African American Men in College [Hardcover]

Michael J. Cuyjet (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 17, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0787964603 | ISBN-13: 978-0787964603 | Edition: 1

African American Men in College is a much-needed resource that includes examples of real-world programs and activities to enhance academic success in the college environment for African American men. The examples are collected from a variety of institutions across the country. With contributions from leading practitioners and scholars in the field, African American Men in College explores the factors that promote a climate of academic success. The book shows how participation in extracurricular activities can create a positive social climate and examines the advantages of developing communication and leadership skills. It shows how fostering relationships with administrators and community leaders can promote academic success. The book also describes a proven mentoring program and examines the role spirituality and religion can play in bolstering successful college experiences.

 

Editorial Reviews

Review

We owe a debt of gratitude to Cuyjet and his distinguished colleagues for identifying the challenges we have yet to address and providing inspiring examples of existing programs which have found success through their commitment to imprinting the matriculation, graduation, and overall lives of African American men on American college and university campuses. (Education Review, 06/18/08)

Cuyjet and his associates should be applauded for their scholarship addressing the Black male college student. (The Boo) will benefit higher education professionals, faculty and students in their professional work and scholarship, and others interested in reversing the status quo of Black Men in College. (The Journal of Higher Ed, May-June, 2008)

"The book is an excellent tool and resource for student affairs practitioners and faculty members…" (TC Record, March 14 2007)

From the Inside Flap

Among undergraduates at colleges and universities in the United States, African American women outnumber African American men by almost two-to-one nationwide and by more than three-to-one at some schools. This is the most skewed ratio of any racial or ethnic group. According to the Chicago Tribune, there are more Black men behind bars in the United States than in its colleges and universities. There is a real need to understand the unique issues and concerns of African American men pursuing higher education.

African American Men in College is a much-needed resource that includes examples of real-world programs and activities to enhance academic success in the college environment for African American men. The examples are collected from a variety of institutions across the country.

With contributions from leading practitioners and scholars in the field, African American Men in College explores the factors that promote a climate of academic success. The book shows how participation in extracurricular activities can create a positive social climate and examines the advantages of developing communication and leadership skills. It shows how fostering relationships with administrators and community leaders can promote academic success. The book also describes a proven mentoring program and examines the role spirituality and religion can play in bolstering successful college experiences.

In addition, African American Men in College discusses the positive and negative influences of membership in social fraternities and describes the advantages and disadvantages of intercollegiate athletics. This important resource also explores the particular challenges faced by gay African American men in the college environment. The book then puts the spotlight on the influence of historically Black colleges and universities and community colleges and reveals the findings from two empirical studies to determine how African American males fare on both of these types of campuses.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (March 17, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787964603
• ISBN-13: 978-0787964603
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #285,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #68 in Books > Gay & Lesbian > Nonfiction > Philosophy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Represent, DeWayne Wayne!, August 26, 2006

By 

Jeffery Mingo (Homewood, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: African American Men in College (Hardcover)

This book is concerned that far fewer black men attend and complete college compared to black women. It asks what factors may help alleviate this and then gives examples of college organizations that try to address this disparity. This is not an anti-feminist text. In no way does it diminish the success of black women by focusing upon the lack of success of some black male students. This book has a nice diversity of topics.

The book is divided into two parts: academic studies and descriptions of organizations for black men. I think the two parts are intended to satisfy hardcore academics and laypeople just generally concerned about black males, separately. It may be a way to include both theory and practice. The chapter "Helping African-American Men Matriculate" is just a summary of part one by the editor. Part Two has no summary and thus the text seems asymmetrical. Further, the book should have really been divided into three chapters: academic dynamics, subpopulations of black male students, and then organizations. To be honest, the book is a bit longer than it had to be, but maybe that emphasizes the seriousness of the issue.

I was both excited and disappointed by the chapter "African American Gay Men: Another Challenge for the Academy." On the one hand, it is great that the book is not heterosexist. It doesn't assume that black men need to be educated because they are ALL going to have wives and children to support one day. However, the chapter is more sociological than political. At one point, it says "Black gay men may not feel comfortable with the flamboyant white gay men on campus." True, but let's not forgot that some black gay men can be flamboyant too. It says, "Black gay men may be shocked by the lack of religiosity among other gays." Yes, but there are black gay male students that are not religious or embrace atheism. The book never mentions that some black gay men may flee to college campuses to come out away from their parents compared to straight black men that may be romantically satisfied with their home environments and thus see no need to go somewhere else like college. Keith Boykin, a black, gay activists, and many others have anecdotally said that colleges seem to have huge numbers of gay men and athletes in their black male populations. When Oprah Winfrey covered "the down low" phenomenon on her show, she included a black female college student who said the dynamic is trendy among her male counterparts. So little of this gets addressed. As a black gay man, I was frustrated by this chapter. Hence, I wonder if black athletes will be frustrated by the athlete chapter or black students leaders on the leadership chapter, etc. I also wonder why the book lacked chapters on black male immigrant students and black males who are Muslim.

This is a nice book, generally. I just wasn't as blown away by it as I thought I would be.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a dry read but good info, March 8, 2007

By 

Richard C. Jones - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: African American Men in College (Hardcover)

dr kevin rome of morehouse contributed to this volume