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Are Black Males an Endangered Species ? (From Mr NANA, Provincial High School of Kaya)

Are Black males in danger of extinction ?
This questions has been kicked around for years and many have viewed it as little more than a topic of conversation. But since there has been such a drastic downturn in the economy over the past few years, the variety of serious Social ills that affects the Black community (particularly the Black male) has raised fears about the Black male’s continued survival in one of the World’s most prosperous and technically advanced countries.
In many ways, the Black male is thriving (Socially and economically) as he never has before, but he faces, at the same time, an assortment of conditions which, experts say, indicate that the species “is definitely threatened” and possibly endangered.
Consider these examples :
• In 1980, 42 per cent of all homicide victims were Black and 48 per cent of the offenders were. Black on Black homicides accounted for a large portion of these figures. According to the F.B.I, the overall homicide rate for Black males is 60 per 100,000, a rate higher than that of white males, white females and Black females combined. In addition, homicide is the leading cause of death of Black males between the ages of 15 and 24.
• During the Vietnam war, more Blacks than whites were in combat and nontechnical units. As a result, a disproportionately higher number of Blacks than whites were killed. Today, an increasing number of Blacks who can’t enter the job market are choosing to enlist in the Armed Forces.
• There are 345,960 persons (Black, white, Hispanic and others) in state prisons around the country, and Black men represent 170,453 of the total figure. In addition, the number of Black prisoners on death row is disproportionately higher than whites.
• Due to a number of society stresses, experts say, the suicide rate among Black males has more than doubled in the past ten years.
• Since the unemployment rate in traditionally higher in the Black community, many Black men accept jobs that call for them to work under very hazardous conditions. The result is a greater risk of injury and death.
• The Black male is more likely than his white counterpart to die at a younger age due to the lack of, or inability to pay for, proper health care.
• In the Black male population, as in the general population, the use of alcohol, cocaine and other mind-altering drugs is growing rapidly. With this increased use of comes higher crime rates and premature, drug-related deaths. …/…
• Due to a lack of prenatal and postnatal care, the infant mortality rate of Black males is more than double that of white males.
Although these conditions are rapidly removing large numbers of Black males from the civilian population, very few experts, if any, believe that the situation will get much worse because the Black man has been incredibly creative in finding ways to adapt to society’s demands.
“Considering the conditions in which we have had to live, I find it amazing that Black men have done as well as they have” says Dr. Hare.
“There is no question that the existence of the Black male is threatened and endangered, but there is no doubt in my mind that he will survive”.

EBONY