“There is no inherent reason for young black males to be suspended from school at significantly higher rates than white males. As a group, they are just as intelligent, they have just as much potential and desire to succeed as any other children. But the fact is, in Maryland last year more than 28,000 black males were suspended for disruptive behavior, compared to 16,000-plus white males. Statewide, black students make up just 38 percent of the total enrollment.
There’s no denying this problem, and leaders in the black community say calling it racial profiling or discrimination is not only inaccurate, it won’t make things better.
A black child is no different than any other child. The one overriding thing all children need is involved, nurturing parents who set clear expectations and goals, then help their children work toward them. Next to parents, peers exert significant pressure on children. Then there’s self-image and the desire to be respected, which can drive misbehavior. And children of all races need fathers just as much as they need mothers.” (more…)
I have to agree with most of this Duane. I think one problem may be that for boys there really isn’t any “right of passage” into manhood anymore.
I watched a Discovery channel episode about rogue young-adult male elephants who would go into early must (sign of sexual maturity) and went on rampages killing rhinos, harrassing females etc. They had been orphaned years before when many of the male elephants were killed or otherwise removed from the area. In elephant culture the young males travel with females packs until they are old enough to be “kicked” out. It was found at this point they were adopted or mentored by an older bull elephant and taught how to be a responsible male. When older male elephants were reintroduced to the young rogue males, they suddenly went out of must and the rhino killings and other abberant behavior ceased. I see an analogous situation with many fatherless young men. They don’t know HOW to be men, even though they are sexually mature, and therefore lash out to show their power as adults in a misguided manner.