We can continue to celebrate the first black president in the history of the United States, and we can continue to debate how much this relates to the overall progress of race relations in America and the progress of African-American people.

But there is no debate on this hard, cold fact: The American education system continues to fail African-American males.

In most states across the country, African-American males graduate in disproportionately lower numbers than white males. That means fewer opportunities for top jobs and a fast track to the nearest state or federal penal system.

It also means a greater chance that one of your "homies" might one day stick up a 7-Eleven or become the victim — or perpetrator — of a violent crime or end up on a street corner begging for 50 cents.

Even sadder though is the fact that black male under achievement is purely a case of benign neglect.

We see that on the Peninsula with the success of the Achievable Dream Schools in Newport News, which makes scholars out of many kids who come from less than stellar backgrounds.

But the national scope of black male underachievement was underscored this fall with the publication of "Yes We Can: The Schott 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males."

The Cambridge, Mass.-based Schott Foundation for Public Education supports a movement toward "fully resourced, quality pre-K-12 schools," according to its website.

The report concluded that only 47 percent of black males graduate from high school in the United States, meaning that most don't graduate. It also concluded that New Jersey — which gets targeted education funding from a 1981 lawsuit — is the only state with a significant black population where black males do equally well in both rich and poor school districts.

In New Jersey, 69 percent of black males graduate, compared with 90 percent of white males. This is in sharp contrast to what happens across the river in New York, where 25 percent of black males graduate, compared with 68 percent of white males.

In Virginia, 49 percent of black males graduate, compared with 73 percent of white males.

The report proves once again that when resources and care are put toward intense educational programs, black males can learn as well as anyone. The report cautioned against celebrating too much the successes of the occasional educational oasis, but prompts us to demand that local school systems do better, including citizens demanding more state and federal aid.

"All too many districts and states in the U. S. are allowed to maintain the intolerable situation in which they highlight and stand behind single academies or schools that are doing well, while the masses of black male students, most in need of equal educational opportunities, are the least likely to have them," the report said.

U.S. Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, D-Newport News, said fixing the achievement gap is in the hands of voters and their elected officials.

"No one should be surprised by the findings in the Schott report," said Scott, who is co-sponsor of a measure, the Youth Promise Act, that would move resources toward prevention instead of punishment.

Scott said studies show that a kid who cannot read by third grade stands a greater chance of ending up in prison than finishing high school.

Eric Hairston, coordinator of GearUP an enrichment program in Newport News Schools, said black male achievement has declined with "the breakdown of the family structure," and the decline of the "it takes a village" mentality, where people don't talk to their neighbors as much as they used to.

"I also think the hip-hop culture has affected African-American boys," Hairston said. "I think they believe they can make quick money. And even prison has been glorified."

In GearUP, Hairston has followed about 600 students since sixth and seventh grades, exposing them to tutoring, study skills and mentors. Such programs are helping Newport News schools narrow the achievement gap to within single digits.

Hampton and other districts have similar programs, but more are needed to solve a fixable, national problem.

"We are no longer in the laboratory asking: Is it possible? Can we do it?" the Schott report authors said. "The answer is clear and a resounding, "Yes, we can!"

President Barack Obama has bailed out the banks, the car dealers and insurance companies with billions of dollars.

Now we need to ask, can the "bruthas" get some spare change?

David Squires can be reached at 247-4639, via email at dsquires@dailypress.com or online at dailypress.com/urbanblog

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