This book reveals shocking statistics about Black males in Detroit and speaks of a Afrocentric school environment that can help them. It even seems like the first years have rendered positive results. What was most profound to me was that these educators were saying, "You can't wait until their teen years to ask how we can improve these males' academic performance. You must start almost from day one." I would much rather folk try something to address a problem than nothing. However, I think this book might not be as true as it was during its publication a decade ago.
The authors say, "This type of school is in court, but so far we've won cases." I'm no lawyer, but I think those courts decided that male-focused schools like these are illegal as gender discrimination. This book doesn't say, but the problems that these males face is not due to females in the classroom. Yes, it's sad that some young Black males only get hired by drug-dealers, and not legitimate employees. However, their female classmates didn't cause that. I recently read a book about female-only schools published this decade and it said, "Male-only schools [like Malcolm X Academy] have been deemed illegal, so can it's opposite still stand?"
I attended Berkeley during the years when California killed affirmative action in its schools. More professors and student groups tried to mentor youngsters hoping they would be Berkeley-qualified in the future. However, I don't know if those efforts have lasted to today. There's the issue of burn-out. Just because someone mentors a Black male one year doesn't mean they'll be doing the same every year to infinity. Due to my personal experience, I'm just worried that the excitement of the novelty of the Academy may not have lasted forever. Michigan is facing severe unemployment problems now and I would guess this could negatively impact this school and its promotion of mentors and parental involvement.
This book was both scant and hodgepodge. If you already know about bad statistics facing Black males, you won't be surprised here. The reflection chapter was nothing like the national resources chapter which was nothing like the results chapter. It's just all over the place. The authors state that they work with the Nation of Islam and that is a controversial group that some in the Michigan public may fear.
Too I think about how the incentives listed wouldn't have worked for me. The authors say students can't play sports unless their grades are up and "citizenship" is good. Well, I hate sports, so that would not be a carrot I would want to bite. I just wonder if this school is truly interested in helping ALL young Black males and not just certain ones.
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