Young Black males in American society are experiencing
tremendous hardships and misfortunes on a daily basis.
Their status in society is continuing to deteriorate due to a variety of
factors that are inflicting damage in their lives.
Compared to other racial groups and gender, young Black males are the
most at-risk group of juveniles in today’s society.
At the center of the dilemma is the fact that Black males are over represented
in the criminal justice system while underrepresented in the educational system,
a tragic reality. There are an
alarming number of Black males falling victim to academic failure and being
arrested and incarcerated on a daily basis. The inadequate education received
along with the limited employment opportunities they possess, Black males are in
a crisis that needs the America’s attention. The following statistics
gathered on young Black males illustrates their perilous condition:
·
In 1990, 61% of
all Black males lived in single-parent homes
·
In 1992, 47% of
Black juveniles lived below the poverty level.
·
Black males
compose 19.4 % of the special education population while making up 8.2% of the
national school enrollment
·
In 1993, Black
males accounted for 65% of the 6,000 juvenile offenders held in adult prisons
·
It is estimated
that 1 in every 4 Black males, 28% of the Black male population, will be
incarcerated in a federal or state prison at least once in their lifetime
·
By the age of 20,
an estimated 7.9% of Black males will serve a federal or state prison sentence
·
During 1992, the
national cost of incarcerating 490,000 Black males was $8.9 billion per year
·
In 1993, 49% of
all gunshot victims were Black males ages 15-24
·
In 1992, there
were 3,718 homicides of Black males ages 12-24, which represented 17% of all
homicide victims. This was a rate of 114 homicides per 100,000 Black males
·
In 1992, Black
males were 14 times more likely to be homicide victims than any other racial
group
The leading cause of death in 1990’s for Black males ages 15-24 is homicide
Although Black males between the ages of 12-24 compose only 1.3% of the nation’s population, their representation in the preceding statistical categories underscores the predicament they are enduring (Bastian & Taylor, 1994). This is the reason the Academy is embracing young Black males and attempting to reverse the trend that has been disturbing this population for decades. The goal of the Academy is to provide Black males with various tools to avoid academic failure and entrance into the juvenile justice system.
Although the group of participants in the Academy consist of Black males, it does not imply that juveniles of other ethnic groups would not benefit from participating in the Academy. Individuals of other racial groups would surely benefit from services provided by the Academy, as there are at-risk juveniles of both genders in these groups. However, it is the focus of the Role Model Program to provide the services of the Academy to young Black males due to the severity of their social predicament. We feel that this group of juveniles commands the services of the Academy more than any other group.