The Education of Black Male Youth
Third Annual Lecture and Workshop Series
Sponsored by Wheelock College and the Aspire Institute of Wheelock College
History
In 2006, Wheelock College President Jackie Jenkins-Scott made a three-year
commitment to host a seminar series on the education of Black male youth.
During the first year of The Education of Black Male Youth, we focused on the question: “What does it takes to educate Black male students?” Practitioners and researchers of national renown, such as David Banks, founding Principal of The Eagle Academy for Young Men, came to Wheelock College to discuss and explore resolutions to this complex issue.
The topic of 2007’s series challenged seminar participants to focus on the social and emotional dimension of Black male youth development. Though the presenters gave specific attention to the trauma and emotional strain that too many Black boys face today, they also discussed appreciation for the communication styles, cultural identities, intellectual capacity, and the unique opportunities that exist when working with this population. At the conclusion of last year’s series, it was clear that the challenge of helping Black male youth to actualize their full potential requires skillful coordination between the academic, social, and emotional domains.
