We Can All Graduate!

Those following the news heard that the American Council on Education issued a report which reveals that black men are graduating from college at a rate which lags significantly behind other ethnic groups. Black males were found to have a graduation rate of 35 percent. This compares with rates of 59 percent, 46 percent and 45 percent for white males, hispanic males and black women, respectively.  I suspect this is very little change from previous reports.  We can continue to speculate on the reasons for this, but frankly, our rates will improve at college when they improve in the early grades. 

Literacy is key.  We must start reading to our children as early as possible - even in the womb.  They must be reading as early as possible - as a baby - even if they are just looking at pages and having you read to them.  We, the parents, elders, relatives, friends, and community must expose our children to as much education as possible - that could be just describing what is going on, why it is happening, the history behind it, who invented it (probably a black person), how much it cost, how to earn money to get it, how other successful black people got where they are, etc. 

Read everything you can get your hands on - especially the local Black newspaper, go to the library, pick up a book in the thrift store, flea market, or book store, etc.  Learn to love to read for the knowledge that you gain from it.  Pass these same traits on to your children - after all - YOU are their first TEACHER.  At that point, they will be able to learn anything, do anything - including excelling or passing their classes - from K through 12 and thus on to college - if that is their pursuit.

Deborah, Hampton University