Only 12% of Black Males are Proficient in Reading!

 

By Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu

 

 Chicago, IL – Why is it so difficult to teach Black boys how to read? Why are some governors building more prisons based on 4th grade reading scores? Is illiteracy the precursor for special education? Dropping out? Incarceration?

 

• Why are so many Black males placed in special education? African Americans are 17% of the public school population, but are 41% of special education students. For some strange reason, if a Black child is placed in special education, 80% of the time it’s the male child. Have we designed a female classroom for male students? Are teachers aware that many boys have different learning styles than females? How do teachers allow for a difference in attention span, energy level and maturation? Is the future of Black boys in the hands of White female teachers?

 

• Is special education the new form of segregation? Tracking? Why do they call it special? Do boys go there for several years and return to the mainstream classroom on grade level? What percent of Black boys in special education graduate with a regular education diploma? Why are so many Black boys being given Ritalin? What is the relationship between Ritalin and crack?

 

• Why are so many Black students retained? African American students are 17% of public school students, but are 56% of all 4th graders retained and 49% of all 3rd graders. Black males are 70% of this population being retained. Why are so many Black boys failing? Is the solution to give them the same teacher, curriculum, and pedagogy next year and expect a different outcome?

 

• Is there a relationship between retention and the dropout rate? Is there a relationship between suspension and the dropout rate? Black males are only 8.5% of the students, but are 33% of the suspensions. Only 47% of Black males graduate from high school. A 53% dropout rate is unacceptable. What is a Black male to do in this current economy without a high school diploma? Selling drugs is not the answer.

 

• We believe this has reached the stage of a state of emergency. African American Images is hosting a national conference – The Education of Black Males. It will be held in Chicago May 1-2. The host will be national bestselling author Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu. His books include Raising Black Boys, Understanding Black Male learning Styles, Keeping Black Boys out of Special Education, Reducing the Black Male Dropout Rate and Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys.

 

• The conference is for educators, parents, social workers, psychologists, professors, college students, ministers and community activists. The conference will provide solutions to the illiteracy rate, special education placement, retention, suspensions, and the dropout rate. To register, go to africanamericanimages.com or call 800-552-1991 or bring the conference to your city.

 

• For additional information, contact 1-800-552-1991, Fax# (708) 672-0466. P.O. Box 1799, Chicago Heights, IL 60412. Website: http://www.africanamericanimages.com, Email: customersvc@africanamericanimages.com.