California School Focuses On Issues Affecting Black Youth

California — Weekends usually aren’t the best time to engage high school students in important issues. But this past week, over 70 students packed the Berkeley High School auditorium to talk about the challenges facing Black youth.

The conference titled “Black Youth in Crisis” discussed ways to address difficulties affecting Blacks in this school.

“Our young people don’t have enough people who speak up for them,” said Jason Seals, a professor of African American Studies at Merritt College. “When you talk about young black males (nationwide) graduating high school at 46 percent, you can’t just say they didn’t try. You need someone to ask why.”