Revised Even Odds

Sandra Millington English 4 Professor De witt 08/29/2013 Even Odds In the 21st century young African American boys find it difficult to exist, survive and graduate due to drastic challenges in the inner-city of Oakland. Over the past decade we lost approximately 800 African-American young men in Oakland to homicide. Are we willing to see more astounding rates of homicide of African-American boys in Oakland? This is the question facing Bay Area residents right now and it is probably the single most important question we face as a community. Should we be concerned about the escalating rise in homicides of African American boys in Oakland? Yes, we care. The English 4 students at Chabot College care and we want to analyze the problem and be part of the solution. Some of the challenges facing this demographic population range from overt and covert racism; 21st century segregation; limited resources; lack of vocational and athletic facilities; poverty and various other socioeconomic challenges; and last but not least, police profiling. These young boys get less attention in school and often are subjected to harsher punishment which leads to suspension, rather than intervention. This impedes their full potential as students. As a result of these factors they are vulnerable and become easy targets for drug dealers who exploit and expose them to sex; guns; and drugs which lead to incarceration at an early age. The critical piece of the puzzle that’s missing is: African American Professionals to serve as role models to mentor; motivate; and empower these boys. The out picturing for these boys will greatly improve with this much needed intervention from the vast pool of Professionals and leaders within the African-American community.

Sandra Millington

English 4

Professor De witt

08/29/2013

                                                                          Even Odds

     In the 21^st century young African American boys find it difficult to survive and graduate due to drastic challenges in Oakland. Over the past decade we lost approximately 800 African American young men in Oakland to homicide. Are we willing to see more astounding rates of homicide of African American boys in Oakland?  The question facing many people in the Bay Area right now and it’s probably the single most question we face. Should we be concerned about the escalating rise in homicide of African American boys in Oakland?  Yes, we care. The English 4 students at Chabot College care and we want to analyze the problems and help to be part of the resolution. Some of the challenges facing this demographic population range from racism, segregation, limited resources, lack of vocational programs, limited athletic facilities, poverty and socioeconomic challenges, police profiling, they get less attention in school and often are subjected to harsher punishment that leads to suspension which impedes their full potential as students. As a result of all these problems they add to their vulnerability and become easy targets for drug dealers who exploit and expose them to sex, guns, and drugs which lead to early incarceration. The most single piece of the puzzle that’s missing is successful intelligent African American role models with high morals to identify with them, mentor, motivate and empower these boys.