The Soultown! Volume III: Issue 8 AUGUST 2019 | Page 17

COVER STORY More African American Male Mentors Are Needed WATERLOO, IA - Where are all the African American male mentors when they are needed the most? Currently, there is a shortage of committed African American males mentoring young men in their communities, and this is a major issue nationwide that needs to be QUINTON addressed. The objective of RICHARDSON this article is to spread valuable Learn more about Big Q’s advice at information and to encourage http://www.thesoultown.com/big-q-.html more African American men to Email Me: [email protected] guide our youth to success and prosperity. Youth can benefit from having any responsible adult in their life to help them grow regardless of the race of the mentor. But, in some cases, an African American youth will have better outcomes by working with an African American adults because they have more in common with each other. In 2002, research in Volunteer Mentoring Relationships With Minority Youth: An Analysis of Same -- Versus Cross -- Race Matches stated that one of the gaps that exist within the mentoring framework is the details surrounding the same sex, same race, mentoring match between African American male mentors and young mentees. “Few studies have focused on the roles of mentors’ and youth’s racial and ethnic backgrounds in shaping the course and effects of the relationships”. “Although most programs take a race-blind approach, some act on the implicit --- and sometimes explicit --- assumption that Caucasian mentors can neither appreciate the experiences of minority youth nor fully assist them in their goals. According to Big Brothers Big Sisters: A Study of Program Practices, thousands of minority youth are retained on long waiting lists until adult volunteers of the same race become available”. Meanwhile, according to the NAACP Criminal Justice Fact Sheet, “African American children represent 32% of children who are arrested, 42% of children who are detained, and 52% of children whose cases are judicially waived to criminal court”. “Educationally, minority youth historically have graduated at lower rates than Caucasian youth and also have had the highest high school Aug. 2019 • The Soultown International Magazine • Celebrating 2 years dropout • Connecting Our Cultures to Our though Cyber & Conscious Communities rate consecutively even these rates are beginning • to thesoultown.com decline”. 17