The Importance of College Education: Success Stories from Four Young Black Men

Contrary to oft-repeated claims, there are more Black men in college than in prison. However, in 2011, Black men accounted for less than 6 percent of undergraduate students and less than 4 percent of the students enrolled in graduate studies, although they made for 8.7 percent of the population of 18-29 year olds. This underrepresentation of Black men in higher education is unacceptable. We all can do better to support policies and programs to encourage more young Black men to go to and graduate from college. Despite many odds stack against them, Sixto Cancel, Shawon Jackson, Javon Mullings, and Marvin Perry are on track to graduate from college on time. Watch their amazing college student stories.