Myth Debunked: Not All Black Men Are A Lost Cause

The best kept secrets are the positive bits of information on Black Men in America that never get out to mainstream America. The picture is not as dire as you would have believed. The below information should dispel a few myths that day time television has dispersed. It is common place to hear all the negative remarks and not even second guess them when we hear them. Today comes positive information that should be shared.

Here are some verified African American Male statistics on education, economics and employment. Statistics you probably have never heard. Statistics I would challenge you to try discussing on your next visit to the local stylist, academic setting, or community activist meeting.

Sure, these are the things you never hear. But Let those who would condemn us first see what we are about, by the numbers!

• There are more Black Males in College than in Jails, Prisons, Private Corrections, Military Jails and Institutions for the Criminally Insane combined (1,236,443 in College/841,000 Incarcerates – regardless of age)

• 4 to 1: The ratio of 18-24 year old Black Males in College vs. Jails, Prisons, Private Corrections, Military Jails and Institutions for the Criminally Insane.  (674,000 in College/164,400 Incarcerates)

• 32.3% (1 in 3) Black Males ages 18-24 are enrolled in College[5] (674,000 in College/2,082,000 Total)

• 1.37 to 1: The ratio of 18-24 year old Black Females enrolled in College to Black Males.(930,000 Black Females Enrolled/674,000 Black Males Enrolled)

• 6.3%: Black Males (age 18-55+) enroll in College at a higher rate by sex than White Males and Hispanic Males and are surpassed only by Asian Males. (Black Males is 6.3%, White Males is 5.8%, Hispanic Males is 4.7%, and Asian Males is 9.7%)

• 25.1% of Black Males (age 25 or over) have either an Associates, Bachelors, Masters, Professional, or Doctoral Degree (2,519,000 with Degrees/10,018,000 Total)

• 82.1% of Black Males (age 18 or over) have at least a High School Diploma or GED .(9,897,000 with HS Diploma or GED/12,044,000 Total)

• 12.1%: The Black Male Dropout Rate (ages 16-24) for 2008. (301,000 Dropouts/2,583,000 Total)

• 5.1%: Percent of married Black Men who marry White Women(279,000 Black Husband-White Wife/5,654,000 Married Black Men)

• 88.8%: Percent of Black Males earning income ages 25-64 (employment) (7,899,000 Employed/8,893,000 Total)

• $23,738: Average Income for Black Males 15 and older $19,470 Average Income Black Females

• 1,812,000 The number of Black Men making $50,000/year or more

• 71.6% of Black Men pay their agreed to or Court Awarded Child Support (855,000 Payers/1,194,000 Recipients)

• $253 Billion: Total Income earned by Black Males (15 and over) ($262 Billion earned by Black Females)

• 13,104,000 Total Black Men age 15 or over (15,816,000 Total Black Females age 15 or over)

What will sadden you most is to watch the debate, when you start to share this information is when you watch the resistance, and denial from people who desire to hold on to false claims about us… myths, stereotypes and misinformation that only perpetuates the denigration of us all.

Stats:

All information was provided and tabulated by the following sources:

National Center for Education Statistics: iPeds data set, March 2011 – reporting Scholastic Year 2009

Bureau of Justice Statistics: Prison and Inmates at Midyear 2009 – June 2010

US Census Bureau: American Community Survey

Source