The plight of African-American males to achieve racial justice and equity in this country continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate. The American justice system has permitted and in some cases sanctioned the de-marginalization of African-American males as full citizens. The basis for the denial of racial justice and equity for African-American males is caused, in part, by the intersection of their race and gender (black and male).
African-American males are disproportionately represented in every aspect of the criminal justice system, from being racially profiled, stopped, arrested, prosecuted, sentenced, incarcerated, and placed on death row. Indeed, the over representation of African-American males in the criminal justice system negatively impacts their ability to gain meaningful employment, health care, the ability to vote, and to obtain a quality education , if any education at all.
There is a direct correlation between the failure of African-American males to obtain a quality education and their over representation in the criminal justice system. The failure of Brown to ensure equity in education can be seen in how African-American male students are either assigned to the “sports curriculum” or special education classes. Moreover, African-American males are disproportionately suspended, expelled, excluded from advance classes, and represent the highest drop-out rates.
Even though school systems are well aware of the status of African-American male students, they are ignored, invisible, labeled, stereotyped, and written off as dysfunctional.
This presentation will explore how the failure of Brown to ensure quality and focused education for African-American males is the major impetus for racial injustice and inequity that African-American males endure. The presentation will also explore new methods of educating African-American males which may be in direct contradiction to Brown’s theory of the benefits of school desegregation. Lastly, the presentation will include a discussion on how the Supreme Court decision in Grutter may be a useful tool to enhance the status of African-American males.
Copyright Floyd D. Weatherspoon