More Blacks in College- Less in Military

Why mo' niggaz in the pen than in college?

The above rhetorical question was uttered by Ice Cube (pre-Mack 10/post-NWA) almost two decades ago, when frequent episodes of black-on-black crime fueled speculation that the "race" would "self-destruct." Those fears were probably over sold, though quite understandable during the "crack epidemic" era. And it turns out that while the prison industrial complex is indeed a rapacious devourer of black manhood, and increasingly black womanhood as well, the ratio of black males in prison vis-a-vis college reverse's from Ice Cube's lament when we take college aged youth into account.



A recent report now shows that blacks are actually increasing their presence in colleges, at least in the South. Of course, there are a great deal of caveats with this story--the state of public education is still dismal; the report doesn't measure black males specifically, who are less apt to attend college than black women; black college enrollment still trails behind white America. Still, the article is something to applaud--even if caution is urged. Another report was released recently, on the drop of blacks from military rosters. Makes you wonder if there's a possible correlation...


Black College Enrollment in South Passes Milestone

June 25, 2007

RALEIGH, North Carolina (AP) -- For the first time ever in the South, blacks are as well represented on college campuses as they are in the region's population as a whole -- something not yet true of the country overall.

The milestone is noted in a new fact book to be released Monday by the Southern Regional Education Board, a nonprofit organization that promotes education. In the 16 states measured, the number of blacks enrolled in colleges has risen by more than half over the last decade. They now make 21 percent of college students and 19 percent of the overall population.

The number represents progress but it also has to be seen in context. A major contributing factor is the South's rapidly growing Hispanic population, which has reduced the proportion of the population that is black, and thereby made the milestone easier to reach mathematically.

And educators also stressed that the number should not obscure the persistent achievements gaps affecting blacks both in the South and nationally. In particular, black enrollment rates for college-age students, while improving, still lag well behind those of whites, as do the graduation rates of black college students.

With a college degree now almost a prerequisite for high-paying jobs, those achievement gaps pose an economic threat -- and the South will be on the cutting edge of that. In 2005 about 61 percent of public high school graduates in the South were white, the education board said, but by 2018 that figure is expected to be 45 percent.

full article:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/06/25/blacks.colleges.ap/index.html


Sharp Fall of Blacks in Military Reported

Associated Press
June 25, 2007

WASHINGTON -- The number of blacks joining the military has plunged by more than one-third since the Afghanistan and Iraq wars began. Other job prospects are improving, and more relatives of potential recruits are discouraging them from joining the armed services.

According to data obtained by The Associated Press, the decline covers all four military services for active duty recruits. The drop is even more dramatic when National Guard and Reserve recruiting is included.

Walking past the Army recruiting station in downtown Washington this past week, Sean Glover said he has done all he can to talk black relatives out of joining the military.

"I don't think it's a good time. I don't support the government's efforts here and abroad," said Glover, 36. "There's other ways you can pay for college."

full article:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-recruits_25jun25,1,4615481.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed