President Obama announced that he will be creating a new education initiative targeted to improving the achievement levels of African Americans in education. While in New Orleans giving a speech to the Urban League, the president stated that he would sign an order putting the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans into place.

This new educational initiative “works to make sure that all African American students can receive an education that fully prepares them for high school graduation, college completion and productive careers,” Obama said.

This initiative will be work with the Executive Office of the President and cabinet agencies to identify evidence-based practices to improve African American students’ achievement in school and coll,ege. The White House stated that this initiative will also work to “develop a national network of individuals, organizations and communities that will share and implement these practices.” The goal of this initiative will be to ensure that African American students have the same opportunities as other students. Read the rest of this entry »

President Obama delivered his commencement address to the Class of 2010 at Hampton University on May 9, 2010. This is the first predominately African-American school that President Obama has spoken at. More African-American students are attending college today than ever before. Today, 55 percent of African-American high school seniors go on to pursue a college education, up from only 45 percent in 1970.

Unfortunately, not even half of these students will graduate. Only 43 percent of these students will graduate within six years, which is 20 percent less than Caucasian students. Even more disturbing is that fact that only 36 percent African-American men who enter college will finish their degree.

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