Black men and boys have increasingly become an endangered species. Now the activists and organizations committed to saving them say enough is enough. Last week a conglomerate of leaders and politicians convened at the U.S. Capitol Building to introduce a House resolution that calls to create a commission to study the social status of Black men and boys, reported Diverse Issues in Higher Education.
House Resolution 1636 was introduced by Rep. Frederica Wilson, who represents Florida’s 24th Congressional District. Known for her work with Black men and boys through her famous 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, Wilson said Black males are treated unfairly since childhood.
“All too often, Black males in America are treated as their own class of citizens,” Wilson said. “They are rarely given the benefit of the doubt. They are labeled ‘delinquent,’ not ‘rowdy.’ They are ‘hardened criminals,’ not ‘misguided youth.”
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The resolution proposes that a 19-member bi-partisan commission study the adverse social problems that affect Black men and boys in various areas including education, health, criminal justice, employment, etc. Findings will help inform legislation surrounding reparations for Black American descendants of slaves.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York echoed Wilson’s sentiment, saying Black men and boys have been subjected to harsh treatment for decades.
“Black men and boys have had a target on our backs. And, yes, we’ve made tremendous progress in America, we’ve come a long way. But we still have a long way to go,” Jeffries said.
If approved, the commission will be housed in the federal Commission on Civil Rights Office.
