African-American Males, African-American Men, Black Males, Black Men, EDUCATION

Are Black Males Disappearing from HBCUs?

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One of the most unfortunate developments of my nearly half-century association with education as a student and now faculty member has been the steady decline of Black males’ successful engagement with American colleges and universities. Although I would like to attribute my noticing this decline to my entrance into the professorate, truthfully, my contemporaries have been discussing this decline in many ways, ranging from the droves of Black women available for dating during our collegiate years to the fact that the classrooms we now lead are largely devoid of Black male students.

It is a humbling experience to see the decline in Black males engaged in Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

A recent study by the American Institute for Boys and Men has brought structure to what we intuitively knew were observations that stretched beyond being anecdotal. According to the above research, Black male’s engagement with higher education has been in a steady decline over the past half-century. Consider the following data about Black males’ dwindling attendance at HBCUs.

YEAR       BLACK MALE ENROLLMENT

YEAR BLACK MALE ENROLLMENT
1976 38%
2005 31%
2022 26%

There is no other way of viewing this decline than the fact that within an economy that shifted from a manufacturing to a service economy during the 1980s, Black males have been left behind. In contrast, all other groups have increased their presence on HBCU campuses.

Many have chosen to point at the steady success of Black females as a factor in the decline of Black men on HBCU campuses; studies indicate that their numbers have not increased notably. The fact that many have attempted to pit the future fortunes of Black male collegians versus their female counterparts suggests an inability to view this problem from a reasonable perspective aimed at addressing this worsening situation.

Black female collegians must be celebrated for their voluminous presence on HBCU campuses, not criticized as occupying spaces reserved for African-American males. Such arguments are counter-productive for many reasons. A more insightful analysis will lead to the realization that as Black males have receded from the classroom due to a litany of reasons, none of which deals with their intellectual capacities, a diverse population of non-Black groups have stepped into those enrollment slots.

This worsening pattern of Black males’ being left out of higher education must be addressed expeditiously. If left unchecked, Black America will suffer in every socioeconomic way imaginable, from worsening marriage rates to single-parent households. We must never ignore the undeniable fact that the core duties of Black fathers are to provide for and protect their families. The dwindling numbers of Black males in today’s HBCU classrooms threatens this and succeeding generations of Black men, women, and children in a nation where Race continues to matter mightily.

Dr. James Thomas Jones III

© Manhood, Race, and Culture 2024.

African-American Men, Black Males, Black Men, LABOR, RACE

Without Work, All Is Rotten: The Continuing Last Place Status of Black Male Workers

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While earning a Ph.D. at The Ohio State University, I decided to honor the path taken by my father and many uncles who were card-carrying union workers by focusing many of my studies on Labor History. I had lived a life that made any denial of the labor movement impact on my life foolhardy as it was instrumental in my material existence.

While studying America’s longest-running war between workers and owners, I encountered an illuminating quote: “Without work, all is rotten.” Those words influence my worldview to this moment. I lived in a home where work dictated so much about our lives, such as when we would vacation and what we could afford to eat.

I understood early on that my fate as a worker was no different than my ancestors. The only thing left to determine was what sector I would exchange labor for access to goods. Work anchored my life.

For obvious reasons, it is always daunting when matters of Race and labor converge. Of course, the monopolization of politico-economic resources by wicked white men contextualizes Black men’s engagement with work. Pew Center research supports Blacks’ observations about Black male employment challenges.

A recent study confirmed what Blacks already knew. According to the data, the engagement of Black men in the work sector lags behind all other groups (white, Asian, and Hispanic). Of course, there are reasons for this unfortunate yet familiar reality. The historical narrative and numerous studies have pointed toward a wicked brew of racial discrimination, inferior schools, incarceration, lack of apprenticeship, and job training opportunities as the culprits in the maintenance of far too familiar last-hired, first-fired positions ensnaring Black men.

While more Black men between the ages of 25 and 54 are working at an 81% rate that outpaces previous years, other groups outpace them with an 87% rate. These numbers only reflect those actively pursuing legitimate employment. The reported numbers of Black male unemployment understate the problem as such data fails to include the incarcerated.

Although a sober thought, Black men who are not gainfully employed are unmarriageable because they are unable to provide for a wife and offspring. Such realities severely handicap the Black community, whose flourishing hinges upon the family to serve as a cornerstone.

Ultimately, it becomes clear that a single policy decision is inadequate to solve what could be termed the most crucial matter facing Black America. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to such a historically-based problem undergirded by racism.

One thing is sure: without work, everything is rotten.

It always has been, and it always will be.

Dr. James Thomas Jones III

© Manhood, Race, and Culture 2024.

Black Popular Culture, EDUCATION, RACE

When Hope Doesn’t Spring Anymore: A Black Man’s Growing Frustration with Black Folks

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As another school year begins, the saying that hope springs eternal is appropriate. Parents and students consider unique academic possibilities achievable at the beginning of the school year. Educators likewise view students they have yet to meet as future leaders and scholars endowed with the ability to correct a world that has gone off the rails far too often. Yes, optimism rules at the beginning of every school year.

Although I can pinpoint neither the moment nor the reason my euphoria regarding my students and Black folks dissipated, it is gone. I no longer believe that there is a remote possibility that Black folks will defeat the systematic racism that has facilitated their demise. Of course, there was a time when I believed our triumph was inevitable. I no longer view our present plight and prospects through a hopeful lens.

In hindsight, it is evident that my optimism eroded simultaneously with black culture’s devolution. The corrosive effects of Black folks ceding the educational process and the intellectual diet the overwhelming majority of men, women, and children consumed over the past eighty years has likely pushed us to the point of no return. The best pieces of evidence for such an assertion are Blacks’ physical appearance and far too common deplorable language. These matters remove all room for anyone to argue against James Baldwin’s cryptic assertion that the white man made the nigger by controlling his schools and feeding him distasteful images of himself. Unfortunately for Black America, these images have become the norm.

The most daunting aspect of Black America’s current cultural state is the dominant influence of those who believe Blackness is synonymous with ghetto culture, dress, and language. They have set the standard that all others, including better-educated Blacks, are being forced to conform to. Things have gotten so bad that the times when there was a notable difference between the streetwalker and the female collegian, the thug, and the black male scholar are a distant memory as they have now become nearly indistinguishable.

Educated Blacks avoid this discussion like the plague. Although I cannot speak for others, I can tell you that I have tired of defending the foolishness of culturally deprived and historically illiterate Black folks against white, yellow, and brown groups who look upon them with what W.E.B. DuBois termed “amused contempt and pity.”

I want to believe that we will unite and triumph over centuries-old evil. However, that desire does nothing to cancel the fact that I’m tired.

I am oh so tired, boss!!!!!

Dr. James Thomas Jones III

© Manhood, Race, and Culture 2024.

African-American Males, African-American Men, POLITICS, PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

Wendell Pierce Implores Black Men to Support Kamala Harris

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Often omitted in the chaos surrounding the looming Harris vs. Trump Presidential election are discussions regarding when and where Black men enter. Far too frequently, political campaigns operate without much consideration for Black America in general and Black men in particular. It is almost as if we are invisible, and our pressing concerns fail to rise to the level of being after-thoughts. So, it was pleasing to hear famed actor Wendell Pierce bring up the Black men during an interview at the Democratic National Convention.

Pierce encouraged Black men to vote by reminding them of the following.

There’s blood on that ballot box. Remember those who died in the rivers of Alabama and Mississippi. For them, do the honor and vote.

Black males could be Trump’s Trojan Horse due to them feeling ignored yet again by the Democratic Party and left behind by a world that seemingly promotes the rights of every group except for heterosexual males. Further problematizing this matter are the raging wars between Black men and Black women. More than a few brothers have succinctly expressed their frustrations by stating that they are tired of Black women’s shit.

If Black male issues are left unaddressed, Kamala Harris’ historic White House bid may very well become collateral damage by them either not casting a ballot or unwisely issuing a protest vote for Donald J. Trump.

To his credit, the politically astute Pierce recognizes this matter and the potential fallout from Black men refusing to support the Harris campaign. The celebrated actor poses an interesting question to the Black men who have taken a less-than-desired position regarding Kamala Harris and what she symbolizes in the following quote.

What would make you so fearful of someone who was so beloved of you, who was so loving to you, like your mother and your grandmother and your aunts and your sisters, that you cannot be proud and embolden yourself when you see someone from your community rise up?

Although Pierce’s question holds the potential to pierce the psyche of Black men, it fails at its assignment due to the opposing views that so many Black men hold toward those who failed at their job of nurturing them as children and respecting their manhood in the present moment. To the chagrin of the Democratic Party, a significant population of Black men are willing to cut off their nose to spite their face.

Most agree that such a political strategy is foolish and bound to compromise prior accomplishments. Yet, it is considered a reasonable position by many frustrated Black men. Unfortunately for the Harris Presidential campaign, I do not see the Black men who have decided to oppose her for reasons ranging from her bi-racial identity to her being a Black female, retreating from their dogged position. Such a posture is one that I am unsure that any political party can counter because, at its core, it is illogical yet speaks volumes about how troubled a significant population of Black men are now.

Dr. James Thomas Jones III

© Manhood, Race, and Culture 2024.

African-American Men, Hip-Hop Culture, Rap Music

Why We Must Talk about Hip-Hop with Young Folk: Thoughts Sparked by a Nas T-Shirt

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Although I cannot pinpoint the moment that I fell in love with History, I can tell you that I love my job as a historian. Although cliché, the study of the past illuminates the present and paves a path for the future.

So, I am sure you understand my delight when I see one of my students wearing a T-shirt pointing to a prior cultural moment in Black America. I guess it is a sign of aging for one to see popular culture icons of my generation on the chests and book bags of today’s collegians. These moments are a double-edged sword that, on the one hand, excites the historian in me while also verifying my transformation into what my students characterize as an “old head.” Yet, I delight in seeing images of Tupac, Pimp C (aka Sweet James Jones”, DMX, Aaliyah, or even Whitney Houston adorning my clothing.

I am sure you can imagine my sense of pride after seeing one particular student I did not know wearing a T-shirt bearing Nas’ image. Such items serve as an easy point of engagement with students as my generation bequeathed Hip-Hop Culture to succeeding generations. There are few more meaningful conversations between me as a professor and students pursuing knowledge than Nas. I just had to stop this young man and ask him a logical question.

Young man, what is your favorite Nas album?

I prayed to the hip-hop Gods that he would respond with Illmatic.

He failed to respond with Illmatic, It Was Written, Nastradamus, or Stillmatic. His response was a nearly indecipherable “Hunh?”

His response threw me off. The look of bewilderment etched across his face led me to point toward the image of Nas boldly placed on his chest. He glanced down at the picture, looking up with a whimsical look, and then he said,

“Oh, I just liked the picture. Who is he?”

I was stunned!!!!!! However, I did recover long enough to explain to him that it was Nas, one of the most influential figures in the History of Hip-Hop, adorning his T-shirt.

As I walked away with more than a fair portion of disappointment, I glanced over my shoulder and told him to listen to Illmatic; it would enrich his life.

 Dr. James Thomas Jones III

© Manhood, Race, and Culture 2024.

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Committed to investigating, examining, and representing the African-American male, men, and manhood by offering commentary regarding the status of Black Men and Black Manhood as it relates to African-American Manhood, Race, Class, Politics, and Culture from an educated and authentic African-American perspective aimed at improving the plight of African-American men and African-American Manhood in regards to Politics, Culture, Education, and Social Matters.