by Antwaun Sargent

Last week Long Island teenager Kwasi Enin captured national headlines after becoming part of an impressive club: high school seniors who have been accepted into all eight Ivy League schools. However, while many celebrated Enin’s achievement, a bitter minority griped that the teenager had somehow gamed the system. The racial subtext was obvious: Enin couldn’t have actually have gotten into all those schools by himself. Why? Well, because he’s black.  

This type of harmful and wholly inaccurate narrative has been constructed around African-American male student achievement for years. Enin is just the latest high-profile example of how it hurts all young men, high school high achievers or not, by implying that the majority of African-American boys are hopelessly behind and may never be able to narrow the achievement gap. 

There are, of course, legitimate issues that African-American male students face due to a confluence of factors. But even data that show the more dire aspects of black male achievement do not exist in a vacuum, with researchers misrepresenting or not calculating for the experiences of African-American male students. 

The good news is that bright spots like Enin may help raise the profile of America’s African-American young men. However, there is a lot of work to be done, beginning with rethinking the way we use these seven common “facts.”

1. There are more African-American males in prison than college.

African-American men are grossly overrepresented in the penal system; however, there are more African-American males in college than in prison, as of 2011. Howard University professor Ivory A. Toldson found in his research that there are about 600,000 more African-American males enrolled in higher education than are in jail.

This myth has been used by education experts, the media and even the president, despite the fact that over the last decade, African-American boys have largely avoided the “school-to-prison” pipeline.

2. African-American males believe academic achievement means they are “acting white.”

African-American males are not anti-intellectual. In fact, researchers have shown that African-American boys show more positive feelings toward school than do their white counterparts. University of North Carolina professor Roslyn Arlin Mickelson found, “Many black youth and adults express a high regard for education” and that there are a multitude of factors that shape black students’ educational attitudes. 

3. Less than 50% of African-American males graduate from high school.

The high school dropout rate for African-American males has actually hit a historic low. According to a 2013 Education Week study, about 62% of African-Americans completed high school in 2010 (the most recent year for which the necessary data was available), compared to 80% of white students. The increase represents a 30% narrowing of the gap between black and white high school students.

Indeed, African-American males are graduating at historic levels. According to the Schott Foundation for Public Education, “In 2009-10 the national graduation rate for black male students was 52%. The graduation rate for white, non-Latino males was 78%. This is the first year that more than half of the nation’s black males in 9th grade graduated with regular diplomas four years later.” At the same time,   overall high school dropout rates have fallen steadily since 1990, and there is no indication that the rates won’t continue to fall, given the trend over the past two decades.

4. African-American males don’t go to college.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, from 1976 to 2010, “the percentage of black students [enrolled in college] rose from 9% to 14%. During the same period, the percentage of white students fell from 83% to 61%.”

The Congressional Black Caucus report “Challenge the Status Quo,” meanwhile, found that there are 12.5 million African-American adult males living in America,who make up 5.5% of the total population, and 5.5% of the students on college campuses across America are black male students. The percentage of black male students enrolled in college is proportional to the 5.5% of African-American men college-age or above living in the U.S. today.

5. African-American student-athletes graduate at higher rates than their non-athlete black peers.

Often college coaches boast about how teamwork and sportsmanship translate to academic success. However, according to a University of Pennsylvania report on black male student-athletes in NCAA Division I college sports, 50.2% of African-American male student-athletes graduate within six years, compared to 55.5% of black undergraduate students overall. And the disparity is even larger if black male student-athletes are compared to other student athletes: 66.9% of overall student-athletes graduate within the same six-year period, representing an 11.4% gap between black student-athletes and their teammates.

6. African-American male students have the same opportunities as their peers.

This is an important one, part of the narrative that allows casual racism like the kind experienced by Kwasi Enin. In fact, a recent U.S. Education Department’s 2011-2012 Civil Rights Data Collection survey noted that the American school system treats African-American boys unfairly. African-American male students receive a disproportionate number of suspensions, detentions and call-outs, and have a much higher rate of being expelled from school. In addition, schools attended by African-American males have less access to experienced teachers and advanced placement classes, according to the survey.

At the same time, the Casey Foundation recently found that African-American students face the highest barriers to opportunities. The foundation’s researchers measured success toward 12 benchmarks, including literacy proficiency, rates of employment, income and several other factors. The report concluded that African-Americans. when compared to other racial groups using these benchmarks, fare the worst due to disparities they face from birth.

7. African-American male students are underachievers.

Coded language and misused statistics have constructed this idea that African-American male students are underachievers. But ignoring the fact that some of America’s brightest minds are African-Americans, recent research shows that a lack of critical feedback and demonstrated high expectations is stifling black confidence in the classroom.

In three double-blind randomized field experiments, researchers at the University of Texas found that African-American students improved their grades after having the assignment expectation reinforced by their teachers.  These results point out that a cycle of mistrust and lower expectations is a likely culprit in cases of African-American underperformance.

3 thoughts on “7 Lies We Need to Stop Telling About Young African-American Men”
  1. Good Afternoon Mr. Jeff “504” Thomas, I read all of the important information you sent which you cover at your website! Your website is extremely well organized & I like your advisement on certain services available to us by a number of your sponsors! You are doing an great work keeping the Community informed on many critical issues! Well Mr. “504” May you & staff have a great day! Sekou

  2. LBRC- (*1) We only have a few more notes to transmit relevant for “A Remnant”! We always try to be brief and simplistic. Physics, Biology and Natural Sciences does not read like Sex Novels. Lots of us have been gifted by The Most High and be not deceived, “We never earned this blessing or Gift and but “For The Grace of The Most High”, we would have gone the way of wicked politicos, Filthy Lucre Apostate Preachers and their ilk, The Impoverished, Worldly Dependents for substance nance, others and frankly the down and or out just plain Stupid! (*2) Scripture tells us, “We are the foolish in this world and all we do as well”/Paraphrased, “Be not Deceived”! (*3) Pray ‘Dat The Most High has Chosen and spared “You”! Disclaimer: You too are a sinner just as was David, Solomon, Abraham, Noah, Mises and on…, yet- “He Chooses Who He Will”!!! (*4) These notes are already too long! (*5) We will not elaborate all of the following. From here on, it’s up to you and how much you seek truth and wanting to know. “Your Pineal Will Guide You” from now own! (*5) We’ll help get you started on a few “Critical Aspects” backed by Solid Physics, DNA Research easily accessible, Fundamental Electronics, Chemistry and Natural Sciences where we are credentialed and have 1st hand knowledge “Research”! (6) Try “All” spirits by The Spirit and matters relating! (*7) Admonishment: Success in Life as is The Achievement of anything depends on Who you believe! Some wonder why children brought up in good homes go sour, why is this? Who did they believe, their parents or others? All are children in the Sight of The Most High!!! A Start?-

    1. UHF vs VHF aka antennae? Critical Differences!!! Static Electricity/Electrons?

    a. The Most High’s Chosen are Dominant and will be! What The Most High Blessed, no man can curse! Dominant opens doors and tears down walls like Jericho! 

    b. So- called Black Hair is “Curly”, “Nappy” is a man made term. Dominant Hair is curly and curls right into balls when not combed. “Straight Hair” is purely recessive. Semi- straight hair is semi curly. Think antennas: A VHF/Very High Frequency receives the same. VHF Antennas were “V” shaped, you called them “Dog Ears”! UHF is an “Ultra” High Frequency! Curled Antennas produce UHF, the curled ones you used for UHF stations! btw again- 2 ways to get a messed- up head? Visit a Saloon or a Salon! In 2019, humans borrow cursed hair and weave it in! Phthalates, “plastic softening” Polymers/Monomers” unfix curls into VHF! Never wonder why when Truth appears, they get nothing but Static!!! Is ‘Dis ‘Thang on?

    c. Hair traps ions, electrons. Physics 101- Electron Vibrations causes “Wavelengths” of color, sound and yada…- Black Hair is “Curled”, UHF! So- called Straight Hair is VHF! The point of all the Aforementioned? “Your Pineal Gland” is like a “Transponder”, receiving and transmitting “Vibrations” aka Signals. Somebody asked in a Graduate Physics Class? What is Static? Ans. Everything you don’t or can’t translate! When you purchase an auto, some equipment is standard. Special packages require what you are willing to invest in to get, unless? “Your” father owns the dealership you’ll eventually inherit! When you drive a standard auto, you’re not wise to try and tune in UHF when you’re only capable of VHF. What do you do?- You get jealous maybe and tell the UHF Driver, “UHF is no big deal from a “Dealer”, it’s a waste of investment? The question? What’s on UHF?

    2. The Pineal helps regulate “The Circadian Rhythm” via hormones, electrons, other aka “When you’re awake or not, really aware and yada…! There is more, it’s up to you! Btw- The Human Eye sees upside down, convex lens. The Brain rights the image, review convex lens experiments. Your Sciatic Nerve runs both sides of legs and body. Martial Arts Students study the center controller. The Sciatic transmits to The Pineal in coordination via hormones and electrons, vibrations, hence- Yoga, Mediation correlations? The “Symbol for Medicine” aka The snake up Moses’s Pole aka “Look upon it and be healed? This we speak freely and is still researching for “More” evidence!

    a. UHF antennae is “Curly”! The Most High gave access to Adam! Satan came in to cause “Static” and did!!! In 2019, few UHF are free of static but the antennae physically exist as well malfunction, why they steal, deceive, lie with perceived and “believe” they achieve! 

    b. A Select Remnant has been passed via Mitochondria DNA Dominant Antennae and Transponders not “Standard Equipment”, a “Special” blessing! Why? Ans. For times like in 2019! Some have become “Polluted” of their own volition and remember- “Life is dependent on who you listen to and who believe!!! Count your Blessings, especially those you never earned! btw- How does Satan transform himself into light? Ways? He’ll brag about how good he is aka “I donated at the office, I gave away 1000 bicycles to kids during holidays, I built this or ‘Dat and on…”! Be not deceived! “Heaven has no monetary ticket or consumer value”! What didn’t Satan say? Ans. It was all to his glory and not to The Most High Who Created Him for The Glory of the Most High!!! Why in 2019, so many are so easily duped via consumerism, Filthy Glorification and yes, Lucre!!! 

    c. Angelic Host praise The Most High with song! The “Solfeggio” scales are “Healing Tones”! Solfeggio Tones have “Re- Programmed” DNA Strains in laboratories? Epigenetically, more “Scientific” evidence! Research more and btw- Synthetic DNA is GNA complicity with nano, 10 to the minus 9! 

    d. What Makes The Remnant Different? Why is it ‘Dat so many in 2019 so easily deceives and accepts deception? Few actually resent dishonesty and fight for so many who do not fight not even for themselves! Egregiously not even their own children? Some fight for the right to buck dance, model ‘buffoonery, poverty paradigms and sycophants life styles! “Fool” has become a tradition! The real life polluted musical- “Fiddler on The Roof” so- called “Tradition”!

    e. Why is a polluted Pineal Gland a “Reprobate Mind”? The Remnant has been passed “Royal Mitochondrial DNA”, Royal Spirits are UHF Transponders, the least likely to be Duped/Deceived- This is why they fight like a natural reflex and “Evil” translates them as fools. “The Remnant” is a “Sanctified”/Set Apart Lineage. The Evil are The Condemned- Why they steal and deceive so easily without Conscience or regret!!! 

    The Pineal Transponder, UHF, VHF, 5G Satellite Towers and Satellites, CERN, Vibrating Spinal Columns to Pineal vs Solfeggio to Reprogramming DNA in Labs (Dr. Delgado), Everything Vibrates in this Universe aka “String Theory” in Physics aka The Matrix are Vibrations!

    3. The following are items we’ll expound later if time is not Preempted by our Higher Authority- Vibration Manipulation, how? CERN and TeV/Electron Votes and Boson/Standard Model Modifications aka “The Pit”/House of Alice/Switzerland- French Border and satellites in America and the Remnant Guardians plus only144k and on and on..! Already too long- Stay vigilant…

    Peace Out…

  3. […] When asked about this, Glover tends to deflect. The four members of the Crew-1 mission have adopted the “all for one” motto, he explains. “Our crew very intentionally decided to do certain things in certain ways, so that we can tell that message about teamwork, and commitment to excellence, in working together with differences,” he said. […]

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