By Victoria Mejicanos
AFRO Staff Writer
vmejicanos@afro.com
Eighteen-year-old Kenneth Dorsey of Cherry Hill hopes to attend college to study mechanical engineering and establish his own home renovation business, spending hours studying trades on YouTube. But statistics show that he’ll grow up to earn less than his White peers because of his race, even if they come from the same socioeconomic background.
According to data from Opportunity Insights, a research team based at Harvard University, the average annual income for low-income Black men in Baltimore is $19,000. White men, by comparison, earn $29,000.
According to that same data, “in 99 percent of neighborhoods in the United States, black boys earn less in adulthood than white boys who grow up in families with comparable income.”
For Dr. Linda Loubert, an associate professor of economics at Morgan State University, race plays a clear role, but a strong foundation can prevent Black boys from becoming statistics.
“As a society, we want to say there are no differences, but in reality, we do act differently when it comes to race,” said Loubert. “Our actions differ from what we say…we say we are equal, but we don’t always act that way, and many within each race live with acceptance of that notion.”
The acceptance, Loubert says, is what solidifies the gaps–unless there is someone there to offer support.
“It takes a foundation. If that’s not there…separate types of outcomes remain,” Loubert said.
Programs making a difference
Research shows that the most promising solutions lie in programs that “cut across neighborhood and class lines” while improving opportunities for Black boys and young men. In Baltimore, that work is happening through a mixture of grassroots and city-backed efforts to provide direct mentorship and community support.
Dr. Andrey L. Bundley, leader of the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of African American Male Engagement, describes the work out of his office as “intentional, but not exclusive.” Bundley said members of his office welcome anyone committed to improving outcomes for young Black men.
Bundley said that the program welcomes different races, backgrounds and gender identities, and that the diversity of the program is its strength.
“I think that inclusivity allows for individuals to learn more, to participate in ways and with individuals that they had not initially thought about,” said Bundley.
The program is comprehensive, operating in what Bundley calls a “reality based curriculum,” meaning that they speak honestly about structural racism and have honest conversations about what is possible for a boy or young man given their unique circumstances and their personal goals.
“We hope that we are able to inspire individuals beyond what they see by exposing them to information. Hopefully that information is inspiring enough that they begin to question why they have not aspired more, and begin to help them understand that you can aspire more,” Bundley said.
The city backed work is one part of a support system growing around young Black boys in Baltimore. Grassroots organizations often founded by men who grew up in the same neighborhoods are stepping in to fill gaps.
Fathers in the Hood was founded by Mike Wilson after he saw that there was a need for positive images of fatherhood and manhood in Baltimore. Growing up in what he called a dysfunctional home during the crack epidemic, he knew just how vital local programs were to the success of young people because he is a product of them.
Wilson shared with the AFRO that he became homeless at 14 years old, and community support is what kept him safe. He lived in churches, people lent him clothes and food.
“I still had to deal with the trauma and deal with the things that I had to deal with, but having people around me to push me really got me through all of that,” said Wilson. “I give all the credit to God and the people around me who tried to help me.”
Today, Wilson is a father of four and a mentor. His organization focuses on financial literacy, CPR training, community givebacks and connecting boys to adults who model stability and accountability.
What happens outside of classrooms matters just as much as what happens inside them according to experts like Dr. Katherine Norris of Howard University, who acts as chair of the department of curriculum and instruction. She points to community schools as key in closing the gap.
“A couple years back, they started what we call community schools, and community schools meant that kids weren’t coming just for schooling,” Norris said. “We took into consideration the background of the families. We took into consideration more than just the education.”
Community schools address the “whole student” with a focus on things like health and social services alongside academics. According to Holly Gonzales, the community schools manager for Baltimore City Public Schools, there are 151 community schools working closely with families to help students succeed.
Community school participation leads to tangible results. Participants in district funded afterschool programs have lower rates of chronic absenteeism compared to non participants Gonzales said.
For Kenneth Dorsey, that support extended beyond the classroom. As a participant in Young Men United (YMU), through United Way of Central Maryland, he has been surrounded by mentors that have provided him access to college and career opportunities and become key in other aspects of life.
“All of them are there for us,” Dorsey said. “We can have deep intimate conversations with one another to help one another. They’re more like older brothers, fathers, uncles to us, not really just mentors, they built that connection with us.”
Dorsey mentioned having several mentors, one of which even helped him learn how to drive.
The first Young Men United cohort graduated last spring. The group had a 97 percent graduation rate, and 74 percent of the cohort were accepted to college.
For William Jernigan, the senior director of education programs for the organization, a vital component of the program is also lessening the financial burden that is placed on young men. YMU has“managers” who provide strategic support for families.
“Ultimately, a young person might be dealing with some trauma, some barriers, and a lot of things that the school might not have the ability to get a grasp or capture,” said Jernigan
He shared stories of getting families settled into permanent housing, and getting the lights back on in homes.
“We just understand that our students cannot really be the best of what they are if they’re navigating these adult problems. Our young people are faced with a lot of challenges,” said Jernigan. “Our job to share the burden with them.”
For Dorsey, the impact is clear.
“You do get resources and opportunities, but you also build a brotherhood and community with everyone else there,” Dorsey said. “I would definitely recommend it to everyone, every young man I know.”
This article is part of a national initiative exploring how geography, policy, and local conditions influence access to opportunity. Find more stories at economicopportunitylab.com/.