the Schott Foundation’s efforts to collect and publish national data on the four-year graduation rates for Black males compared to other sub-groups have been to highlight how the persistent systemic disparity in opportunity creates a climate and perception of a population who is less valued.
Black males in America have been cast in a light far too negative for their actual contributions to family, community, democracy, economy, thought leadership and country. There are over two million Black male college graduates and over one million enrolled in college today. Black households in general dedicate 25% more of their income to charities than White households and Black males comprise one of the largest percentages of American veterans. Yet, in the face of these positive attributes, the systemic treatment, outcomes and portrayal of Black males in key systems like education, labor and justice have been largely negative.
