CLEVELAND — The number of students attending a college or university dropped 15% between 2010 and 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. And one demographic is seeing steeper declines in college education than others.
Roland Jones is planning for his future. The 11th grader is in the band at Warrensville Heights High School.
“I want to go to college because I want to learn something new, and I want to gain new experiences in life,” said Jones, the band vice president and section leader at Warrensville Heights High School.
Jones will be the first person in his family to go to college. It’s a choice fewer Black male high school students are making.
A U.S. News & World Report states the number of Black men in college decreased by 22% between 2010 and 2022. Historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, saw a 25% decrease in Black male enrollment.
“It is important for men, especially men of color, to take advantage of every opportunity to further education, through some type of military program, entrepreneurship, and especially maybe because of them going to a college or university,” said Anthony Brown, the impact leader for the Profound Gentlemen Ohio Cohort.
It’s a nonprofit organization that mentors Black male educators and encourages and supports young Black men going to college. Brown says the “cohort mentors and supports new and seasoned male educators while strengthening the pipeline of scholars, especially those from Black and Brown communities, and preparing the next generation of educators and leaders.”
He also works with The Destination HBCU College Fair, which brings dozens of HBCUs to Northeast Ohio. The Destination HBCU College Fair is an annual event organized by the Cleveland Council of Black Colleges Alumni Association (CCBCAA).
The CCBCAA is celebrating 50 years this year. Lester Holmes helps put the college fair together.
“The fair plays a vital role in expanding college access for students, especially those from underrepresented communities,” said Holmes. “It provides exposure to a range of higher-education options and connects students with HBCU graduates who once walked the same halls and lived in the same neighborhoods—demonstrating that success is both tangible and attainable.”
Colleges that participated in the college fair were: Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, American Baptist College, Bethune-Cookman University, Central State University, Claflin University, Clark Atlanta University, Fisk University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Harris-Stowe State University, Howard University, Kentucky State University, Livingstone College, Morehouse College, North Carolina A&T State University, Paine College, Shaw University, Spelman College, Talladega College, Tennessee State University,Tougaloo College, Tuskegee University, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University and Wilberforce University.
Central State and Wilberforce are HBCUs located in Ohio.
“Our barriers for Black men going to school, resources, support, self-motivation,” said Brown. “The resources, not having the finances of having the college access the support. Having the encouragement and the support for my family, our friends, or just those advisors, those mentors.”
But Jones isn’t just doing this for himself. A few years ago, his brother was killed — something he says continues to motivate him.
“I have people who need me to grow and be better and do better things so that I can, first of all, that doesn’t happen to me, but I also motivate people to get them out of that way and help them,” said Jones.
Three years ago, Jones joined the band and now he hopes it can be the ticket to continuing his education and building a positive future.
Jones hopes to join the band at either Jackson State University or Central State and study criminal justice or music.
The President of the Cleveland Council of Black Colleges Alumni Association Laquita M. Taylor provided the statement below about Black males going to college:
“While the importance of education is generally understood, we often see students, particularly young Black men, begin to lose interest as early as the fourth grade. I believe the desire to learn is still present; however, the structured system—with its rules and guidelines—can lead to frustration, distracting from the core learning process.
It is our collective responsibility as parents, teachers, counselors, and mentors to guide them through this frustration. We must help them navigate the educational system while clearly articulating how being educated will benefit them throughout their lives. The Cleveland Council of Black Colleges Alumni Association (HBCU Alumni Council) along with the 100-plus HBCUs strive to do just that.”
