Factors contributing to African Americans graduating high school

Today, African Americans find themselves struggling for existence, viability, and self worth.As a group they face tremendous odds, obstacles, and are at risk of failure.An alaming number are at risk of being trapped in a web of dependency (government assistance), and poverty.Research shows that African American's are more likely to be born to a single mother who is an unemployed parent, and not go to college soon after completing high school.Approximately 60 percent of African American children are living in single parent homes headed by women compared to single to 20 percent of Anglo children.Research has also shown that two-thirds of African American female-headed families who were poor the first year after becoming female headed household came from poor households; thus, "one cannot conclude that much of the poverty could have been avoided had families stayed together.In addition, approximately 34 percent of the mothers had less than a high school education (Nichols-Casebolt, 1988).A recent study shows>that 86 percent of black youth live in poverty, approximately 75 percent of African American men are either incarcerated, on parole, or unemployecir 1 out of every 22 black males will be kxlleci by violent crime, 1 out of 6 black rtiales will be artested.by the time they reach 19 years old, and 36 percent of black youth are unemployed compared to 16 percent of white youth (Hare, 1993).The conditions in which most African American youth live in are disturbing.Far too, many of these children are in communities where poverty, crime, unemployment, and other adverse conditions are commonplace.For these conditions to improve, parents and schools must put an emphasis on education.According to Dr. Finn of the Educational Testing Service, most entry level jobs require a high school diploma.In addition, the high salary jobs require college diploma.According to the U.S Bureau of the Census 1993, only 66 percent of African Americans finished high school compared to 85 percent of Caucasians.The overall graduation rate for high school students is 75 percent.Of those African American's who enter college, 70 percent will drop out at some point compared to 45 percent of whites (Steele, 1992).People living under the previously mentioned adverse conditions appear to be focused more on survival rather than going to school and receiving an education.According to Maslow's Hierarchy of needs, one must address their basic needs before attempting explore other-needs,.; However,.theirhave been some African American youth who have Overcome such conditions, graduated high school, and provided opportunities for themselves for advancement (work careers, higher education).There is a need to learn more about what those factors are that help youth complete high school.Much of the research on African .American youth has focused on daily negative conditions rather than providing information on how these individuals overcame such obstacles, dealt with the stressful living environment, graduated, and become successful.The researcher intends to provide much needed research in this ' area.s • LITERATURE K&VIEV7Researchers Maton, Salem, and Zimmerman (1995) conducted a study consisting of two hundred and fifty-four high school students from inner cities on the east coast.They mailed questionnaires to randomly selected youths from school district dropout list, recruitment by peers, referrals from community programs (Urban League), and solicitation through posters and flyers.Researchers found that seventy percent of African American males in