Black Males and Literacy, We Should All Care

[williamjackson]

Black Males and Literacy, We Should All Care

New Town Success Zone and Vision Keepers are
progressive in their goals in outreach and
positively influencing communities in
Jacksonville, Florida.

From the partnerships with MAYO Clinic to the
Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, providing
GED classes that are effective in increasing
literacy and math skills, employment resources
and financial literacy resources to help
build home ownership and build business
ownership. Each of these has an impact on
improving communities that are slumbering,
waiting for investment to spark life and
rejuvenation.

The citizens in these communities will be pushed
out if they are not educated in what is going on
around them and educated in the direction of
filling new jobs that are opening.
If you look on Main Street and Myrtle Avenue
there is investment, but the residents are not
involved and not engaged in re-investing in
their own communities.
Education is and will always be the key...

Waiting to be re-energized and reinvestment
coming in to build the community to vibrant
growth and life.
There are a growing number of resources that
the community has access to, but the lack of
literacy skills stops many young men from
progressing to their talents, abilities and skills.
Reading is fundamental to their success.

If a young Black man has that entrepreneurial
desire to create a business he is halted
without the proper educational and employment
background. If he is employed he is probably
under-employed and cannot gain advancement
because of the lack of an educational degree,
certification or license. 

An emphasis on Black Male Literacy has many
implications in changing the social and
economic challenges that Black males will
face if they are not reading on or above
grade level staring in elementary schools.
The recent summit concerning educational
literacy states that Black males, because of
low literacy increases in classroom challenges
that also contribute to suspensions and expulsions.

Data found in educational journals like the
National Education Association (NEA), the
American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and
Department of Education show that African
American males are reading at a much lower
rate than others.

Incarcerated Black males / males of color
are 70% to 80% illiterate
(http://Invisiblechildren.org Ruben Rosario).
There is a truth about the connection with
illiteracy and criminal behaviors that can
be seen in the jails and court rooms of all
major cities.

States like California and New York spend
over $200,000  each per year on juvenile's in
their juvenile justice systems and minimally
address juvenile mental illnesses.
Youth, teens and young adults need mental
health resources and literacy tutors not
prison terms.

Children are already identified by their
reading levels, but rarely are they
provided tutors, alternative educational
programs outside of special education.
If there were active programs more  Black
males would graduate with high school
diplomas and ready to work, not ready to
commit crimes.

Project 180, "Facts about Florida's Prisoners,"
shares that African American males make up
nearly half of the prison population. The
majority of inmates are under educated, 72%
of state prisoners test at or below GED (9th
grade) level.
The reality and seriousness of education
is seen here in this news report.

There is an understanding that education
programs do decrease recidivism, but money
seems not available to incorporate real change
to better the lives of young men of color.
Inmates that earn a GED are less likely to
return to prison because education increases
self-respect, self-worth and life goals for
improvement. Black males can provide for
their families through legal employment and
not by illegal means.

Those incarcerated that can enter into
vocational programs and pass, when released
are 14% less likely to return.Statistics and
data like this show a need for community
programs that New Town Success Zone and Vision
Keepers are implementing to increase
Black Male Literacy and even community
involvement.

GED programs are available and a growing
number of other programs are taking place.
Black men with a passion for helping their
communities to grow and have a love for
reading need to get involved. Start reading clubs
and literacy events focused on boys and men.
Contact New Town Success Zone and Vision
Keepers on the campus of Edward Waters
College to volunteer in building readers and
future leaders.
Men can be the agents of change that build
up their communities.

George Maxey, Executive Director
New Town Success Zone
(904) 470-8262
George.Maxey@ewc.edu