Black males continue to be underrepresented in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Some of the barriers to representation are due to lack of exposure, academic expectations, lack of belief in one's ability, and opportunity gaps. The purpose of this article is to discuss how homeplace (Black joy, authenticity, and…

This article focuses on transitioning from boys to men -- the possibilities of "becoming-man" -- through outdoor education programs, while acknowledging that a similar investigation could be carried out in relation to girls and women, as well as other gender identities. In relation to becoming-man, contact with nature through an…

Even though Black Male Initiative (BMI) programs have found ways to positively influence the academic and psychosocial outcomes of Black men attending Predominantly White Institutions (PWI), Black college men remain at high risk for psychological distress. Current research addressing the need for BMI programs to incorporate wellness and mental…

Professional athletes and entertainers are often identified as the source of emulation for young males, especially Black males. With far less romanticized career representations than those in the athletic arena, many Black families foster, knowingly and unknowingly, a polarized path to elusive goals of a professional athletic career. Explicitly…

Latino males across the country enroll in community colleges with the purpose of obtaining an educational degree, which could lead to accomplishing professional and personal aspirations. Even if Latino male students enroll in post-secondary education, they continue to be disenfranchised, vanished, and often rejected through the higher education…

In 2012, the Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights Division, presented a report titled "Revealing New Truths About Our Nation's Schools." This lengthy and detailed report delineated the increasing problem of young African American males being suspended and expelled from school, thus robbing them of an opportunity to fully…

This article provides guidance for those looking to establish an African-American Male Initiative (AAMI) on their campus. The hallmark of a strong AAMI is collaboration. This article explores contextual factors that influence the recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of African-American males in higher education. It includes the development…

For decades, women have enrolled in college in greater numbers than men, and, by many measures, have outperformed them in the classroom. But in recent years, as social scientists and student-affairs offices have focused on other differences between the genders, they have documented patterns that could explain how engagement influences student…

Nearly half (45%) of students in DC Public Schools are males of color. Despite improvements district-wide, there are still considerable achievement gaps between young men of color and their peers. We must work harder to ensure that all students--particularly boys and young men of color--share equally in District of Columbia Public Schools' (DCPS')…

This issue of ETS Policy Notes (Vol. 20, No. 4) provides highlights from the symposium, "Middle School Matters: Improving the Life Course of Black Boys" held on July 23-24, 2012. The second in a series of four symposia co-sponsored by ETS and the Children's Defense Fund (CDF), the seminar examined the education and status of…

We discuss Konstantinos Alexakos, Jayson Jones and Victor Rodriguez's hermeneutic study of formation and function of kinship-like relationships among inner city male students of color in a college physics classroom. From our Critical Complexity Science framework we first discuss the reading "erlebnisse" of students laughing at and with each other…

In this article, the author shares her research findings on the differences between how men and women respond to college. She explores some of the cornerstones of the undergraduate experience--living away from home, interacting with faculty, being academically engaged, and learning about diversity--and how they contribute in unique ways to women's…

"Ujima" is a Kiswahili word that means collective work and responsibility. "Brothers of Ujima" presents a unique cultural enrichment program designed to reinforce and bring out the strengths of African American preadolescent and adolescent males. This group counseling program helps young men plan and achieve their future goals…

Raising and educating healthy young boys is an area of increasing concern among early childhood educators, child development experts, and parents. A growing body of research has raised questions about young boys' vulnerability on a number of fronts: social/emotional development, expulsion from preschool, referral to special education, and academic…

Teachers may unconsciously convey stereotypic notions or behave in discriminating ways. Teachers have been observed to pay more attention to male students and to praise female students more for nonacademic performance. A quiz to help teachers assess their sex bias is included. (DF)