African American Students

David L. Horne, Ph.D.  |   OW Contributing Columnist
Aug 2 2012

Practical Politics

On Thursday, July 27, 2012, in one of the very few programs the Obama administration has specifically targeted and titled for Black Americans, President Obama issued an executive order creating the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, which will be housed in the secretary of education’s office.

It creates a new executive director of Black education, a new President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans, and an interagency collaboration of staff from different departments.

Jul 26 2012

Financial constraints challenge their educational pursuits

WASHINGTON—Minority students pursuing health careers are far more motivated by a desire to serve their community than by potential financial rewards, according to new research released recently by United Health Foundation.

When asked what is the single most important motivation, 46 percent of minority scholars cited having a positive impact on people’s lives as their top reason for pursuing a health career. Only 17 percent cited salary or income.

Jul 5 2012

2-Day Journalism and Media Adventure

Students, ages 13 to 17, are urged to attend the “2-Day Journalism and Media Adventure” coordinated by the Urban Media Foundation (UMF) on July 12-13 at the Church of Scientology Community Center Training Room, 8039 S. Vermont Ave. The event, and an opportunity to win $100 in cash, will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Dominique Barton  |   OW College Intern
Nov 17 2011

Millions in grants geared toward student success

Los Angeles Southwest College (LASC) was recently awarded two grants from the federal Department of Education geared toward encouraging academic success among African American students.

The first grant will fund a five-year program that will allow LASC to improve the educational outcomes of Black students at the school through the Freshman Experience Project. The effort will help approximately 125 incoming freshmen each year with academics and achieve success.

Sep 30 2011

Thirty-five states receive an ‘F’

MONTGOMERY, Ala.—Though the Civil Rights Movement is one of the defining events of U.S. history, most states fail when it comes to teaching the movement to students, a first-of-its-kind study released by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has found.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.