Inequality: Underrepresentation of African American Males in U. S. Higher Education

Abstract

Although the percentage of Blacks earning college degrees has nearly doubled over the past 20 years, Blacks earn only 10% of college degrees, 12% of graduate degrees, and 7% of doctoral degrees (U. S. Census Bureau, 2013). Furthermore, Blacks are more likely to attend lower-quality institutions and less likely to graduate (Mettler, 2014). This translates into possibly fewer Black men completing degrees in public affairs education and seeking public service. If we are to secure a representative bureaucracy (Krislov, 2013; Naff, 2001) in which both public administrators and college faculty mirror the nation’s demographics, then we must ensure that Black males have equal access to an affordable, quality college education resulting in degree completion. In this article, we examine disparities in higher education along three procedural areas: (a) access, (b) affordability, and (c) attainment. We provide substantive policy recommendations toward ensuring both access and degree attainment for all individuals regardless of race or income.

Keywords:

• African American males
• higher education
• access
• college attainment
• inequity

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lorenda A. Naylor

Lorenda A. Naylor is an associate professor with the University of Baltimore in the School of Public and International Affairs. Naylor received her PhD in public administration from American University. She is a social equity researcher with specific emphasis on access for vulnerable populations. Her work has appeared in Journal of Public Affairs Education, Review of Public Personnel Administration, Public Integrity, Teaching Public Administration, Journal of Development and Leadership, and Journal of Health and Human Services.

Heather Wyatt-Nichol

Heather Wyatt-Nichol is as an MPA program director and associate professor in the College of Public Affairs at the University of Baltimore. She also serves as a commissioner for NASPAA’s Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation. She has published book chapters and articles on a variety of topics in public administration and feminist journals. Her research interests include diversity management, ethics, family-friendly workplace policies, organizational justice, and social equity. Her work has appeared in Administrative Theory & Praxis, International Journal of Organization Theory and Behavior, Journal of Health and Human Services Administration, Journal of Public Affairs Education, Journal of Public Management and Social Policy, Journal of the Association for Research on Mothering, Public Integrity, Public Personnel Management, and Virginia Police Chief.

Samuel L. Brown

Samuel L. Brown is a professor in the School of Public Administration and International Affairs in the College of Public Affairs at the University of Baltimore. His research is focused on developing theoretical frameworks and practical guidance to permit enhanced understandings of how American political institutions continue to foster the current barriers to achieving the democratic ideal of equality for all Americans. His more recent publication stream has focused in the area of social equity in public administration. His publications have appeared in both health and public administration journals.