Author: Nubian Message Editor

Women Empowering Society Together (W.E.S.T.), 100 Black Men of America, Helping Youth Prepare to Excel (H.Y.P.E.), and Alpha Nu Omega, Inc. hosted an event titled “Black in America,” in Fox Hall.The program focused on analyzing the progression of African Americans in society and the problems facing young black people, specifically students. The program began with a showing of one of the segments from CNN’s well-known series, “Black in America,” a documentary by journalist Soledad O’Brien. The piece focused on African American students and told the struggles they face in the public school system. Statistical studies show that of the 25 percent of American students who drop out of high school yearly, 50 percent of them are African American. The documentary explored this issue and told the stories of some of those who are striving to fulfill their dreams and overcoming the everyday battles they face due to their race and economic conditions.

Talley Student Center housed, yet, another insightful program on behalf of Hispanic Heritage Month, which focused on Latin American women and their lives of adjustment, assimilation into mainstream America, and their struggles within their own culture, all in pursuit of higher education. Multicultural Student Affairs and the Women’s Center co-sponsored a group of four panelists for the Latina Experience program who each earned a degree from a post secondary institute. Each of them have different experiences in relation to geographic location, barriers within individual cultures under the Latino umbrella. They continue to empower themselves through the development of programs to enhance the Latin American experience for students wishing to further their education.

One in four. That is the number of Americans who hold a four year college degree from an accredited university. Even with the seeming plurality of educational institutions in the United States, about twenty eight percent of Americans have a bachelor’s degree or higher, the rate is lower for African Americans, with eighteen percent of African Americans adults over 25 having a bachelor’s degree or higher.