Macomb, IL – A Western Illinois University teacher believes "academic lynchings" are an issue that need to be addressed in higher education.
Dr. Alphonso Simpson, who is Chairperson of WIU's African American Studies Department, said African American males and other minority groups are set up to fail at predominantly white institutions. He said the failure comes from expectations that are set too high or too low.
"It's not true for everyone," said Simpson. "It gets really difficult for the African American male to come to a place like a university setting where he has not been prepared and to flourish the way that he has flourished at home and people don't know how to give them a chance. They don't know how to excavate what's found within him. It's a difficult thing to do."
Simpson said efforts to change the trend can start with one person and it all starts with education.
"I want people to find the good," Simpson said. "It's all around. And once they find it, share it with anyone who is willing to listen. There is good to be found in everybody. They can take it and they can share with young or old."
Simpson used statistics from 2004 to demonstrate the failure that African American males generally experience in predominantly white institutions. He said 6.4 million males enrolled in a predominantly white institutions in 2004. Only 11% were African American.
He said of that 11%, only 7.8% graduated in four years, while 74% of white males were able to earn a degree in a four-year span.
Athletics are another issue of concern for Simpson.
"The problem arises when people come in and they mis-prioritize," Simpson said. "They put athletics at the focus. That's when it gets dangerous."
Simpson presented the information during a lecture given as part of the university's celebration of Black History Month.