More in prison than in work.... 476

A dangerous slide for young black men affects us all EDITORIAL BOARD Saturday, March 25, 2006

African American men in U.S. cities are living in social and economic conditions that are usually found in third-world nations. It's time to pay attention to their plight in light of data released this week.

In compiling the data, experts from Harvard, Columbia, Princeton and other insbreastutions focused on the life patterns of young black men. We've known for some time that black men lagged behind their white peers in education, employment and social welfare, but the gap has widened considerably.

The data show that young black men are becoming more disconnected than ever from mainstream society. Their social and economic slide has continued at a time when the American economy is on the rebound. We should be concerned because the effects of this problem will strain city, state and federal budgets as society has to build more prisons and finance larger public welfare programs to help single moms raise their children.

The continued decline of young black men will also add to the strain on black families as more of them have to make do without good role models for black boys. And communities are losing potential leaders, musicians, teachers, engineers and entrepreneurs who could add to their cultural life and their tax base.

The picture of young black men in America is more representative of life in a third-world country than in the world's wealthiest nation. For example:

�In 2000, 65 percent of black male high school dropouts in their 20s were jobless. By 2004, that share had grown to 72 percent, compared with 34 percent of white and 19 percent of Hispanic dropouts. Those figures include young men who were unable to find work, not seeking it or who were locked. Getting a high school diploma made a difference, though too many still remained unemployed. When high school graduates were included, half of black men in their 20s were jobless in 2004.

�In inner cities, half of all black men do not finish high school.

�By their mid-30s, 30 percent of black men with no more than a high school education have served time in prison. It is double that figure for dropouts.

If those figures don't alarm you, then this one should: Thirty-four percent of black dropouts in their late 20s are in prison on any given day. That is more than the total number of black dropouts who are working on any given day - about 30 percent.

It would be easy to write off this population, but the consequences will affect everyone. Experts offer many theories about the root causes of the decline of young black men. Whether it's the breakdown of the black family because too many African American women are having children out of wedlock, or poverty and racism that diminishes opportunities for blacks, the remedy is still the same: A good education.