Detroit, my hometown, was called the murder capital when I grew up there in the 70s and 80s. Now it is known as the dropout capital. Large numbers of students, mostly African American males, drop out of the city's high schools annually. The Tom Joyner Morning Show recently broadcasted from my alma mater (Renaissance High School) to shine a light on the problem.
Unfortunately, Detroit isn't the only city with that problem. Every urban city is dealing with the same problems. African American males, in particular, are not reaching academic success. The bigger question is what are we going to do about it. We are producing a generation of students who will not be college ready or career ready. Where does that leave the students we continue to undereducate?
Recently in South LA, a teacher told her classroom that because they were inner city kids, they would never amount to much and college should not be there goal. They should focus on being garbage men and day laborers. This teacher was not removed from duty or reprimanded. These students will suffer from not being well educated by the very system that is supposed to educate them.
What do we do now? How do we begin to help our African American male students succeed? How do we help our teachers educate these students? We continue to miseducate our African American male students. When will we stop?
