O
December 19, 2012
Cascade
Connections
A lgie
C. G atewood
by
,l ^ o r tla n b (Dhsertier
Christmas
Wishes for
Every Young
Black Man
Dear Santa Claus: For Christmas terminant for
this year, I want every young black o n e ’s e c o
man to have an education and a n om ic s u c
good job. I want the number of cess - and everything which flows
O f course, the transformation I
young black men with a college from that success - than education. describe here is available to every
degree to outnumber those who are
Earning a two- or four-year de one, not just black men. I mention
in prison. I want every young black gree, or especially a graduate de black men because they are the most
man to assume his rightful place in gree, is the one factor that can trump at-risk group of people in the nation
his family, his community, and his all the obstacles that confront black - at risk of everything from chronic
nation.
men - whether those obstacles be incarceration to chemical depen
You can handle that, can’t you, intergenerational poverty, institu dency to an early death.
Santa?
tional racism, or even a shortage of
According to a 2006 Harvard
Unfortunately, it will take more self-belief.
University study, high-risk urban
than a jolly man in a red suit to make
When you embark on the road to black males can expect to live as
this Christmas wish list come true. a college degree, you also begin a many as 15 years less, on average,
Black men, for a whole range of rea voyage of self-discovery. Whatever than members of lesser-risk popula
sons, have for generations found you ultimately choose as your field tions. What better tool than educa
themselves overrepresented in the of study, the educational process tion to break this cycle?
crim in al ju stic e system and broadens your awareness of his
This is not to say that the many
underrepresented in business, in the tory and clarifies your understand factors which put young black men
halls of academia, and as family men. ing of society.
at risk are the result of their own
It will take a concerted effort from
More importantly, the educa individual choices. Far from it - the
all comers of our society - includ tional process crystallizes your per historical record of inequity between
ing from black men themselves - to ception of yourself, and helps you African Americans and the majority
undo the legacy of the past.
to realize the options at your dis population is copious and detailed.
“When you are young, black and posal and the power you have to But the right kinds of individual
male, you have several unfortunate choose your own path in the world. choices can help black men to over
inheritances converging at once,” You discover, in the words of Mr. come these obstacles, and it starts
the very talented Ta-Nehisi Coates Coates, “how much yoh have to with the choice to stay in school and
wrote for The Atlantic magazine. lose,” as well as how much you have go to college.
“There is the myopia of youth, the to gain.
Give yourself and your family the
inability to understand how much
Earning a degree reaps financial best possible gift this Christmas,
you have to lose. ... On top of that rewards, to be sure, but this new young black men. Make the choice
you come from a people who for concept of self is something that is to get an education. Don’t let cost or
most of American history have not beyond price. This can be particu anything else deter you. There is
been able to secure the safety of larly true for black men, many of more financial aid available than you
their own bodies.”
whom for generations have been might think, particularly at commu
Mr. Coates is right - the “unfor denied the power to choose the nity college, and classes can be
tunate inheritances” he mentions path before them.
scheduled to fit your life.
comprise a heavy burden and a dif
Education helps to fuse ambition
If you make the right choice now,
ficult legacy. But you may have with the tools necessary to get you this Christmas - and every one to
noticed that at the top of my Christ where you want to go. Education is follow -w ill be merrier for you, your
mas wish list is one thing that can the one true way forward from the children, and your grandchildren.
come true - and it ’ s the key to every bonds, both literal and figurative,
Dr. Algie C. Gatewood is presi
thing else: education.
that have prevented black men from dent o f Portland Community
There is no more significant de attaining their collective birthright. College’s Cascade Campus.
M H M
Get Help Applying for Financial Aid
PCC outreach
can help you
pay for college
Students in the Portland area can
get free help submitting their federal
fioancial aid (FAFSA) form when
Portland Community College pre
sents Financial Aid Day in partner
ship with College Goal Oregon.
The help will be provided on each
of PCC’s four major campuses on
Saturday, Jan. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon.
The day will be perfect for stu
dents looking for money to go to
college, needing help filling out the
FAFSA form, or wanting to explore
other resources to pay for college,
Federal grants (free money),
work-study and loans are the types
of financial aid students may be
eligible to receive. In addition, the
state o f Oregon and PCC have ft-
nancial aid available.
The only way to
find out what a stu
dent qualifies for
is by submitting
the FAFSA form.
There will be plenty
of help on hand at
each PCC location
to assist in filling
out and submitting
the application.
Students do not
have to be enrolled at PCC to take
part in Financial Aid Day. Spanish
language advisers also will be avail-
able at all locations.
Both students and parents should
continued W
v
on page 14
Page 13
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