A federal study reveals that the number of black men in jail or prison has increased five-fold in the past 20 years. Thus, there are more black men in prison than in college. But rather than wring our hands, the African American community needs to decide how it wants to address this problem and stem the tide of the loss of one of our natural resources, our men. And it can be done. There are two groups who are key to turning this situation around: parents and voters.

Parents, intervention must start early. This is so basic it should not have to be said, but it does: black boys need fathers. Now, I hear all the sisters out there who say, “I don’t need a man.” Maybe not. But your sons do. If God didn’t think your son needed a father, he would have allowed you to create life without a man. Granted, there are many, many women who are wonderful single mothers and do an admirable job of raising fatherless sons under difficult circumstances. But young black men need strong fathers or, at minimum, strong father figures.

Sadly, too many young men take their first steps toward prison life in schools. There are too many black boys placed in classes for the emotionally disturbed and far, far too many black boys sent to alternative learning centers. It is hard to escape. Even the Texas Education Agency, not known for its forward-thinking when it comes to such matters, is concerned about the disparities in the number of whites and minorities in such placements and is studying the problem.

Parents, if you child’s school wants to place him in anything other than a mainstream classroom, demand an explanation and an independent evaluation. If it is an alternative learning center, make sure the placement is legitimate and make sure it is for the minimal time required. And,visit the alternative learning center. Some of them actually have legitimate learning taking place. But too many appear to be holding tanks for the Texas Youth Commission or the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Don’t let a school convince you or your child that he is a budding criminal. Ask questions and demand answers.  

Voters, you have an equally important task. Hilary O. Shelton, a legislative expert for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Washington, D.C. sums up the issue this way: “It is indeed a sad statement about our nation that it appears to be easier for governments to invest previous public dollars into the incarceration of African American men than it is for them to invest in higher education.”  I would expand that to include education in general. It is time for voters to demand that elected officials place more emphasis on education and less on criminal justice. In Texas, we are in the midst of electing leaders ranging from the U.S. Senate to statewide officeholders to state representatives. We should only support candidates who place a higher premium on education than prisons. And, we should demand that for those who individuals who go into prison, the goal should be rehabilitation, not execution.

In the New Millennium, there is no excuse for so many of our men being in bondage. There are things we can do to begin to turn this around and we should.