Young Males Empowerment Summary

In this article, it discussed the challenges black young male students have in the school system. The article talked about how black male students seemed to enter secondary school way under the benchmark for their grade level. How they are more likely to be suspended and or expelled, and how they are less successful than students of other races. What stuck out to me were the graduation rates presented at the beginning of the article. It said that the U.S graduation rates for young black males is 47 percent compared to the 57 percent for Latinos and the 75 percent for white male students. And in large urban areas such as Detroit or New York City, it seems the graduation rate for the young black men range from 20 t0 30 percent. The issue itself …show more content…
It has taught the young black males to think and begin to mature. Aspects of Power Monday meetings were having the males address and elaborate on topics and questions from the lectures they attended. This helps them with their public speaking and being able to think on their feet. This program also allowed the students to become role models themselves. A small group of 25 of the older students would be taken to elementary and middle schools from time to time. In doing this the older students were able to motivate and become role models to the younger student. After these meetings the younger students then wanted to attend the same high school the males that came to speak to them went to. Also the black men start to conduct themselves differently. Fewer of them get sent to the office and the black males have begun to have a heightened sense of purpose. Not only did the students improve, but the achievements that needed to be met for the school itself had improved, thus gaining the school national …show more content…
The most important things I took from this article were actually The Empowerment Pledge the student say after each Power Monday meeting. The first one is “I pledge to always maintain a positive attitude”. This stood out to me because a lot of students will become discouraged and in becoming discouraged they will then begin not to care about what is important. So having this as the first pledge was very inspiring and motivating. Second is “I pledge to make good sound decisions”. This reiterates to the students that good choices come with good outcomes, and good outcomes come with good opportunities. The third pledge is “I pledge to be serious in my education”. Education is the far most important aspect in a child’s life and having them say this pledge shows them that education is something that will benefit you and set you above the rest. “I pledge to be focused on achieving excellence” is the fourth pledge, and this one is so important because to become excellent as a black young adult you must be better than the best just to receive the recognition you deserve. Finally, the last pledge and the one that is the most important says “I pledge to be resilient after setbacks. One mistake can lead to many failures and many failures can lead to several setbacks. Just be aware that setbacks are not the end of the road, they are in fact the beginning of a