Whether one is black, white, or any color, it is difficult to open a dialogue in reference to race issues without opening oneself up to criticism from one group or another or one individual or another. This is even more true in the current politically correct climate where idiocy and misunderstanding have risen to the pitch where a man is forced to resign from his job for using the word niggardly. Niggardly is defined as “like or characteristic of a niggard”, so people jump on the defensive and believe it is a racial slur, not knowing, of course, that the word niggard is defined as “a stingy person; miser” (Newfeldt 916). Be this climate as it may, there is no sensible manner in which to discuss black youth and mentoring without venturing forth distinctions based on culture. Not doing so would add to the very problems that make it crucial for black youth to have mentoring experience in their development. For it would also amount to denying that while we are all human beings who share universal qualities, different cultures have different experiences, perceptions, viewpoints and training. With this in mind, we will now explore the need for mentoring among black youth.
There can be no doubt from the statistics that black youth in America are faring poorly, and that some kind of mature direction and companionship might be of benefit to them. Black youth statistics strip the clothes off the emperor who claims we are making great strides in progress where black political and economic rights are concerned “Black men make up 50 percent of America’s male prison population; the poverty rates for black Americans is triple the white rate; the unemployment level is double that of whites; and homicide is the leading cause of death among black youths ages 15-24…the majority of 10-14 year-olds come from single-parent homes in poor neighborhoods and many come from families that have experienced problems with drugs and domestic...